What is patersonia?

Patersonia is a genus of flowering plants in the family Irisaceae. It contains around 80 species of perennial herbs that are native to Australia, with the majority of species found in southern and western regions. Patersonia plants typically have slender, grass-like leaves and tall stems that bear large, showy flowers. The flowers usually have six tepals that may be colored shades of blue, purple, pink, or white, depending on the species. Patersonia species are adapted to a range of habitats, including sandy soil, wetlands, woodlands, and heathlands. They are cultivated as ornamental plants in gardens and can be grown from seed or division. Some species of Patersonia are used in traditional Aboriginal medicine for their medicinal properties.