Anybody have this growing in N. Texas? Found it, labeled (yahoo!) at WalMart the other day.....like the stuff. Supposed to be a "sun perennial," but I'm wondering, where do YOU grow it??
Lithodora 'Grace Ward' (Lithodora diffusa)
I tried lithodora last year, it lasted about half the summer. I think the high pH in the water, and possibly salt, did it in. I had the beautiful dark blue one, loved the color.
Was wondering about this, also. I live in the piedmont of NC, and they are selling this all over the place, including Lowe's and W-M, the big box stores.. GREAT "blue" but we've got heavy red clay. I see it does like acid soil, though. Looking for someone with experience with it.
I tried to grow Grace Ward a couple of years ago. It was pretty in the spring when I planted it, with flowers that are a true blue. But it only lasted about half the summer for me, too, and didn't come back.
Half a summer? Geez - I have one planted w/a couple of other blue flowers (can't remember the names) in one of those overturned pots so that it resembles water running out. Now I find out that it won't last. That's the pits. I re-looked at the tag that came w/it and it says good to z6. Oh, well..... I DO have other backup plans so on to plan B.
Ann
The problem with plant tags is that they only tell the zone in which they will survive the cold.
Yeah, I don't think it was the cold that killed mine. It might be one of those things that, when it says full sun, they really mean part shade in Texas.
I think (that's a dangerous thing!) it would be nice if the nurseries would include the heat zones, too. That way you might be able to create a micro-climate for the plant.
I have mine north facing, behind a tree that keeps it leaves. It is in 20% sun. I keep them well hydrated.