Isodon japonicus var. glaucocalyx MCW58
10 seeds per packet.
Collected by the late, great Michael Wickenden as an unknown Nepeta species. We remember seeing this plant on a forum many years ago, it was a collection from Russia and the fact it was unidentified was irritating people at the time. But all agreed it was an absolute enchantress and we are delighted to have finally identified it as Isodon japonicus var. glaucocalyx!
A member of the Lamiaceae family that is native to the forests, forest margins and grasslands of the Russian Far East, northern China and Japan. Produces serrated leaves and tall, airy spikes of intricate, bright blue-purple flowers with darker spotting and contrasting white corollas. The dark inky blue calyces and stems are also particularly attractive and make the plant really stand out from a woodland border. Flowering September into October. Height to 1.4 metres. Well-drained soil in part sun to shade.
GROWING INSTRUCTIONS:
Sow from March to June. Surface sow small seeds thinly, press in gently and keep top of pot moist. Keep pot warm at 15 to 20°C until germination, then move to somewhere cooler.
Carefully prick out seedlings when they have developed true leaves and are large enough to transplant to individual pots to grow on.