Other Names:  Winslow Spur Flower, Abyssinian Colius

Description:

Attractive spikes of violet-blue flowers from fall to spring, above sea-green foliage with white variegation; will re-sprout after frost damage; a lovely addition to the garden or containers; drought tolerant, but best with some irrigation

Ornamental Features

Variegated Blue Spur Flower features showy spikes of violet flowers with blue overtones rising above the foliage from mid fall to mid spring. Its attractive large serrated oval leaves remain bluish-green in color with showy white variegation throughout the year.

Landscape Attributes

Variegated Blue Spur Flower is a multi-stemmed evergreen perennial with an upright spreading habit of growth. Its relatively coarse texture can be used to stand it apart from other garden plants with finer foliage.

This is a relatively low maintenance plant, and can be pruned at anytime. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Variegated Blue Spur Flower is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Mass Planting
• General Garden Use
• Groundcover
• Container Planting

Planting & Growing

Variegated Blue Spur Flower will grow to be about 6 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 6 feet. It has a low canopy with a typical clearance of 1 foot from the ground. Although it is technically a woody plant, this plant can be expected to behave as a perennial in our climate if planted outdoors over the winter, usually regrowing from its base (crown) the following year. As such, gardeners should take into consideration that it will perform differently than it would in its native habitat.

This plant does best in full sun to partial shade. It is very adaptable to both dry and moist growing conditions, but will not tolerate any standing water. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. This is a selected variety of a species not originally from North America.

Variegated Blue Spur Flower is a fine choice for the garden, but it is also a good selection for planting in outdoor pots and containers. With its upright habit of growth, it is best suited for use as a 'thriller' in the 'spiller-thriller-filler' container combination; plant it near the center of the pot, surrounded by smaller plants and those that spill over the edges. It is even sizeable enough that it can be grown alone in a suitable container. Note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden.