About
Blackstonia perfoliata is an annual plant that can reach heights of up to 40 cm. It typically thrives in chalky and limestone grasslands, sandy dunes, and rocky habitats. The plant features waxy, grey to bluish-green leaves that are oppositely arranged and fused around the stem, giving it a distinct appearance. During the summer and autumn, it produces butter-yellow, cup-shaped flowers with six to eight petals, which close in the afternoon.
Growing conditions
- Sunlight
- Full sun
- Soil type
- Chalk, Loam, Sand
- Soil pH
- Alkaline, Neutral
- Soil moisture
- Well-drained
- Aspect
- South-facing, West-facing
- Exposure
- Exposed, Sheltered
- UK hardiness
- H7
Plant details
- Plant type
- Annual Biennial
- Habit
- Clump forming
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Height
- 0.1-0.5 metres
- Spread
- 0.1-0.5 metres
- Time to full height
- 1-2 years
- Suggested uses
- Coastal, Cottage and informal garden, Wildflower meadow, Wildlife gardens
Care notes
- Cultivation
- Grow in well-drained neutral to alkaline soil in full sun; a good coastal plant
- Pruning
- No pruning required
- Propagation
- Propagate by seed
- Pest resistance
- Generally pest-free
- Disease resistance
- Generally disease-free