Practical
Plants

Ballota pseudodictamnus

a perennial evergreen member of the Ballota genus in the family Labiatae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Family
Labiatae
Genus
Ballota
Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
evergreen
Height
0.6 m
Spread
0.9 m
Fertility
Bees
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Bees

Uses

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The calyces are used as floating wicks in oil lamps. The calyx is placed on the surface of the oil and soon becomes saturated with oil. It is then lit. A good ground cover plant for a sunny position. It is best to cut old growth back to the basal rosette in spring[4]. Plants form a slowly spreading clump[6].

Product or use
Wick

Ecology and functions

Ecosystem niche
Soil surface

Ground cover

Environment

Range
S. Europe - S. Aegean.
Habitat
Rocks and rough ground on alkaline soils[5].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 8+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline, very alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerances
drought
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
tolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - we have no details for this species but suggest sowing the seed in spring in a greenhouse. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Division in spring[5]. Larger divisions can be planted straight into their permanent positions whilst smaller clumps are best potted up and kept in a cold frame until they are growing away well. Cuttings of semi-ripe wood in the summer[2].

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Requires a very well-drained position in full sun[1][2][5]. Established plants are drought tolerant[3]. Tolerates poor soils[5]. Best grown in a hot dry position with some protection given from severe frosts[5]. Usually found on alkaline soils in the wild, it tolerates a pH down to 5 in cultivation[5]. This species is not hardy in the colder areas of the country, it tolerates temperatures down to between -5 and -10°c[5]. Plants are best pruned back to the ground in spring before new growth commences[2]. Plants are generally untroubled by pests and diseases[5]. This species is closely related to B. acetabulosa[5].

References

  1. Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Perennials Volumes 1 and 2. Pan Books 1991-00-00 ISBN 0-330-30936-9

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  2. Brickell. C. The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers Dorling Kindersley Publishers Ltd. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-86318-386-7

    ↩1↩2↩3

  3. Chatto. B. The Dry Garden. Dent 1982-00-00 ISBN 0460045512

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  4. Royal Horticultural Society. Ground Cover Plants. Cassells. 1989-00-00 ISBN 0-304-31089-1

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  5. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7↩8↩9

  6. Thomas. G. S. Plants for Ground Cover J. M. Dent & Sons 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-460-12609-1

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