• Photo of Achetaria azurea (Achetaria azureas)

Plant Profile: Achetaria azurea

Names

Amazon Blue, Brazilian Snapdragon, Little Boy Blu

  • Photo of Achetaria azurea (Achetaria azureas)

Phonetic Spelling:ak-eh-TAR-ee-uh ah-ZUR-ee-ah

Genus:Achetaria

Species:azurea

Family:Plantaginaceae

This is a small, compact, evergreen shrub that continuously produces blooms resembling snapdragons, which is reflected in its common name. The individual flowers are primarily found at the tips of the branches, showcasing a striking blue hue with two petals. Notably, the lower petal features a white streak at its throat.

As a tropical or sub-tropical perennial, this plant can thrive indoors as a houseplant or be cultivated outdoors as an annual in regions that do not fall within tropical climates. When grown as a perennial, it offers nearly year-round blooms and serves as an excellent choice for cut flower arrangements. Conversely, when treated as an annual, it typically flowers from mid-summer through autumn. Additionally, it makes a wonderful enhancement to terrariums.

Achetaria azurea Feature Summary

Achetaria azurea Image Gallery

Tags

#evergreen
#showy flowers
#full sun tolerant
#houseplant
#blue
#fragrant leaves
#aromatic
#blue flowers
#cut flowers
#year-round interest
#herbaceous
#tropical perennial
#mint
#long bloom time
#evergreen shrub
#compact habit
#tropical shrub
#partial shade tolerant
#tropical feel

Similar Plants

Achetaria azurea is often confused with:

Achetaria azurea Feature Summary

Attributes
Not edible
Perennial
Fragrance
Attractive Flowers
Fruit
The fruit is an ovoid pubescent capsule.
< 1 inch
Flowers
Each blue flower has 2 petals, the lower petal has a white streak. The flowers expand straight from the stem of the plant.
Spring
Summer
Fall
Winter
2-3 rays/petals
fused petals
< 1 inch
Leaves
The leaves that smell like minty-pine when crushed, are pale green with depressed veins. The leaves are attached directly to the plants base, not depending on any stalks.
Ovate
Lanceolate
1-3 inches
1-3 inches
Stem
Stems have a variety of colors including brown, green, and a tint of red.
Brown/Copper
Green
Red/Burgundy
Straight
Whole Plant Traits
Perennial
Shrub
Annual
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mounding
Spreading
Medium
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Good Drainage
Moist
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Landscape
Cutting Garden
Mass Planting
Accent
Small groups
Specimen
Container
Patio
Walkways
Small Space
Houseplants
Hanging Baskets

Achetaria azurea Attributes

Achetaria azurea: Country Or Region Of Origin

Brazil

Achetaria azurea: Edibility

Not edible

Achetaria azurea: Life Cycle

Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody

Achetaria azurea: Recommended Propagation Strategy

Division
Grafting
Layering
Leaf Cutting
Root Cutting
Seed
Stem Cutting

Achetaria azurea: Play Value

Attractive Flowers
Attracts Pollinators
Buffer
Colorful
Defines Paths
Easy to Grow
Edible fruit
Fragrance
Pieces Used in Games
Screening
Shade
Sound
Textural
Wildlife Cover/Habitat
Wildlife Food Source
Wildlife Larval Host
Wildlife Nesting
Wind Break
Wind Shimmer

Achetaria azurea Fruit

Achetaria azurea: Fruit Description

The fruit is an ovoid pubescent capsule.

Achetaria azurea: Fruit Type

Achene
Aggregate
Berry
Capsule
Caryopsis
Drupe
Follicle
Legume
Nut
Pome
Samara
Schizocarp
Siliqua

Achetaria azurea: Fruit Length

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
> 3 inches

Achetaria azurea: Fruit Width

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
> 3 inches

Achetaria azurea Flowers

Achetaria azurea: Flower Description

Each blue flower has 2 petals, the lower petal has a white streak. The flowers expand straight from the stem of the plant.

Achetaria azurea: Flower Color

filter_vintage
Blue

Achetaria azurea: Flower Value To Gardener

Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long Bloom Season
Long-lasting
Showy

Achetaria azurea: Flower Bloom Time

Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall

Achetaria azurea: Flower Petals

2-3 rays/petals
4-5 petals/rays
6 petals/rays
7 - 20 petals/rays
asymmetrical petals
Bracts
Colored Sepals
fused petals
more than 20 petals/rays
Tepals

Achetaria azurea: Flower Size

1-3 inches
3-6 inches
< 1 inch
> 6 inches

Achetaria azurea Leaves

Achetaria azurea: Leaf Description

The leaves that smell like minty-pine when crushed, are pale green with depressed veins. The leaves are attached directly to the plants base, not depending on any stalks.

