Wulfenia carinthiaca

COW’S FOOTSTEP

SALE: Buy 1 get 2 packs

Wulfenia carinthiaca
COW’S FOOTSTEP
SALE: Buy 1 get 2 packs

Stunningly true-blue flowers electrify the garden, when Wulfenia carinthiaca flowers in the summer.
It also has the unusual common name of “Cow’s Footstep”, perhaps because of the scalloped shape of the leaves.

Stunningly intense true-blue flowers

A rare native of Albania, Wulfenia carinthiaca forms a pretty, neat clump of long, shiny leaves with scalloped edges.
Then in summer a succession of graceful spires arch up above the foliage, bearing intensely blue tubular flowers densely packed up the stems.

Neat & attractive foliage clump all year

So the evergreen foliage clump is both neat and attractive all year round.
But when the flower stems rise above, bearing spikes of deep-blue tubular flowers during the summer, it steals every eye.
It is frost hardy, and a good, easy grower in the right conditions (see below in Growing section).
Though it is not a good choice for regions with humid summers, or gardens with sandy soil.

SEED SOWING ADVICE: QUICK & EASY
Suitable for beginners & gardening with kids

Sow Wulfenia carinthiaca seeds outdoors in spring / or sow indoors at any time for maximum germination.

Sow indoors for quick & early plants: First sow the seeds on surface of good quality compost or seed raising mix, at any time.
But do not cover with compost as these seeds need light to germinate.

Then thoroughly moisten the mix by standing the sown punnet in a shallow water bath.
And allowing the moisture to percolate to the surface from below.

Now place the punnet in a warm, well-lit  place.
You can use a heat mat if you have one, but it is not essential, as these seeds are willing germinators.

Temperatures around 20 degrees C. are ideal for rapid and optimum germination.

Continue to keep consistently moist at all times by misting from a spray water bottle.
And covering the punnet with a clear plastic lid helps to retain consistent moisture.

Seeds germinate in 21 days approx.

Then pot on the seedlings to harden off and mature. Before finally planting out in the garden.

However if the seeds are shy to germinate and have not appeared in 30 days, then the seeds need a period of chilling to break their natural dormancy.
This dormancy is normal for plants from areas with cold winters.

So wrap the moist, sown punnet in cling-wrap, place in the fridge (not freezer) for 4-6 weeks (this mimics winter).
Then remove, unwrap, moisten, and return to a well-lit place for germination.

Seed Count: 8 seeds per pack approx. (Seeds of this unusual beauty are scarce at the moment)

GROWING: Wulfenia carinthiaca
COW’S FOOT STEP

Height with flowers: Elegant arching stems of vivid blue approx. 20cm. high.
Width: Forms an evergreen, decorative clump approx. 40cm wide
Position: Ideally enjoys a woodland setting, growing happily in Partial Shade/Dappled Sunlight.
Soil: Prefers humus rich, gritty soil that retains moisture but must be well drained.
So clay based soils that have been opened up with gravel are ideal.

Frost: Wulfenia carinthiaca is extremely frost hardy, and remains serene even in hard temperatures down to below -15C.
Growth: Evergreen Perennial with an exceptionally pretty foliage clump.

Bees & birds: The tubular flowers are very attractive and useful to a wide range of native bees, as well as nectar-feeding birds.

Care: Easy and low maintenance. Cut spent flower stems to promote fresh growth as well as further blooms.
Deer & Rabbit resistant: Not first choice for these nibbling pests because they don’t enjoy the leathery leaves.
Origin: A native of Albania, and well used to coping with limestone conditions.

Click here for Nursery Open Days & Open Gardens Information
https://www.gardivalia.com.au/open-gardens

Click here to go back to Seeds Shop
https://www.seedscape.net.au/shop/