Description
Also known by the common name wild hyacinth, blue dicks is a lovely early-flowering wildflower found in valley grassland, chaparral, oak woodland, pine forest and mixed evergreen forest. Blue dicks bloom early in the season, usually March-May. Growing from an underground corm, blue dicks are a perennial species that go summer-dormant after blooming in the spring. When in flower it can grow 1′-2′ tall. It has two slender, grass-like leaves at the base of the plant and a narrow, twisting stem topped by dense, lavender-blue or purple flower (occasionally white) clusters with 2-15 flowers that have six fertile stamens. Blue dicks reproduces by seed and vegetatively via cormlets. Blue dicks prefers full sun but is adaptable to various soil types and conditions. Once established blue dicks are very drought tolerant and will not need any summer irrigation, but can tolerate occasional summer irrigation if needed. Very attractive to butterflies, hummingbirds, native bees and pollinating flies. When grown from seed blue dicks take several years to reach flowering size. Blue dicks are an important part of traditional diet for many Native Americans tribes throughout their range. The corms are dug with digging sticks and have long been an important source of starch in the diet. This species was formally known as Dichelostemma capitatum.
Blue dicks (Dipterostemon capitatus) seed packets contain approximately 135 seeds.
Seed Germination Instructions
30 days cold-moist stratification. Sow outside in fall to late winter.
