Grace Ward Lithodora

Grace Ward Lithodora (Lithodora diffusa 'Grace Ward') is a mounded groundcover from the Mediterranean, growing 20 to 30cm tall and about 60cm wide. Slender, rosemary like leaves carry intense blue flowers in spring, a colour that is rare in the garden. It suits rockeries, pots, baskets and the front of sunny, free draining beds.

Why you'll love it

• True, deep blue flowers. The spring flowers are an intense blue that few garden plants can match.
• Tough once mature. It handles heat, drought and light frost, so it suits sunny, exposed edges.
• Low and mounded. A neat mound 20 to 30cm high spreads to about 60cm, covering ground without climbing.
• Made for stony ground. It grows on rocky limestone in the wild, so poor, stony soils suit it.
• Pot and basket friendly. Containers solve the drainage problem where garden soil is heavy.

Where it works best

Rockeries and wall tops. Tuck it into pockets between rocks, where the sharp drainage keeps the roots happy and the mound spreads over the stone.

Groundcover and bed fronts. Plant 50cm apart. At that spacing the mounds meet at maturity and cover the soil in a blue spring display.

Pots and baskets. A container of free draining mix in full sun lets you grow it where garden soil holds too much water.

Growing Grace Ward Lithodora in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun. It tolerates light frost and drought once mature, and is happiest in cool temperate, warm temperate, Mediterranean and dry inland gardens. In humid subtropical districts, wet summers are its weak point, so plant it where air moves freely or keep it in a pot of gritty mix.

Soil. Free drainage is the one real requirement. Poor, stony and sandy ground suits it. Where garden soil is heavy, grow it in a container.

Water and feed. Mulch after planting to hold moisture and steady soil temperature, and water regularly until it is established. Apply a native slow release fertiliser in spring to keep it healthy.

Pruning. No hard pruning is needed. Trim lightly after flowering to keep the mound neat.

What to expect when it arrives

We sell Grace Ward Lithodora as tube stock, a young plant in an 80mm deep tube that establishes quickly, and in 140mm pots in packs of 10. Tubes cover a rockery or border economically, while the 140mm pots arrive larger and give a quicker mound. Plant out soon after delivery in a sunny spot, mulch, and water regularly until it settles.

Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Browse rockery plants
• More groundcover plants
• Drought tolerant plants
• Low growing plants for garden edges

Common questions

Is the flower really blue?

Yes. In spring it produces an intense, deep blue that is rare in garden plants and stands out against the green leaves.

Will it grow in humid areas?

It prefers sun and sharp drainage. Humid, wet summers are harder on it, so use a raised bed or a pot and choose an airy position.

How far will it spread?

To about 60cm wide and 20 to 30cm high. Plant 50cm apart to cover ground, or give each plant its own pot.