Florida Museum of Natural History
 
 
Blue Porterweed
Stachytarpheta  jamaicensis
 
Family name: Verbenaceae
 
Host plant for: Tropical Buckeye (Junonia genoveva)
 
General description: Erect or sprawling shrub or herbaceous perennial with opposite, wrinkled leaves and small tubular lavender to blue flowers borne on slender spikes. Easy to cultivate. Thrives in full sun and well-drained sites with regular irrigation. Maintenance-free and relatively drought tolerant once established. Flowers attract numerous butterflies and other pollinators.
 
Type: Herbaceous perennial or small sprawling shrub
Flower: Small, tubular lavender to blue flowers borne on slender spikes
Bloom time: All year
Soil type: Moist to dry, well-drained, sandy soils
Maximum height: 3 feet
 
Candidate for home gardens: Distinctive, easy to cultivate
Availability in nursery: Occasional. Specialty and native plant nurseries
Frenquency in the wild: Occasional
Habitat: coastal uplands, ruderal
 
County: Brevard, Broward, Collier, Hillsborough, Indian River, Lee, Martin, Miami-Dade, Monroe, Palm Beach
 
Stachytarpheta jamaicensis









  Full sun  
 
  Drought tolerant