Description
Libertia –
There are about 20 species of fibrous-rooted, clump forming, rhizomatous evergreen perennials in this genus. They occur in moist, grassy areas and scrub in New Zealand, Australia, and temperate North and South America. They have linear, leathery, 2 ranked, overlapping, mainly basal leaves, and the leaves held on stiff flowering stems are sparse and smaller. They are grown for their saucer shaped, white or blue flowers, each usually with 3 small outer tepals, 3 broad inner tepals, and sheathing bracts, borne in panicles and followed by glossy, light brown seed heads. Grow the larger Libertias in a herbaceous or mixed border, or in a gravel garden, the smaller species are suitable for a rock garden.
Grow in moderately fertile, humus rich, moist but well drained soil in full sun. Where marginally hardy, protect in winter with a dry mulch. Divide in spring.
L. caerulescens – This clump forming, rhizomatous perennial from Chile grows 24″ tall and half as wide. It produces linear, rigid, leathery leaves, 12-18″ long. In late spring, flowering stems bear 1 or 2 short leaves, and terminal, short branched panicles consisting of umbel like clusters of many pale blue flowers, ½” across.
Zones 9-10
