How to Grow and Care for Lithodora

Shrubby gromwell (Lithodora fruticosa) is a perennial shrub characterized by its messy dense growth, with hairy, gnarled, and twisted stems. The flowers are light purple to blue, relatively small but numerous. Shrubby gromwell commonly grows on limestone found on Mediterranean hillsides.

With a unique, rich blue color, the greek gromwell 'Grace Ward' is a mat-forming cultivar that grows as a groundcover. It has no significant pest or disease issues and can be used in beds, containers, and on slopes. The greek gromwell 'Grace Ward' may also attract the attention of gardeners looking for a cultivar for erosion control.

This shockingly vivid blue, clump-forming ground cover won itself an Award of Garden Merit from the Royal Horticultural Society for its unique properties. Heavenly Blue Heavenly Blue was hybridized from other varieties of its family and aptly named for its heavenly blue flowers. Heavenly Blue Heavenly Blue won its fame for its attractive growth habit, fascinating colors, and evergreen foliage.

Lithodora hispidula, with its sprawling habit and rough-textured leaves, thrives in rocky, well-drained soils. Its vibrant blue flowers, resembling tiny trumpets, appear in spring, providing a striking contrast against the grey-green, hairy foliage. This tough perennial adapts well to Mediterranean climates, enduring both drought and poor soils while offering a rugged charm to rock gardens and xeriscapes.