Tweedia
Tweedia is a tender, semi-climbing perennial usually grown as an annual, treasured for its rare, powdery sky-blue star-shaped flowers that mature to soft lavender. It is one of the most sought-after true-blue flowers for weddings, especially bridal bouquets and boutonnieres, where a touch of genuine blue is wanted. The stems exude a milky sap when cut and need searing before use. Its clusters of five-pointed stars add a delicate, romantic and slightly whimsical note.
| Family | Apocynaceae |
|---|---|
| Origin | Southern Brazil and Uruguay |
| Peak season | June, July, August, September |
| Availability | May, June, July, August, September, October |
| Stem length | 30–50 cm |
| Vase life | 7–10 days |
| Colors | blue, lavender, white |
| Price tier | premium |
Sear the cut stem ends in boiling water or over a flame to seal the milky latex sap, which can irritate skin — wear gloves and rinse any sap away. Recut and condition in warm water with flower food. Strip lower foliage and keep the flowers cool to preserve their blue tone. Handle gently, as the star-shaped blooms bruise easily.
- •Sear cut ends to seal the milky sap
- •Wear gloves — sap can irritate skin
- •Rinse sap before arranging
- •Use warm water and flower food
- •Keep cool to extend the blue
1 named oxypetalum (tweedia) cultivars from the Lacy Bird master catalogue — each a distinct commercial variety.
Entries marked ✦ come from the Acanta master catalogue — the shared database of cut flowers, forms, colours and named varieties that florists and studios build on. The rest are our editorial genus reference. What is Acanta →
Bouquet Builder — by Lacy BirdDesign the bouquet. See it as a photo.
Botanical reference
- Also known as
- southern star, oxypetalum, blue star
Open-data sources: GBIF, Wikidata (CC0/CC BY)
Frequently asked questions
When is Tweedia in season?
Tweedia peaks in June, July, August, September, and florists can usually source it May, June, July, August, September, October. Availability shifts by region and greenhouse supply.
How long does Tweedia last in a vase?
Expect 7–10 days with proper conditioning — a clean vase, fresh water every couple of days, flower food, and a cool spot away from ripening fruit and direct heat.
What can I use instead of Tweedia?
Good substitutes for Tweedia include Cornflower, Grape hyacinth, Brodiaea. Match on look, colour and season — our substitute finder ranks the closest alternatives.
What does Tweedia symbolise?
Tweedia is associated with true love, serenity, belonging, tenderness.
How do you care for cut Tweedia?
Sear cut ends to seal the milky sap
Related flowers
Free to quote and cite with attribution and a link back, for non-commercial and editorial use (blogs, journalism, classrooms, research).
Lacy Bird Flower Encyclopedia — “Tweedia”. https://lacybird.com/flowers/tweedia/<a href="https://lacybird.com/flowers/tweedia/">Lacy Bird Flower Encyclopedia — Tweedia</a>