Dampiera stricta
blue dampiera
Overview
Dampiera stricta is an upright, suckering perennial in the family Goodeniaceae, sending up wiry, ridged stems 8-20 inches (20-50 cm) tall from a spreading root system. The small leaves are narrow to wedge-shaped, 0.4-1.2 inches (1-3 cm) long, sometimes toothed, scattered along the stems. From spring into summer the upper stems carry blue to violet-blue flowers about 0.4-0.6 inch (10-15 mm) across, fan-shaped with the petals grouped to one side, often with a yellow or greenish throat. The buds and flower backs are covered with short greyish hairs. It grows in heath, open forest, and woodland across south-eastern Australia, from Queensland to Victoria and Tasmania, on sandy and gravelly soils. The plant spreads slowly by underground suckers, forming loose, open colonies rather than dense clumps. It tolerates drought and light frost once established and reshoots from the root system after fire. Flowering is heaviest in full sun, and plants in shade grow thin and bloom less. The suckering habit lets it spread into nearby ground, and the open form gives an airy rather than solid cover. It is slow to establish from cuttings.
Native Range
Dampiera stricta is native to south-eastern Australia, from Queensland through New South Wales and Victoria to Tasmania. It grows in heath, open forest, and woodland on sandy and gravelly soils.Suggested Uses
Grown in native, rockery, and water-wise gardens as a low, spreading filler among shrubs and on sandy banks. It suits heath-style plantings and the front of native borders. The blue flowers draw native bees and other insects.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height8" - 1'8"
Width/Spread1' - 2'
Bloom Information
Blue to violet-blue flowers open from spring into summer, roughly September to January in the native range. Flowering is concentrated on the upper stems over several weeks. Bloom is heaviest in full sun and reduced in shade.
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
blue to violet-blueFoliage Description
greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 5-9 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
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Grow in full sun to light shade in free-draining sandy or gravelly soil. Water during establishment, after which the plant tolerates drought. Use only low-phosphorus native fertiliser, as the family is sensitive to high phosphorus. Light frost is tolerated once established, and the plant reshoots from its root system after fire. Cut stems back after flowering to keep the colony compact. The suckering roots spread slowly and may need containing in a small bed.Pruning
Cut the wiry stems back by up to half after flowering to keep the plant dense and limit open, leggy growth. The root system reshoots in the following season. Suckers that spread too far can be removed at the root.Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing