Blue Star Creeper
Isotoma fluviatilis
Also listed as Laurentia fluviatilis, Lobelia fluviatilis
Also known as Swamp Isotome
Climate Match for your location
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A low-growing groundcover with delicate blue star-shaped flowers that bloom throughout the warm months. Ideal for edging, rock gardens, or between pavers where it creates a lush, spreading mat.
Why grow it
Blue Star Creeper offers fine texture and extended seasonal bloom compared to coarser groundcover alternatives. It performs well in partial shade where many spreading plants decline, making it useful for transitions between sunny and shaded areas. The delicate flowers and dense mat habit provide both ornamental interest and functional coverage for erosion control on slopes or in spaces too narrow for larger plants.
Watch out for
This plant spreads vigorously once established and may outcompete slower-growing neighbors in confined spaces. In cooler climates, growth slows considerably during winter dormancy, leaving bare patches that take time to fill in during the growing season. Consistent moisture supports establishment, but waterlogged soil can encourage root rot, particularly in heavy clay soils without drainage amendment.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Campanulaceae
Native Range
Australia
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Season of Interest
Ground cover
Low spreading plants that carpet the soil.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
pH Range
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
A low-growing groundcover with delicate blue star-shaped flowers that bloom throughout the warm months. Ideal for edging, rock gardens, or between pavers where it creates a lush, spreading mat.
Climate Match for your location
See how well Blue Star Creeper grows in your area.
Enter your ZIP code and we'll show you how this plant fits your local climate.
Why grow it
Blue Star Creeper offers fine texture and extended seasonal bloom compared to coarser groundcover alternatives. It performs well in partial shade where many spreading plants decline, making it useful for transitions between sunny and shaded areas. The delicate flowers and dense mat habit provide both ornamental interest and functional coverage for erosion control on slopes or in spaces too narrow for larger plants.
Watch out for
This plant spreads vigorously once established and may outcompete slower-growing neighbors in confined spaces. In cooler climates, growth slows considerably during winter dormancy, leaving bare patches that take time to fill in during the growing season. Consistent moisture supports establishment, but waterlogged soil can encourage root rot, particularly in heavy clay soils without drainage amendment.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Campanulaceae
Native Range
Australia
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Season of Interest
Ground cover
Low spreading plants that carpet the soil.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
pH Range
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
Similar ground covers you might consider:
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