Taxonomy

Division:

Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants

Family:

Rubiaceae

Genus:

Houstonia

Species:

Houstonia serpyllifolia

USDA Symbol:

HOSE2

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:

Perennial

Growth Habit:

Forb/herb

Height:

10 cm

Light Requirements:

Part Shade

Drought Tolerance:

Low

Bloom Months:

apr,may,jun,jul

Bloom Colors:

white, pale blue

Ground Cover:

Yes

Lawn Substitute:

Yes

Garden & Ecology Notes

Wildlife Value:

small pollinators

Deer Resistant:

Yes

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:

moist, well-drained, rocky soil

pH:

5.5 - 7.0 (slightly acidic to neutral)

Drainage:

excellent drainage required

Moisture:

consistently moist

Notes:

found in mountainous regions, often near streams

Propagation & Germination

Stratification:

Cold/moist stratification required — 30–60 days

Germination Time:

14–42 days

Notes:

Seeds require light for germination; surface sow and keep consistently moist.

The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI