About

Ballota Pseudodictamnus is an evergreen perennial subshrub in the mint family (Lamiaceae) that belongs to the Ballota genus. It is adapted to temperate, Mediterranean-influenced habitats and is commonly associated with rocky, open ground. Flowering occurs from June to September. Ballota species are also recorded as larval foodplants for certain case-bearing moths.

About the genus

Ballota (horehound) is a genus of flowering evergreen perennial plants and subshrubs in the family Lamiaceae. It is native to temperate regions; the Mediterranean region has the highest diversity in the genus, with more isolated locations in South Africa, Central Asia, northern Europe, and the islands of the eastern North Atlantic. It is found in rocky and waste ground.

Wikipedia contributors, "Ballota", CC BY-SA 4.0 — Ballota

In the garden

Ballota Pseudodictamnus sits within the Ballota genus of the mint family and originates from temperate regions with its greatest diversity in the Mediterranean. Members of the genus are typically found on rocky or waste ground, and the species reflects that background in its growth and ecological associations. Siting should mirror its natural habitat: choose positions where the substrate is open and not persistently waterlogged rather than heavy, moisture-retentive soils. Planting into stony or gravelly pockets in borders or on banks will better reproduce the conditions this species tolerates. While regionally Mediterranean in origin, Ballota Pseudodictamnus is part of a temperate group and can suit milder UK gardens when placed in an appropriate location. Use it where a plant that fits into rough or naturalistic planting is required—rockeries, dry banks and informal Mediterranean-style drifts are all suitable contexts. Note its seasonality: it flowers from June to September, and like other Ballota species it can provide resources for invertebrates, with records of larvae of several Coleophora case-bearer moths feeding on related plants.