Southern Bluet - Houstonia micrantha

Photos above by Floyd Griffith

Photo above by R.W. Smith

From website of Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

Southern bluet (Houstonia micrantha) is an annual wildflower vouchered only in Florida from Escambia County - the most western county in the Florida Panhandle.  It is not a listed species here, however, and is common to the west of Florida - from Mississippi to east Texas and Oklahoma.  There are a few local populations also vouchered  from Georgia and southern Arkansas. Throughout its range it is found most commonly in open somewhat disturbed uplands such as roadsides and pastures.  

This is a "cool season" species and it makes its appearance in early winter. Like other bluets in Florida, it is a diminutive species. It tends to creep outward on somewhat succulent stems for several inches away from its center and it stands no more than 3 inches tall.  The elliptical to almost rounded leaves are opposite along the stem.

Blooming occurs in the winter - any time from January through March. The 4-petaled flowers are white with a lemon yellow center.  As such, they are very similar to its close cousin Innocence (Houstonia procumbens).  The key differences between the two are that Innocence is a perennial with completely prostrate stems while Southern bluet (and tiny bluet (H. pusilla)) are annuals with semi-erect stems.  Southern bluet can be mistaken for tiny bluet but there are key differences in their flower structure as documented above by my friend Floyd Griffith.  Tiny bluet's flowers can be white but are more frequently purple to pink. Southern bluet's blooms are always white. The above photos clearly show their differences in the position of their corolla tubes and calyx lobes.

This is a species unlikely to ever be sold commercially by any of the regional native nurseries within its range given its annual nature and diminutive stature, but seed mixes are sometimes sold by hobbyists with the addition of tiny bluet. As such, it makes an interesting white and bluish temporary ground cover that would have to annually reseed.