Ballota pseudodictamnus

Ballota pseudodictamnus is a perennial with evergreen foliage forming a compact tuft. Its beautiful almond green colour, leaning towards silver grey, enhances its neighbors in flower beds and its foliage brings a lot of softness thanks to its velvety texture. It thrives in (very) sunny positions, dry or even poor and limestone soils, and also withstands sea spray. Resistant to temperatures as low as -10°C (14°F), it does not tolerate stagnant winter moisture at all. Its discreet flowering in summer is punctuated by some pink-violet touches.

Belonging to the Lamiaceae family, Ballota is a cousin of sage and shares with it its Mediterranean origin. From its woody stump, long and ramified stems covered with hairs emerge, giving it a woolly appearance. They are covered with small, also downy, slightly heart-shaped, embossed and evergreen leaves. This ensemble forms a well-rounded and quite dense cushion (40cm (16in) high and wide), which can be maintained by pruning at two periods: just after flowering or at the beginning of winter. This is the only maintenance this carefree perennial will require. Its flowering is not its main attraction. However, it is refined and subtle with its tubular corolla, with two lips.

The False Dittany naturally finds its place in a silver flower bed alongside Euphorbias, Helichrysum, Stachys, and Artemisias. It also enhances the pink blossoms of Catchflies and Coneflowers. On a rockery, on a slightly dry and neglected slope, its rounded cushion will add volume.