Lithodora diffusa 'Heavenly Blue'

RHS Plant Profile
purple gromwell 'Heavenly Blue'

Other common names

gromwell 'Heavenly Blue'

Synonyms

Lithodora diffusa 'Heavenly Blue'
Lithospermum diffusum 'Heavenly Blue'
Lithospermum 'Heavenly Blue'

Award of Garden Merit
Shrubs Alpine Rockery

A prostrate evergreen shrub forming a wide mat up to 15cm in height, with small, hairy leaves and abundant, vivid deep blue flowers 12mm in width produced in late spring and summer

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Loam, Sand

Max Height

0.1-0.5 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
2–5 years
Max Spread
0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height
0.1-0.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Loam Sand
Moisture
Well–drained
pH
Acid or Neutral

Position

Full sun
Aspect
South–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Exposed or Sheltered
Hardiness
H5

Colour & Scent

Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Boraginaceae
Native to GB/Ireland
No
Foliage
Evergreen
Habit
Matforming
Genus
A genus of flowering, evergreen, shrubby plants from borage family. They are cultivated for their five-lobed, funnel-shaped, blue or white flowers produced in cymes in summer. Leaves are linear, lance-shaped or elliptic, densely hairy
Name Status
Accepted

How to Grow

Cultivation

Excellent for an open, sunny position with well-drained acidic soil in a rock garden or raised bed

Propagation

Propagate by semi-hardwood cuttings

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • Gravel garden
  • Rock garden
  • Patio and container plants
  • Mediterranean climate plants
  • Ground cover

Pruning

Pruning group 8

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

Generally disease-free