Tweedia caerulea – Blue Milkweed – Apocynaceae (The Dogbane Family)

Description Tweedia caerulea is a very showy and beautiful subtropical milkweed relative with amazing true sky blue flowers with darker blue central rings. It grows as a subshrub or twining vine with felted, muted green, evergreen leaves on hairy stems. The long-lasting, five-petaled, blue flowers emerge from pale pink buds into small clusters aging to lavender becoming long light green seed pods that open to reveal classic dark brown milkweed seeds with silver white hairs. Stems will reach 2-3 feet high and will require light support from a trellis or stakes. Appreciates moist, well-drained soil in full sun with afternoon shade in hot summer conditions. Plant in a protected microclimate in coastal BC and mulch in winter. Or bring indoors into a frost free location or as a houseplant. Lovely in city or courtyard gardens, in containers on the patio, and as cut flowers. Hardy to zone 7b. Attracts bees and butterflies. Now known scientifically as Oxypetalum coeruleum.