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Cyanotis somaliensis
Pussy Ears is a small, slightly succulent evergreen perennial from northern Somalia, grown for its hairy leaves and blue or purple summer flowers. The key to growing it is bright light, dry conditions between waterings, and protection from cold.
Cyanotis somaliensis, pussy ears, is a species of flowering plant in the family Commelinaceae, described in 1895. It is endemic to Somalia in East Africa. Growing to 12 cm (4.7 in) tall by 50 cm (20 in) broad, it is an evergreen perennial with hairy, slightly succulent leaves and, in summer, three-lobed blue or purple flowers which resemble those of Tradescantia, a closely related genus.
This plant is valued for its ornamental properties. In temperate regions it must be grown under glass, as it does not tolerate temperatures below 10 °C (50 °F). It has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.
Creeping Cradle Plant · Teddy Bear Vine · Crested Cat Ears · Sahyadri Dew Grass · Tree Dwelling Dew Grass · Blue Ears
Text excerpted from the Wikipedia article Cyanotis somaliensis by its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0; the excerpts and the care summary drawn from them are shared under the same licence.
The care summary was written by AI (Claude, Anthropic) from the sources on this page, with general growing knowledge where they are silent. Check before relying on it.
Life form, climate and native range: World Checklist of Vascular Plants, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (CC BY 3.0), reformatted; see Plants of the World Online.
