Woolly bluecurls facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Woolly bluecurls |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Trichostema
|
| Species: |
lanatum
|
The woolly bluecurls (scientific name: Trichostema lanatum) is a special plant found in California and northern Baja California. It's a type of small, evergreen shrub, which means it keeps its leaves all year round. You can often spot it growing in dry, shrubby areas called chaparral.
This plant is known for its beautiful blue flowers and its woolly stems. It's a favorite among hummingbirds and bumblebees!
Contents
What Woolly Bluecurls Look Like
The woolly bluecurls plant can grow up to 1.5 meters (about 5 feet) tall. It has many branches and narrow, pointed green leaves.
Its flowers are a smooth, bright blue color. They grow in thick bunches. The stems and the cup-like parts of the flowers (called calyces) are covered in soft, woolly hairs. These hairs can be blue, pink, or white, which gives the plant its "woolly" name. You can usually see these flowers blooming from March to June.
A Plant with a Spanish Name
Long ago, when Spanish explorers came to California, they called this plant romero. This is the Spanish word for rosemary. They probably called it this because it looks a bit like rosemary. Even today, some people still use the name romero for the woolly bluecurls.
Uses of Woolly Bluecurls
People often grow woolly bluecurls in their gardens because it's a very pretty ornamental plant. Gardeners have even created different types, called cultivars, from this plant. It's great for attracting hummingbirds and bumblebees to your garden, helping nature thrive.
The plant has a nice smell and feels a bit sticky because it has glands. Native American people used woolly bluecurls for many different things. For example, they would use it to make a tasty tea. It was also used for traditional medicine.
See also
In Spanish: Trichostema lanatum para niños
