Other Names:  Blue Lithospermum

Brand:  Terra Nova

Description:

Vivid, deep blue, star-shaped flowers cover this dense ground-hugging perennial in spring; lovely golden foliage stays attractive all summer; absolutely must have a well-drained, sandy soil to survive; makes an ideal rock or alpine garden addition

Ornamental Features

Gold 'n Sapphires™ Lithodora is blanketed in stunning royal blue star-shaped flowers with white eyes at the ends of the stems from mid spring to early summer. Its attractive small tomentose narrow leaves emerge buttery yellow in spring, turning gold in color with showy lime green variegation and tinges of chartreuse the rest of the year.

Landscape Attributes

Gold 'n Sapphires™ Lithodora is an herbaceous evergreen perennial with a ground-hugging habit of growth. Its relatively fine texture sets it apart from other garden plants with less refined foliage.

This is a relatively low maintenance plant, and is best cleaned up in early spring before it resumes active growth for the season. Deer don't particularly care for this plant and will usually leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Gold 'n Sapphires™ Lithodora is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Rock/Alpine Gardens
• Border Edging
• General Garden Use
• Groundcover
• Container Planting

Planting & Growing

Gold 'n Sapphires™ Lithodora will grow to be only 4 inches tall at maturity, with a spread of 18 inches. Its foliage tends to remain low and dense right to the ground. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 10 years. As an evegreen perennial, this plant will typically keep its form and foliage year-round.

This plant does best in full sun to partial shade. It does best in average to evenly moist conditions, but will not tolerate standing water. It is particular about its soil conditions, with a strong preference for sandy, acidic soils. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. Consider covering it with a thick layer of mulch in winter to protect it in exposed locations or colder microclimates. This particular variety is an interspecific hybrid. It can be propagated by division; however, as a cultivated variety, be aware that it may be subject to certain restrictions or prohibitions on propagation.

Gold 'n Sapphires™ Lithodora is a fine choice for the garden, but it is also a good selection for planting in outdoor pots and containers. Because of its spreading habit of growth, it is ideally suited for use as a 'spiller' in the 'spiller-thriller-filler' container combination; plant it near the edges where it can spill gracefully over the pot. Note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden.