Moltkia suffruticosa – Lithodora graminifolia – Lithospermum graminifolium-

Description

Moltkia – There are about 6 species of often short lived perennial or small shrubs, some evergreen, in this genus. They occur in alkaline soil in rock crevices or open hillsides from Northern Italy to Northern Greece to Southwestern Asia. They have alternate, lance shaped, hairy, mid or dark green leaves. From late spring to summer it bears pendulous 5 petalled, tubular shaped, blue, purple, or sometimes yellow flowers are held in short, one sided, terminal cymes. Grow in a rock garden, or at the front of a mixed or shrub border. Grow in poor, well drained, alkaline, gritty soil in full sun. Protect from excessive winter moisture, and shelter from cold, drying winds. May be invasive. Reasonable drought tolerant once established. M. suffruticosa – Lithodora graminifolia – Lithospermum graminifolium – This deciduous upright, loosely branched shrub from Northern Italy grows 12″ tall and wide. It produces narrowly linear, bristly, dark green leaves, to 6″ long. In summer it bears tubular, bright blue to purple-blue flowers, to ½” long, are held in dense, clustered cymes. Zones 7-9