Leucosceptrum canum
Evergreen shrub or small tree about 1.5-7m tall, usually multi-stemmed, with ascending branches and greyish-green, papery leaves, white-woolly beneath, to 30cm long. Creamy-white flowers in dense, cylindrical spikes to 15cm long, produced from late autumn to early spring, followed by brown fruits. Good nectar source for birds, butterflies and bees
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Size
Ultimate height
4–8 metresTime to ultimate height
5–10 yearsUltimate spread
2.5–4 metresGrowing conditions
Moisture
Well–drainedpH
Acid, Alkaline, NeutralColour & scent
| Stem | Flower | Foliage | Fruit | |
| Spring | Cream White | Grey Silver Green | Brown | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | Grey Silver Green | |||
| Autumn | Cream White | Grey Silver Green | ||
| Winter | Cream White | Grey Silver Green |
Position
- Full sun
Aspect
South–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Sheltered Hardiness
H3Botanical details
- Family
- Lamiaceae
- Native to GB / Ireland
- No
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Habit
- Bushy
- Genus
A genus of just one species of evergreen flowering shrubs or small trees, with toothed, green foliage and tall spikes of white to pale pink or greenish-yellow flowers in summer to autumn
- Name status
Unresolved
How to grow
Cultivation
In milder and frost-free areas, grow in well-drained soil, in full sun in a warm, dry position such as a courtyard or against a south-facing or west-facing wall; in frost-prone areas, grow in a cool or temperate greenhouse, in a mix of peat-free potting compost and grit, in full light and low humidity. Water moderately during the growing season and sparingly in winter
Propagation
Propagate by semi-ripe cuttings in summer
Suggested planting locations and garden types
- Coastal
- Cottage and informal garden
- Mediterranean climate plants
- Wildlife gardens
Pruning
Pests
Generally pest-free
Diseases
Generally disease-free
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