Pediomelum subacaule

Let's face it, for some mysterious, pre-programmed, genetically imprinted reason, as a species, we gardeners are always on the hunt for those elusive blue flowers. Well......... whilst I can't tempt you with a blue Hellebore or a blue Daylily, I have something for you that will fill the bill in the meantime. Here's a plant that I'll wager, you don't already grow and is a plant you've never even heard of. Not only that, you shan't find it elsewhere, as I'm the only fellow on the planet, maybe even in the entire universe, that has it in production. Don't ask me why, because it's one of the easiest plants I've ever grown, takes full blistering sun, is perennial and long lived, has no insect pest or disease problems, is not invasive or aggressive and looks good all the growing season long, even when it's not in flower. And..........it's THAT blue blue blue. Maybe it's because of the name, a multi-syllabic tongue twister of a name, but one that after you've heard yourself speak it a few times, begins to roll gently off your lips and will impress your friends as it sounds so very scientific. And the name is, drum roll please, Pediomelum subacaule!!! Now if that 's a bit much for you to orate, then just say "Nashville Breadroot". The logic behind the common name derives from their starchy, tuber-like roots which can be eaten like tuberous vegetables such as potatoes or made into flour as the early Native Americans did. My initial acquaintance with this delightful plant happened quite accidentally when I serendipitously obtained seeds from a NARGS seed exchange mislabeled Lupinus perennis and happily grew the resulting plants for years and years. That was... until a visitor to my garden enlightened me to its true identity as she gazed excitedly at a plant that she'd only seen in pictures. As fate would have it, her observation was 100% correct and it truly is Pediomelum subacaule. The ideal location in your garden would be the very front of a sunny border as the height is rarely over 6" - 8" tall, slightly taller when in flower. In my garden, I have them interplanted with Hypoxis hirsuta and the yellow and blue combo is absof*****glutely stunning. Hardiness has never been an issue either. In the ground they've scoffed at below zero temps without a blanket of the white stuff or even a decent mulch. I've also left them in pots, unprotected all Winter and they've easily handled 9 degrees with no snow cover. Neither is heat tolerance a problem, as I have friends in Austin TX growing them now for several years and if you know anything about Austin besides the great music scene, believe me the heat is brutal.