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Herbaceous Perennial

Moltkia doerfleri

Doerfler's moltkia

A rhizomatous, woody-based perennial to 40cm tall, with wiry, upright stems and lance-shaped leaves. From late spring to midsummer, arching flowerspikes bear pendent, narrowly tubular, purple flowers. Grow in a Mediterranean or rock garden

Synonyms
Lithospermum doerfleri
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Size
Ultimate height
0.1–0.5 metres
Time to ultimate height
2–5 years
Ultimate spread
0.1–0.5 metres
Growing conditions
Chalk
Loam
Sand
Moisture
Well–drained
pH
Alkaline, Neutral
Colour & scent
StemFlowerFoliageFruit
Spring Purple Green
Summer Purple Green
Autumn Green
Winter
Position
  • Full sun
Aspect

South–facing or West–facing

Exposure
Sheltered
Hardiness
H4
Botanical details
Family
Boraginaceae
Native to the UK
No
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Clump forming
Genus

Moltkia can be evergreen or deciduous, subshrubs or perennials, with simple, lance-shaped or linear leaves and funnel-shaped or tubular blue, purple or yellow flowers in late spring and early summer

Name status

Correct

Plant range
N.E. Albania

How to grow

Cultivation

Grow in poor, well-drained, preferably alkaline soil in full sun. Protect from excessive winter wet and cold, drying winds

Propagation

Propagate by seed or softwood cuttings

Suggested planting locations and garden types
  • Cottage and informal garden
  • Mediterranean climate plants
  • Rock garden
  • Flower borders and beds
Pruning

Cut back old top growth in winter

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

Generally disease-free

Get involved

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