| Houstonia pusilla | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Asterids |
| Order: | Gentianales |
| Family: | Rubiaceae |
| Genus: | Houstonia |
| Species: | H. pusilla |
| Binomial name | |
| Houstonia pusilla Schöpf |
|
Houstonia pusilla is a plant in the family Rubiaceae native to the United States and common in the southeastern and central parts of the country. It is a short plant 6 inches (150 mm) or less in height with a tiny blue toned, yellow centered four lobed flower with a 0.25–0.33 inch (6.3–8.4 mm) diameter. The plant has a center rosette form and green herbaceous foliage with leaves up to 0.5 inches (13 mm) long. The leaves are opposite and each flower grows from a single branch growing from the leaf axil. This plant requires full sun and blooms in spring and early summer. It is a groundcover multiplying by self sowing and grows in mildly acidic soil where the grass is thin and moisture is adequate to support the plant.