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Virginia Gardening

What is this blue wildflower?

20 years ago

I live in an old farm field, and I have a couple of birdfeeders out front. This spring, some beautiful blue wildflowers popped up near one of the feeders. I did check out the names of all the seeds in the birdfood I use in that feeder, but not one looks like this flower. I hope one of you can help me.

The plant stands about 15 inches high, with short,thin leaves growing vertically and alternately along the single stem. At the top are 3-5 blue flowers no more than 3/4 inch across.

It's a very pretty little flower, and I was wondering if I could move a clump of it into a container.

Lynda

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Comments (4)

DWA in AZ Sunset zone 12
20 years ago
Could this be it (ipheion)? http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/765/index.html

I have some that are just finishing bloom.
gardenpaws_VA
20 years ago
Flax? Linum spp. - could possibly have been in the birdseed.

Ipheion is a bulb, and I believe has basal leaves rather than leaves up the stem.

Here is a link that might be useful: would this be it?
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foxwillow
Original Author
20 years ago
Lakedweller, I pulled up one of the plants, and it didn't have a bulb or any basal leaves. Those starflowers are pretty, though.
foxwillow
Original Author
20 years ago
Gardenpaws, I think you might be right. It seems to fit the description. It blooms the second year, and two years ago I was using a different birdseed than I do now. I'm just surprised the plants thrived, since I live in southern Virginia, where the soil is mostly clay! Definitely not sandy soil. I'll have to get someone to dig up a clump of it to transplant it to a container, that way it might have a fighting chance.

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