Lithodora zahnii – Lithospermum zahnii –

Description

Lithodora – There are about 7 species of dwarf, low growing, spreading or upright, evergreen shrubs and subshrubs in this genus. They occur in scrub, thickets, and woodland margins, and mountains, from Southwestern Europe to Southern Greece, Turkey, and Algeria. They are grown for their 5 lobed, funnel shaped, blue or white flowers, held in leafy, terminal cymes mainly in summer. The leaves are deep green and linear, lance shaped, elliptic, or obovate, and hairy. The hardier species are ideal for an open position in a rock garden or raised bed. Grow in well drained, ideally alkaline to neutral soil, in full sun. Prone to aphids and spider mites.  L. zahnii – Lithospermum zahnii – This upright, many branched, evergreen shrub from Southern Greece grows 12″ tall and 16″ wide. It produces linear or narrowly oblong, leathery, dark gray-green leaves, to 11 ½” long, gray bristly beneath. In succession during summer, than intermittently until mid autumn it bears few flowered terminal cymes of blue or white flowers, ½” across. Zones 8-10