Stylidium, Genus, armeria, Species,
- Genus & species
thrift-leaved triggerplant
Overview
Stylidium armeria is a tufted perennial herb forming a basal rosette of narrow, thrift-like leaves 1-4 inches (2.5-10 cm) long and about 0.04-0.08 inch (1-2 mm) wide, crowded at the base. Flowering scapes rise 8-24 inches (20-60 cm) above the foliage, carrying loose terminal clusters of pink flowers, each flower 0.3-0.5 inch (8-12 mm) across with four spreading petals and a fused floral column. The column is hinged and spring-loaded: when an insect lands, it snaps over in under a second, contacts the visitor, transfers or receives pollen, then resets over several minutes. Flowering occurs mainly from late spring through summer. Foliage is mid-green and persists year-round in frost-free conditions. Plants spread slowly by short rhizomes and self-seed where conditions stay moist. The species grows in seasonally damp soils and tolerates brief waterlogging but declines in deep shade and in soils that dry out completely during the flowering period. Glandular hairs on the scape and flower parts trap small insects, though the plant is not strongly carnivorous and draws most of its nutrition from the soil.
Native Range
Native to southeastern Australia, including Victoria, Tasmania, New South Wales, and southeastern South Australia. Grows in heathland, damp sandy flats, and the margins of swamps and watercourses, typically in seasonally wet, nutrient-poor soils at low to moderate elevations.Suggested Uses
Grown in rockeries, bog-garden margins, and containers at 8-12 inch (20-30 cm) spacing. Suits seasonally wet, low-nutrient sites where many border perennials fail. Also kept as a potted curiosity for its touch-sensitive flower column.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height8" - 2'
Width/Spread4" - 8"
Bloom Information
Flowers from late spring through summer, mainly November to February in its native range. Individual flowers last a few days; a scape produces flowers in succession over 4-8 weeks. Bloom is reduced in shaded sites and in seasons when soils dry early.
Detailed Descriptions
Foliage Description
mid-greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
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
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Grows in full sun to light shade in moist, sandy or peaty soils of low fertility. Maintain damp soil through spring and summer; established plants tolerate short dry spells, but flowering decreases when soils dry during the bloom period. High-fertility soils and phosphorus-rich fertilisers can damage the roots, a sensitivity common among plants from nutrient-poor Australian soils. Frost damages foliage below about 28°F (-2°C); in colder regions plants are grown in containers and moved under cover for winter. Propagation is by division in spring or by fresh seed. Aphids may cluster on flower scapes in spring under glasshouse conditions.Pruning
Spent flowering scapes are cut at the base after bloom to limit self-seeding and tidy the rosette. No structural pruning is needed. Old or damaged outer leaves can be pulled away in spring as new growth appears.Pruning Schedule
Prune: February–March
summer
Container Growing
Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 1 gallons
