A great small shrub with toothed, evergreen silvery green leaves and pale-blue, fluffy flowers from late summer and into autumn. With its strong upright habit, this shrub has a good presence in the middle of a sunny shrub or mixed border. It’s also very attractive to bees and butterflies at a time when flowers are getting scarce, and it is drought-tolerant. Hardy to -15°C.
H x S: 1m x 1m
Aspect and soil: Grow in moderately fertile, light, well-drained soil in full sun, in a sheltered spot. Not keen on chalky soil.
Use: Grasses such as Stipa tenuissima, rosemary, other hummocky grasses. In QMG Mediterranean border, surrounded by Allium Summer beauty, Teucrium, Euphorbia, Rosemary.
Care: Prune flowered stems back hard to the permanent framework in March. Apply a generous 5cm mulch of well-rotted garden compost around the base.
Wildlife: Good for bees and pollinators.
Hazard: —
Origin: Asia generally, particularly China.
Hardiness: H4
GILG GARDEN DESIGN 