Ballota pseudodictamnus (28/07/2012, Kew Gardens, London)
Position: Full sun
Flowering period: Late spring to summer
Soil: Moist, well drained
Eventual Height: 60cm
Eventual Spread: 90cm
Hardiness: 7b – 10a
Family: Lamiaceae
Ballota pseudodictamnus is a low growing, evergreen, bushy sub-shrub. Its silver/ green leaves are rounded with entire margins, hairy and up to 3cm long and 2cm broad. Its stems are also covered in white hairs. Its pink hermaphrodite flowers are up to 15mm long and appear in whorls towards the stem tips.
Ballota pseudodictamnus, commonly known as False Dittany or Grecian Horehound, is native to the Greek islands.
The etymological root of the binomial name Ballota is derived from the Greekballwth, the ancient Greek name for Ballota nigra. Pseudodictamnus is derived from the Greek pseudo meaning ‘false’ and dictamnus, another genus of plants.
Ballota pseudodictamnus (28/07/2012, Kew Gardens, London)
The landscape architect may findBallota pseudodictamnususeful as an evergreen ground cover, particularly on dry sites. Once established this plant is drought tolerant.
Ecologically, B. pseudodictamnus is attractive to pollinating insects.
The Royal Horticultural Society has given B. pseudodictamnus their prestigious Award of Garden Merit in 1993.
B. pseudodictamnus prefers moist, fertile, well-drained soils. It tolerates most pH of soil. It will tolerate poor soils
Ballota pseudodictamnus requires little maintenance. Pruning should be carried out in mid spring.
