Michauxia

Description

Michauxia – There are 7 species of strong growing, imposing biennials or short lived, monocarpic perennials in this genus. They occur from sunny, well drained, stony sites in the Eastern Mediterranean region and western Asia. Species often attain heights of 5′ feet or more tall. The toothed, hairy, rosette forming leaves are pinnatisect or pinnatifid, each leaf with a single large, terminal lobe. Racemes or panicles of white or blue flowers, with spreading or reflexed corollas consisting of many narrow petals, are held on thick, leafy stems. Grow in a mixed border. Grow in moderately fertile, well drained, alkaline soil in full sun. Provide a dry winter mulch. Shelter from strong winds is essential. M. tchihatchewii – This perennial from Turkey grows 5-6′ feet tall or more and 18″ wide. It produces long stalked, oblong to broadly lance shaped, coarsely toothed leaves, 6-8″ long. In mid summer from robust, stiff, branching stems, one per rosette, bear dense, spike like racemes of nodding, initially broadly bell shaped, white or blue flowers, to 1 1/4″ across, with mildly reflexed corollas, the lobes divided only to 1/3″ of their lengths. Zones 7-9