PlantFiles: Amethystia
Amethystia caerulea 'Turquoise'

Self-sown or direct sown seedlings (or direct to pack) do quite well. The blooming while immature is I think due to excessive lighting--I've had it bloom in the germination rack when it was not potted on soon enough. Treated well, this plant has serrated dark green foliage which shades to a steely blue, cloudy panicles of teensy blue flowers (the original reason I grew it) and indigo seed sprays which keep their color and fragrance when dried. The fragrance is the main reason I grow it now--a balsamy-citrusy scent, present in all its parts. It gets to about 16" or so when pleased with itself and I like to tuck it into mixed plantings for its ferny looks and pleasant scent.

Tried this plant from seed. Most plants grew four inches in the seed tray, flowered over three days and went to seed. Something one would expect of a plant that comes from Siberia. A tiny blue flower, no scent. Not worth the bother.

I was fascinated by the name, which is basically a triple blue (or "violet-sky blue-turquoise" flower.) The one and only photo I found wasn't flattering, so I think I'll try growing it just to see for myself. According to JL Hudson (the only supplier of seed in the U.S.) it's a single species from Siberia, and the sky-blue flowers are fragrant and valued for cutting and drying.