Ballota pseudodictamnus PFAF Plant Database

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Ballota pseudodictamnus - (L.)Benth.

Common Name

Family

Lamiaceae or Labiatae

Synonyms

Known Hazards

None known

Habitats

Rocks and rough ground on alkaline soils[200].

Range

S. Europe - S. Aegean.

Edibility Rating

Medicinal Rating

Care

Summary

Physical Characteristics

Ballota pseudodictamnus is an evergreen Perennial growing to 0.6 m (2ft) by 0.9 m (3ft in).
It is hardy to zone 8. It is in leaf 12-Jan. The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by Bees.

Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils, prefers well-drained soil and can grow in nutritionally poor soil. Suitable pH: acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils and can grow in very alkaline soils.
It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry or moist soil and can tolerate drought.

Habitats
Ground Cover; Cultivated Beds;

Edible Uses
None known

Medicinal Uses
Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally. None known

Other Uses
Wick. 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[197]. Plants form a slowly spreading clump[208].

Cultivation details

Requires a very well-drained position in full sun[187, 188, 200]. Established plants are drought tolerant[190]. Tolerates poor soils[200]. Best grown in a hot dry position with some protection given from severe frosts[200]. Usually found on alkaline soils in the wild, it tolerates a pH down to 5 in cultivation[200]. This species is not hardy in the colder areas of the country, it tolerates temperatures down to between -5 and -10°c[200]. Plants are best pruned back to the ground in spring before new growth commences[188]. Plants are generally untroubled by pests and diseases[200]. This species is closely related to B. acetabulosa[200].

Propagation

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[200]. 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[188].

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Expert comment

Author
(L.)Benth.

Botanical References
200

Links / References

[187]Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Perennials Volumes 1 and 2.

Photographs of over 3,000 species and cultivars of ornamental plants together with brief cultivation notes, details of habitat etc.

[188]Brickell. C. The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers

Excellent range of photographs, some cultivation details but very little information on plant uses.

[190]Chatto. B. The Dry Garden.

A good list of drought resistant plants with details on how to grow them.

[197]Royal Horticultural Society. Ground Cover Plants.

A handy little booklet from the R.H.S.

[200]Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.

Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.

[208]Thomas. G. S. Plants for Ground Cover

An excellent detailled book on the subject, very comprehensive.

Readers comment

Beatrice Claire P.
	Aug 21 2010 12:00AM

Excellent for bees, bumblebees and other similar insects. My ballotas are covered in these insects and I would grow this plant for this reason alone as they provide food for them at a time when the garden is not so full of insect friendly plants.

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