Definitely a WOW! plant. Chartreuse, Coleus-like foliage is incredible on its own, but the blue bottlebrush flowers in mid summer top it off beautifully. Very hardy and will self sow. Benefits from a little shade in production to protect leaf color. A 2003 All-America Selection Flower Award Winner.
Height2-3 Feet |
![]() |
Spread2-3 ft |
![]() |
Spacing12-15 Inches |
Bloom ColorBlue |
![]() |
USDA Hardiness Zone 5-9 |
"Hermaphroditic flowers are self-fertile. Seeds ripen in autumn. First year plants started in autumn coldframes or indoors in trays & put into the garden in spring will bloom by August, but in years after it will bloom beginning late June or July.
If deadheaded before the summer flowers go to seed, it will bloom all the way to October or first frost. If permitted to go to seed, finches will visit the flowerheads to eat the seeds.
A useful herb, the highly aromatic leaves can be used for tea that tastes of licoricy mint, or dried for poupouri. Young leaves are tasty raw in salads or fresh fruit-cups; tougher, older leaves can be added to cooked foods. Extracted oils have been used in food flavorings. Chinese herbalists believe it is useful for heart conditions, though there are no well-designed double-blind studies to lend credence to this traditional use. It may more certainly help relieve cold symptoms, as its mildly antiviral properties appear to be legitimate." - Paghat's Garden
Full sun to part shade in normal to dry soil with good drainage. Drought tolerant once established. Plants can be pinched early in the season to keep them compact.
Soil Moisture Needs
|
Green Infrastructure
|
Attributes
|
Season of Interest (Flowering)
|
||||||||||
Propagation Type
|