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Ballota pseudodictamnus - (L.)Benth.

Common Name
Family Lamiaceae or Labiatae
USDA hardiness 7-10
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Rocks and rough ground on alkaline soils[200].
Range S. Europe - S. Aegean.
Edibility Rating    (0 of 5)
Other Uses    (3 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (0 of 5)
Care (info)
Frost Hardy Well drained soil Moist Soil Full sun
Ballota pseudodictamnus


Ballota pseudodictamnus

 

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Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of flower
Ballota pseudodictamnus is an evergreen Perennial growing to 0.6 m (2ft) by 0.9 m (3ft in).
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 8. It is in leaf all year. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is 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: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly 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.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Plant Habitats

 Ground Cover; Cultivated Beds;

Edible Uses

None known

References   More on Edible Uses

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

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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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].

Special Uses

Ground cover

References   More on Other Uses

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].

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:

Fahrenheit:

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Plants For A Future have a number of books available in paperback and digital form. Book titles include Edible Plants, Edible Perennials, Edible Trees,Edible Shrubs, Woodland Gardening, and Temperate Food Forest Plants. Our new book is Food Forest Plants For Hotter Conditions (Tropical and Sub-Tropical).

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Plant 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].

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Range

TEMPERATE ASIA: Turkey (southwest) EUROPE: Greece (incl. Crete) AFRICA: Libya (north)

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Ballota acetabulosaGreek horehoundPerennial0.5 7-10  LMHNDM003
Ballota nigraBlack HorehoundPerennial0.9 7-10  LMHFSNM03 
Quercus ilex ballotaHolm OakTree25.0 6-9 SLMHSNM523
Salvia ballotaeflora Annual0.0 -  LMNDM10 

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

Expert comment

Author

(L.)Benth.

Botanical References

200

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here

Readers comment

   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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