Description
Ballota –
There are about 35 species of clump or mat forming perennials and evergreen or deciduous subshrubs, in this genus. They occur from rocky and waste ground in the Mediterranean, Europe and Western Asia. The leaves are opposite mostly round3ed and bluntly toothed and aromatic sometimes unpleasantly so. From leafy spikes it bears whorls of small, 2 lipped flowers, often with prominent, star shaped calyces. Was used in folk medicine. Grow in a sunny border and rockeries.
Grow in poor, dry, well drained soil in full sun. Cut back subshrubs in spring to keep compact. Divide perennials in spring.
B. ‘All Hallows Green’ – This bushy evergreen subshrub grows 24″ tall and 30″ wide. It produces heart shaped, woolly, lime green leaves to 2″ long. In mid and late summer it bears small 2 lipped pale green flowers with open funnel shaped calyces to 3/4″ across.
Zones 7-9
