Lithodora 'Grace Ward' Gromwell

Lithodora 'Grace Ward' Gromwell is an evergreen perennial shrub. A highly popular cultivar, this mat-forming ground cover has trailing stems clad in small, hairy lance-shaped, dark green leaves and terminal clusters of small, starry true deep blue flowers from late spring through summer. Nectar and pollen rich, the flowers sustain pollinators and are particularly attractive to butterflies.

A Lithodora diffusa, commonly called lithodora or gromwell, 'Grace Ward' has a prostrate habit and spreads, covering a large area over time. It makes a great specimen or accent but is shown to best effect when grouped or massed in beds and borders. It's tough enough to combat erosion on slopes and banks as a ground cover but beautiful enough to ornament containers and rock retaining walls, gracefully spilling over the edges. Lithodora is a natural for butterfly gardens, rock gardens, woodland margins, and landscapes.

A low-maintenance plant, most at home in Mediterranean-type climates, lithodora grows best in sunny to partly sunny locations with humusy, moist, fertile, well-draining soils having an acidic pH. It tolerates full sun in cool summer climates and more shade in extremely hot areas, but it may suffer in the hot, humid climates in the deep South. 'Grace Ward' is virtually disease and pest free, including deer.