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Cape Stock Wikimedia Commons
Brassicaceae

Cape Stock

Heliophila coronopifolia

Brief but dazzling beauty.

Family
Brassicaceae
Genus
Heliophila
Native to
South Africa
Bloom season
Spring
Type
annual
Height
1-2 ft
Sunlight
full sun
Soil
sandy, well-drained soil
Water
low to moderate
Hardiness
9-11
Lifespan
annual

Did you know

  • Cape stock is one of the few members of the cabbage family prized purely for its ornamental blue flowers.
  • The genus name Heliophila means 'sun-loving' in Greek, reflecting its preference for bright, open habitats.
  • Cape stock is part of the spectacular spring wildflower displays in Namaqualand, South Africa.
  • The plant is closely related to mustard, broccoli, and canola, all belonging to Brassicaceae.
  • Cape stock self-seeds freely and can naturalize in Mediterranean climates, creating carpets of blue.

Color meanings

0

fleeting joy

1

simplicity

Uses

  • wildflower meadow
  • cut flower arrangements