Description
Alternative ground cover lawns are becoming more popular and blue star creeper is a fantastic, low-maintenance grass substitute if you are looking to change the look of your lawn. Blue star creeper (botanical name isotoma fluviatalis) has a spreading and mounding growth habit, which forms a dense, low mat of leafy green foliage. In spring and summertime, blue star creeper sprouts delicate star-shaped flowers that range in hue from pale purple to blue. It requires less water than a traditional grass lawn, and only grows to be about three-to-five inches tall, so mowing becomes unnecessary! Known as a hardy plant, this Australia native can tolerate heavy foot traffic, extreme weather conditions, and even drought. In addition to being a respectable grass substitute, blue star creeper can also be used as a filler between patio stones, cover for spring bulbs, or as a border plant.
Blue star creeper is relatively easy to grow, requiring little ongoing maintenance once established. They should be planted at least eight to 10 inches apart for thick coverage. Shearing to about one inch tall in the late fall will help to keep the plants tidy throughout the winter and in the spring as new growth begins. Other than this optional upkeep, blue star creeper is a low-maintenance perennial and does not require deadheading. The palnts will continue flowering throughout the spring and summer with little-to-no assistance. Blue star creepers are not invasive by definition, but they’re not native to the U.S. and can spread quickly, becoming invasive in certain situations. Fertilizing blue star creeper too often can encourage aggressive growth which often goes on to become invasive. Fertilizing once at the beginning of the growing season with an all-purpose fertilizer will help to facilitate strong new growth. Keep this in mind when deciding where you’d like to plant blue star creeper. It can be easily contained with deep garden barriers or walls.
For full and colorful growth, these plants should receive direct sunlight for most of the day. In partial sunlight the growth may not be as dense. As far as soil goes, blue star creeper is quite flexible. A moist, well-draining medium is sufficient. The soil should have a pH level between 6.1 to 7.8, or mildly acidic to alkaline. The plants have medium water needs. They’re known for being drought tolerant, but they thrive with adequate moisture in the summer months. In summertime, keep the soil moist with regular watering to support strong growth. These are resilient, cold-hardy plants that can withstand temperatures as low as -4 degrees Fahrenheit (-20 degrees Celsius) with snow cover. However, it thrives in the warmer seasons and needs warm spring and summer temperatures in order to survive. Blue star creeper usually blooms from spring to late fall.
Proud Products Guarantee!!
Plants from Daylily Nursery are guaranteed to arrive healthy and green. If you have any concerns or are dissatisfied within the first five days of receiving your plants, please email or call our office so that we can help make it right! Plants require proper care and nourishment to adapt to their new surroundings. Unfortunately, if your plants have received less-than-ideal care or were purchased for planting outside of your recommended growing zone, your purchase isn’t covered by our guarantee. Zone recommendations are provided in our listings.
Plants are delicate, living things and we take pride in shipping them thoughtfully, securely and with great care. However, once they leave our facility they may encounter issues in transit that we have no control or influence over. Please note that much of our plant material, while hardy, may arrive damaged or no longer viable if shipped in severe weather conditions. Exercise caution and use your best judgment before ordering during unusually hot or cold weather (below 32 degrees F, or in excess of 95F for shipping purposes), as these extremes may leave your plant vulnerable to damage. We are proud of our products and our reputation for providing excellent plant material. We strive to keep our prices fair and reasonable and to deliver to you the best product on the market, and for that product to arrive at our customers’ doors as pristine as the day it was packed. Please help us to ensure that you receive your plant material in peak condition and ready to plant.
Successful gardening requires careful planning, often full seasons in advance. Do your research and plan ahead for the best planting time in your area. Plants with delicate new roots need the best possible head start in getting established before winter, even hardy evergreen varieties. The optimal time for planting for most of our material is in mid to late spring, past the danger of hard frost. This allows your plants the longest possible growing season. Summer and very early fall are also suitable, as long as your plant is placed in optimal conditions and receives adequate water during the hotter, dryer periods of the summer. Late fall and winter are very risky in most areas, as our plant material ships from cozy greenhouses and will struggle adapting to very cold or frozen soil, or abrupt changes in temperature. This can easily cause damage, stunting, or failure to thrive. When in doubt about suitable planting times or zone compatible plants for your area, reach out to your local Agricultural Extension Office.
If issues with your plants arise within the first 30 days of receipt, please email or call our office. Our knowledgeable staff will review your concerns and provide guidance and troubleshooting, or a one-time replacement if necessary. The customer assumes responsibility for the cost of shipping the replacement.
Regarding orders placed for deciduous trees during their dormant period (winter or early spring) that fail to break dormancy by May 30th, we extend our guarantee beyond the five-day notification period. Please email or call us by May 30th so we can review your order and provide the necessary assistance. Please bear in mind that we may ask for photos- this aids us in assisting you with your plant. Often stress from shipping can be the cause of delayed development, which may be overcome with informed troubleshooting.
Plants are our passion and our business, and we take pride in building lasting relationships with our customers, based on reliably good service and trust in our product. However, plants are living things, vulnerable to unpredictable conditions and circumstances every day, just like people. We do our very best to provide top quality plant material, and with your help, we know that we can! Happy Planting!
