Overview

Moluccella 'Esulema' is a bushy annual biennial in the genus Moluccella, part of the Lamiaceae family, with deciduous foliage. Moluccella 'Esulema' grows best in full sun, and tolerates loam soils and neutral pH. Its UK hardiness is rated H4. Suggested uses include flower borders and beds, patio and container plants, cottage and informal garden, city and courtyard gardens and coastal.

About

Moluccella 'Esulema' is a bushy cultivar of the Moluccella genus, which comprises upright annual plants with opposite, scalloped, broadly ovate leaves. This deciduous plant thrives in full sun on south- or west-facing, sheltered sites with moist but well-drained loam soil of neutral pH. It is hardy to UK zone H4 and is suitable for flower borders, beds, patios, containers, and informal or coastal gardens. The plant produces dense spikes of small, two-lipped flowers surrounded by large, bell-shaped calyces, making it valuable for dried flower arrangements. Its season of interest spans summer and autumn.

About the genus

Moluccella is a genus of annual and short-lived perennial plants native to Central + southwestern Asia and the Mediterranean. They are tall, upright, branched plants to 1 metre or more with toothed leaves and small white fragrant flowers.SpeciesMoluccella aucheri (Boiss.) Scheen - Iran, Pakistan Moluccella bucharica (B.Fedtsch.) Ryding - Tajikistan Moluccella fedtschenkoana (Kudr.) Ryding - Tajikistan Moluccella laevis L. - Bells of Ireland - Turkmenistan, Iran, Iraq, Caucasus, Cyprus, Syria, Lebanon, Palestine, Turkey; naturalized in scattered locations in Europe, Africa, and North America Moluccella olgae (Regel) Ryding - Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan Moluccella otostegioides Prain - Pakistan Moluccella sogdiana (Kudr.) Ryding - Tajikistan Moluccella spinosa L. - Mediterranean from Spain + Algeria to Turkey + Palestine

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

Growing conditions

Best soil and position for Moluccella

Sunlight

Full sun

Soil type

Loam

Soil pH

Neutral

Soil moisture

Moist but well-drained

Aspect

South-facing or West-facing

Exposure

Sheltered

UK hardiness

H4

Plant details

Moluccella 'Esulema' size, habit and characteristics

Plant type

Annual Biennial

Habit

Bushy

Foliage

Deciduous

Suggested uses

Flower borders and beds, Patio and container plants, Cottage and informal garden, City and courtyard gardens, Coastal

Care notes

Pruning and caring for Moluccella 'Esulema'

Propagation

Seed

Pest resistance

Generally pest-free

Disease resistance

Generally disease-free

Frequently asked questions