Forked bluecurls
Trichostema dichotomum
Last reviewed: September 2026
Forked bluecurls is an annual forb that blooms from August through October, producing small blue flowers. It grows best in full sun on dry, sandy or low fertility soils and needs little supplemental water once established.
Toxicity unknown
Forked bluecurls (Trichostema dichotomum) is not listed by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) or the other sources we check, so we have no verdict for it either way. Absence from those lists is not a clearance. If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.
Light
full sun
Water
low
Size
6"–24" H × 6"–18" W
Bloom
Aug, Sep, Oct
Native to
AL, AR, CT, DE and 24 more states
Pollinators
bees
Before you buy
Your city may pay you to plant this
Cities and water utilities offer rebates for replacing lawn with native and water-wise plants. We track 459 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.
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A low, branching annual forb with sticky, aromatic foliage and small, curled blue-violet flowers with long, showy stamens produced from late summer into fall. Self-seeds readily in sandy, well-drained soils.
Growing Forked bluecurls
Grow Forked bluecurls in full sun and low water. Mature plants reach 6 to 24 inches tall and spread 6 to 18 inches wide. Expect low maintenance to keep it looking intentional in a front yard.
In an HOA neighborhood
Forked bluecurls is an HOA-friendly choice in the right placement. Maintenance level: low. Tidiness: 2 out of 5.
Works well in: front yard, mid zone.
- Self-seeding annual habit gives an informal, wild appearance
- Sparse, open branching can read as weedy in a tidy bed
Wildlife value
Late-season flowers attract a variety of native bees for nectar and pollen.
Common questions
- When does forked bluecurls bloom?
- Forked bluecurls typically flowers from August into October, with small blue tubular blossoms appearing on branched stems in late summer and fall.
- What pollinators visit forked bluecurls?
- Bees are the primary visitors to forked bluecurls, drawn to its curled blue stamens and late-season nectar during its August to October bloom period.
- What growing conditions suit forked bluecurls best?
- This forb prefers full sun and well-drained, sandy or gravelly soils with low water needs. It tolerates dry, infertile ground and open, disturbed sites.
- Is forked bluecurls a perennial plant?
- No, forked bluecurls is an annual forb. It completes its life cycle in one growing season, flowering in late summer before setting seed.
- Is Forked bluecurls HOA-friendly?
- Forked bluecurls is generally an HOA-friendly choice in the right placement, with low maintenance.
These answers were drafted with an AI model from this plant's data. Verify care details with a local expert.
Native range data from the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew). Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.
If something looks wrong
Common plant problems, and what to check first
These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.
- It is dying right after planting
- Leaves turning yellow
- Wilting even though I watered it
- Brown crispy leaf tips
- Bugs on the plant
Ready to grow Forked bluecurls? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.