With its leafy stems and upright spikes of (mainly violet-blue, but occasionally paler pink or even white) flowers in summer, this creeping perennial makes attractive ground cover at the front of the border. It’s not only decorative however, as it’s widely sought after for its medicinal uses, which are said to be wide and varied.
Garden care: In early to mid-spring, shallow sow into a tray filled with good seed compost and keep in an unheated greenhouse or coldframe. Seedlings can take up to 2 months to appear, but as they grow, pot them up individually before growing them on, hardening off and planting out. Alternatively, in late spring or early summer, sow directly into a well-prepared seedbed and thin to 15cm intervals. Keep in mind that these plants do self-seed freely, so to prevent unwanted spread, deadhead after the flowers fade.
