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Cyanicula caerulea

blue finger-orchid

Orchidaceae Southern Australia

Attracts Pollinators Drought Tolerant

SunFull Sun – Part Shade

WaterLow · drought-tolerant

HardinessZones 9–11

Overview

Cyanicula caerulea is a small deciduous terrestrial orchid in the Orchidaceae growing from an underground tuber and reaching 2-6 inches (5-15 cm) tall in flower. Each plant produces a single narrow, hairy leaf 1-3 inches (2.5-8 cm) long that lies close to the ground. A slender stem carries one, occasionally two, flowers about 0.8-1.2 inches (2-3 cm) across in shades of blue to violet, with a paler centre and darker veins; the flower has the spreading sepals and petals and small central labellum typical of the family. The plant emerges in autumn, flowers in late winter and spring, then dies back to its tuber over summer dormancy. Like many terrestrial orchids it depends on a symbiotic soil fungus to germinate and grow, which makes it difficult to transplant or cultivate. It grows in seasonally moist, well-drained sandy soils in open woodland and heath. Flowering is stronger in the seasons after fire.

Native Range

Native to southern Australia, including south-western Western Australia and parts of South Australia, Victoria, and New South Wales. Grows in open forest, woodland, and heath on seasonally moist, well-drained sandy and gravelly soils.

Suggested Uses

Grown almost only in specialist native-orchid collections, as its fungal dependence makes general cultivation difficult. Recorded in wild populations and conservation areas, where it is left undisturbed. Of interest in habitat restoration on sandy woodland soils.

How to Identify

Recognised by a single hairy ground-hugging leaf and one or two blue to violet flowers about 0.8-1.2 inches (2-3 cm) across on a slender stem 2-6 inches (5-15 cm) tall. The blue flower colour separates it from most other small terrestrial orchids in its range, which are mostly white, pink, or yellow. The flower has darker veins and a small central labellum.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height2" - 6"

Width/Spread2" - 4"

Reaches mature size in approximately 3 years

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~3 weeks

Winter Spring

Flowers in late winter and spring, roughly August to October, with single blue flowers opening on sunny days. Individual plants flower for 2-4 weeks. Flowering and plant numbers increase in the seasons following fire.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

Blue to violet

Foliage Description

Green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun SunPartial Shade

Requires 4-8 hours of direct sunlight daily

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range5.0 - 6.5(Acidic)

357912

Soil Types

sand rocky

Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Low

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

2-4 years

Drought Tolerance

Drought tolerant when established

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Grows in full sun to light shade in seasonally moist, sharply drained sandy soil, and depends on a specific soil fungus, so it rarely survives transplanting or ordinary cultivation. The tuber needs a dry summer rest and rots if kept wet during dormancy. Plants emerge with autumn rains and need moisture through winter and spring. Disturbance of the soil and roots usually kills established plants. It survives only where the soil and fungus are left undisturbed in habitat. Grazing and weed invasion reduce wild populations.

Pruning

No pruning is required. Spent flower stems and the single leaf die back naturally to the tuber over summer. Removing surrounding weeds and leaf litter reduces competition where the orchid grows wild.

✓ Toxicity

Non-toxic