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Trachystemon orientalis

Also Known As

Oriental Trachystemon

Plant type

perennial

size

H: 12"-18"
W: 24"-60"

planting zones

5a-9b

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Trachystemon orientalis plant details

Trachystemon orientalis is a broadleaf deciduous perennial with green foliage. In spring blue and lavender flowers emerge. Attracts bees making it an excellent addition to pollinator gardens. Grows well with mostly sun - mostly shade and even moisture - regular water. Does well in average, rich and well-drained soil. A good option if you're seeking something heat tolerant and humidity tolerant.

CHARACTERISTICS OF Trachystemon orientalis

Plant type: perennial
Plant family: boraginaceae
Foliage: deciduous green
Mature size: 24 IN - 60 IN - wide, 12 IN - 18 IN - tall
Flowers: blue and lavender blooms in spring
Uses: heart-shaped leaves, spreading, woodland garden

GROWING CONDITIONS for Trachystemon orientalis

USDA Zones: 5a - 9b
Sun exposure: mostly sun - mostly shade
Watering frequency: even moisture - regular
Resistant to: deer and rabbit, heat and humidity
Soil needs: average, rich and well-drained

Nursery contributed plant descriptions

Bold, attractive, heart shaped foliage in spreading clumps 12-18” tall on this perennial Borage; thrives in moist, organic soil in bright shade. Purple-blue flowers with white throats March April. Tolerant of dry shade and dense shade; will grow in tough places like under rooty trees. Due to its pugnacious nature, site this carefully. Does not play well with wimpy companions. Deer and critter resistant.

By: Secret Garden Growers

Trachystemon orientalis will send up loose panicles of pendant blue, white throated flowers in March and April (perfect for bees) when the foliage is just beginning to emerge. Coarsely textured, heart-shaped leaves bristling with hairs mature to 12" long after flowering to form a dense ground cover, out-competing weeds. Plants are tolerant of dry shade but can wilt in extreme drought. From Turkey to the Caucasus and Western Asia.

By: Phoenix Perennials and Specialty Plants Ltd.

This member of the borage family with large, weed-smothering leaves, and clusters of beaked flowers with beautiful blue recurving petals is a March herald of spring. The Shooting Star-shaped flowers make their appearance before the leaves. 18" T, 2' W, and spreading. Very accommodating - sun or shade, dry or moist, but moist is best! Eaten as a vegetable in Turkey! Minimum temperature: -10?F

By: Dancing Oaks Nursery

An easy shade plant. Blooms at the first hint of spring so may need some protection from late frosts. About 8 inches tall. Slowly makes a small colony.

By: Hoot Owl Hollow Nursery

Its native haunts are Bulgaria and northern Turkey, and here in our garden it intermingles with Anthriscus 'Ravenswing' and Euphorbia 'Great Dixter', creating a dynamic array of foliar colors and textures. Looking for a bold toughie to beautify that problem area in your garden? Trachystemon orientalis may be your answer. Whether the spot is sunny or shady, dry or moist, or over rough terrain, this Borage family member will rapidly fill it in with a thick, weed-smothering cover of handsome, coarse textured dark green leaves

By: Digging Dog Nursery

An evergreen, perennial, weed suppressing ground cover and interesting member of the Borage family. Found West of the Caucasus through Northern Turkey to Eastern Bulgaria. The large, hairy, dark green, heart shaped leaves form a dense ground cover in moist, lightly shaded positions. In Spring blue stary flowers with black stamens are produced on 45cm stems. Prefers a soil enriched with organic matter. Great for covering large low maintenance areas to suppress weeds.I can find little out about this plant but I have seen it growing in Victoria and in theory it should do well here, reputedly being very tough. There is a chance that it may be deciduous in Winter.

By: Zephs

Vigorous weed-smothering 18" t x 2' mounds of huge, fuzzy, heart-shaped foliage offer clusters of lavndr-purple shooting-star like flowers in spring; rare from high mtns of Turkey it's tolerant of all things! S-Sh/Dry-Wet

By: Forestfarm

Chinese member of the Borage family with panicles of blue flowers unfurling fiddlehead clusters of buds just as the leaves emerge in early spring. The leaves are pretty big and form a dense cover. This is a very tough plant tolerating short term serious dry abuse although best in good soil.