Chicory - Cichorium Intybus

The chicory plant's vibrant blue flowers attract bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects, fostering biodiversity and supporting the local ecosystem. As pollinators visit, the plant blooms; they also pollinate nearby plants, enhancing the overall fertility and productivity of the landscape.

 This perennial is known as the "blue daisy" for its attractive round blue flowers with a petal and sepal pattern similar to daisies. The plant is also known to have white or pink blooms, but these examples are rare.

 Early Morning Hour Blooms

Chicory blooms from daybreak until noon, an odd feature of this plant that explains its popularity in native beds and flower gardens.

It grows to 5 feet tall but is most commonly about 2 feet tall. When grown close together, the light blue flowers form a canopy, creating a pleasing focal point in any garden. Being blue, these flowers mesh well with other blue varieties, such as California bluebells or Northern Blue Flags. Because blue daisies are lighter, you can ring them around any flowers of darker blue to create a visual transition to flowers of other colors. 

These flowers have different leaves depending on their age. In their first season, leaves form at the base of the stems. These attractive, curly leaves can grow about a foot long and create a separate focal point for the blue flowers.

 During their second or following season, the leaves are smaller and grow further up the stems. Unlike many other plants, blue daisies lack petioles, so the leaves seem to clasp the stem lovingly, which creates a sweet effect.

Bloom Cycle

The flowers of this plant only last one day, but the plant grows new flowers every day throughout the spring and summer. The flower buds generally open at or shortly after dawn, and by sunset, the flowers are closing again as new ones prepare to open the next day. It's possible to take time-lapse photos or videos of these flowers and see them "wink" throughout the day. This charming phenomenon is not unique to blue daisies but is particularly noteworthy among these flowers. 

Even though Its blooms only last a day or so each, they are still an essential nectar source for pollinators like the bumblebee and certain butterfly species. Generally, these insects will flock to a cluster of blue daisies in the early afternoon. These plants are pretty hardy, too, so in addition to being good-looking, they prevent soil leaching and erosion and contribute to the health of any garden.

Characteristics of the Perennial

It is an ephemeral plant with glossy blue flowers. It is mainly used as an ornamental plant, adapting to almost any soil and looking beautiful and pretty in gardens.

It doesn't require much care to grow and can be grown quickly. It likes full sun and is adaptable to most soil types. Regularly water the plant, but don't overwater it because it is drought tolerant. 

This plant grows easily in pots. The pot must be drained and able to take the taproot growth.

The plant flowers in mid-to-late summer and produces vibrant blue flowers. Depending on the climate, it may take 3-4 months from seed to flower.  Blue Chicory flowers pollinate with bees, butterflies, and other insects. It is good for encouraging biological diversity in one's garden and for protecting native species.

This Is How Your Plants Will Look upon Delivery

Planting bare-root perennials is best in any season if they are dormant; we only sell dormant plants. Planting them year-round is also excellent if you can get dormant perennials. When your bare-root perennials arrive, soak the roots in water for a few hours to rehydrate them. Lant by digging a hole wide enough to spread the roots comfortably and deep enough to place the top portion crown (where the roots meet the stem) at or slightly above ground level. Position the plant in the hole, backfill with native soil, and gently firm the soil around the roots—water well after planting to settle the soil around the plant and eliminate air. Apply a 2-3 inch layer of mulch to keep weeds at bay and moisture locked in, keeping the mulch away from the crown. Irrigate plants regularly during the first few weeks of drought; never water in full sun, and water late in the evenings to ensure the roots are established well. Fertilize sparingly in the first year, using a balanced, slow-release fertilizer in subsequent years as needed. 

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