Description
Synthyris –
There are about 14 tufted, low growing usually rhizomatous perennials in this genus. They are found naturally occurring in woodlands in Western and Central North America. They produce radical, heart shaped, kidney shaped, or pinnatifid leaves. Unbranched, leafy, upright stems produce narrow,, upright, spike like racemes of small, tubular to bell shaped, violet to blue, or rarely pink or white flowers, mainly in spring. Grow in a woodland or rock garden, or at the front of a shady, herbaceous border.
Grow in fertile, moist but well drained, humus rich soil in partial or deep shade. Divide in early spring when growth begins.
Prone to slugs and snails.
S. missurica – This clump forming herbaceous perennial from the arctic Canada to North and Central USA, grows 10″ tall and 12″ wide. It produces rounded-heart shaped to kidney shaped, shallowly lobed, bluntly toothed, leathery, dark green leaves, to 2″ across.. Over long periods in spring, bears tubular-bell shaped , deep lavender-blue flowers, to 3/4″ long, with prominent styles and anther, in abundant dense, upright, spike like racemes, 2-4″ long.
Zones 2-6
