Garden and Flowers

This perennial from Australia creates a sophisticated effect on our patios. Its star-shaped flowers grow to about 1V2 in wide. They show up perkily above the compact plant, which may grow to between 4 in and 12 in high. The plant is, in fact, a genuine new acquisition which has only been cultivated on a major scale for a few years, and is still available only from a few specialized suppliers of patio plants. Firms dealing in cuttings provide flowering plants in spring. The same effect may be achieved by sowing in late summer the previous year. If sown in early spring, the plants will come into flower after about 4 months.

Sow the seed between August and October. Cover the seedlings carefully in severe winter weather, or sow in bowls which may be brought indoors temporarily. Overwintering them in an unheated greenhouse or cold frame is ideal. Commercial growers sow between December and March, but it is better for private gardeners to wait until March. Put the plants out-of-doors in a sunny position and well-drained soil. Giving them plenty of water will not harm them, but the moisture must be able to drain away freely. The color of the flowers varies between blue and pink.

The differences are apparent from the names of the selections: Laurentia axillaris ‘Blue Stars’ is supposed to have sky-blue flowers. Those of Laurentia axillaris ‘Starlight Pink’ are more or less pink. There is also a white-flowered cultivar, Laurentia axillaris ‘White Star,’ with slightly more vigorous growth.