Achetaria azurea: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Achetaria azurea: Leaf Color

spa
Green

Achetaria azurea: Leaf Arrangement

Alternate
Opposite
Other/more complex
Rosulate
Whorled

Achetaria azurea: Leaf Shape

Acicular
Auriculate
Cordate
Cuneate
Deltoid
Elliptical
Filiform
Lanceolate
Linear
Oblanceolate
Oblong
Obovate
Obtuse
Orbicular
Ovate
Palmasect
Palmatifid
Peltate
Pinnatifid
Pinnatisect
Reniform
Rhomboidal
Spatulate
Subcordate
Subulate

Achetaria azurea: Leaf Margin

Crenate
Crenulate
Dentate
Denticulate
Doubly Crenate
Doubly Dentate
Doubly Serrate
Entire
Lobed
Serrate
Sinuate
Undulate

Achetaria azurea: Hairs Present

No
Yes

Achetaria azurea: Leaf Length

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches

Achetaria azurea: Leaf Feel

Fleshy
Glossy
Leathery
Papery
Prickly
Rough
Rubbery
Slippery
Smooth
Soft
Velvety
Waxy

Achetaria azurea: Leaf Value To Gardener

Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long-lasting
Showy

Achetaria azurea: Leaf Width

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches

Achetaria azurea Stem

Achetaria azurea: Stem Description

Stems have a variety of colors including brown, green, and a tint of red.

Achetaria azurea: Stem Color

grass
Brown/Copper
grass
Green
grass
Red/Burgundy

Achetaria azurea: Stem Is Aromatic

No
Yes

Achetaria azurea: Stem Cross Section

Angular
Oval
Round
Square

Achetaria azurea: Stem Form

Straight
Zig Zags

Achetaria azurea Whole Plant Traits

Achetaria azurea: Plant Type

Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower

Achetaria azurea: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Achetaria azurea: Habit/Form

Arching
Ascending
Broad
Cascading
Climbing
Clumping
Columnar
Conical
Creeping
Dense
Erect
Horizontal
Irregular
Mounding
Multi-stemmed
Multi-trunked
Open
Oval
Prostrate
Pyramidal
Rounded
Spreading
Vase
Weeping

Achetaria azurea: Growth Rate

Slow
Medium
Rapid

Achetaria azurea: Maintenance

Low
Medium
High

Achetaria azurea: Texture

Fine
Medium
Coarse

Achetaria azurea Cultural Conditions

Achetaria azurea: Light

Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

Achetaria azurea: Soil pH

Acid (<6.0)
Alkaline (>8.0)
Neutral (6.0-8.0)

Achetaria azurea: Soil Drainage

Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry

Achetaria azurea: Available Space To Plant

12 inches-3 feet
12-24 feet
24-60 feet
3 feet-6 feet
6-feet-12 feet
Less than 12 inches
more than 60 feet

Achetaria azurea: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

thermostat
10a
thermostat
10b
thermostat
11a
thermostat
11b
thermostat
9a
thermostat
9b

Achetaria azurea: Soil Texture

Clay
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky

Achetaria azurea Landscape

Achetaria azurea: Landscape Theme

Asian Garden
Butterfly Garden
Children's Garden
Cottage Garden
Cutting Garden
Drought Tolerant Garden
Edible Garden
English Garden
Fairy Garden
Garden for the Blind
Native Garden
Nighttime Garden
Pollinator Garden
Rain Garden
Rock Garden
Shade Garden
Water Garden
Winter Garden

Achetaria azurea: Design Feature

Accent
Barrier
Border
Flowering Tree
Foundation Planting
Hedge
Mass Planting
Screen/Privacy
Security
Shade Tree
Small groups
Small Tree
Specimen
Street Tree
Understory Tree

Achetaria azurea: Landscape Location

Coastal
Container
Hanging Baskets
Houseplants
Lawn
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Near Septic
Patio
Pond
Pool/Hardscape
Recreational Play Area
Riparian
Rock Wall
Slope/Bank
Small Space
Vertical Spaces
Walkways
Woodland