PEROVSKIA abrotanoides

Extraordinary perennial and deciduous shrub which comes from South Africa. It can grow maximum till 1,50 cm with a quite quick growth rate. It shows numerous ramifications even from the base and white-greyish stems which are lignified below and quadrangular above. Leaves are silvery-grey, lobed and hardly serrated, deeply aromatic. From late summer to the early autumn, it produces some inflorescences at the apex of the youngest branches. They consist of tubular blue flowers: these ears can be even 30 cm long.

It needs a sunny position so that it can grow in an healthy way and show its ornamental qualities. It prefers stony, poor in nutrients and well drained soils. Once established, it tolerates long periods of drought but it also benefits of summer sporadic irrigations which make its spectacular blooming more lasting. It tolerates salt and frosts even if these are intense and prolonged, so it tis ideal bot for coastal and hilly gardens. in spring, before of vegetative regrowth, you can make a pruning to remove dried, damaged and messy branches and to shorten the most vigorous stems in order to stimulate the thick, compact and ordered shape. In the garden it can be used alone as a big colorful bush or associated with other essences to realize both low mono-species and mixed borders, always giving a very ornamental effect.