Otacanthus caeruleus

Little Boy Blue

The Little Boy Blue is a sub-tropical, low-growing shrub from Brazil attains a height of about one metre and sprawls outwards to a similar diameter. It bears lovely blue, snapdragon-like flowers with a prominent white eye virtually throughout the year. Its leaves are simple, plain green and held in opposite pairs along the soft stems.

It does best in sun or light shade and is particularly rewarding when grown in rich loamy soil and watered during dry seasons. Regular feeding with a fertiliser high in potassium will help to prolong the flowering season. It is sensitive to cold and frost.