Bartlettina sordida

Bartlettina sordida, the purple torch or blue mist flower, is a flowering plant which is endemic to cloud forest habitats in Mexico.[4][5] It was formerly classified in the genus Eupatorium.

Bartlettina sordida
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Asterales
Family: Asteraceae
Genus: Bartlettina
Species:
B. sordida
Binomial name
Bartlettina sordida
(Less.) R.M.King & H.Rob.
Synonyms

Eupatorium megalophyllum (Lem.) N.E. Br.[1][2][3]
Eupatorium sordidum

Description

The plant is an evergreen, erect shrub, growing to 8 feet (2.4 m) tall and 4 feet (1.2 m) wide.[4]

Bartlettina sordida has reddish-purple branches clothed in slightly rough, dark green leaves with prominent venation and paler undersides. The leaves are very large, up to 10 inches (25 cm) longs and 8 inches (20 cm) wide.

The inflorescence is a terminal corymbose panicle, 20–30 cm across.[5] The large clusters of scented flowers appear in spring, mauve to lilac to magenta-blue in color. The clusters have a bursting fireworks appearance.[4] The seed has a fluffy pappus and is easily dispersed by wind.[5]

Cultivation

Bartlettina sordida is cultivated as an ornamental plant for use in gardens and parks. They are pollinator plants, attractive to butterflies.

The plant prefers bright dappled shade, and moist, well draining soils high in organic matter.[4] The plant is frost tender below 25/30 °F (1/3 °C).[4][6] Propagation is via seed, or semihardwood cuttings taken in autumn and winter or from prunings taken after flowering in late spring.[7][5]

The species has escaped from garden in parts of Australia, and can become weed and invasive species in compatible habitats where there is ample moisture.[3][5]

References
  1. Bartlettina sordida
  2. "Transcript - Episode 40". Gardening Australia. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 12 November 2005.
  3. R.P. Randall (September 2007). The introduced flora of Australia and its weed status (PDF). CRC for Australian Weed Management Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia. ISBN 978-1-920932-60-2. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-03-31. Retrieved 2013-10-01.
  4. Plantprovocateur.com: Bartlettina sordida . accessed 11.28.2013
  5. Royal Botanic Gardens of Sydney, Australia: Bartlettina sordida . accessed 11.28.2013.
  6. Encyclopaedia of Garden Plants, Reader's Digest, Sydney, 1998
  7. Botanica's Trees & Shrubs, Random House, Sydney, 2001
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