A: This is a native perennial wildflower, which usually blooms from the spring through the fall, but we have had such a mild winter this year, it just never went into dormancy. The plant is called Innocence, Roundleaf bluet, or Fairy Footprints, Houstonia procumbens. The genus comes from a famous botanist, Dr. William Houston, who collected plants in South America. The species name procumbens refers to the flat growth habit. This pretty plant is found throughout most of the southern states from Louisiana to North Carolina It is commonly found growing in sandhills, dunes, flatwoods, hammocks and disturbed sites throughout Florida and we should probably be propagating it. Some people often consider it a weed in their lawns and work hard at trying to remove it. It is suitable for cold hardiness zones 7 to 11. It can be grown in any variety of light conditions from full sun to partial shade but produces best when it receives adequate irrigation or rainfall. However, it is growing in my neighbor’s yard and his house has been abandoned for well over 2 years – no water! Innocence has many beautiful patches in his yard so I would say it also tolerates low water conditions too.

0