TRICHOSTEMA lanatum. Woolly blue curls. This is a spectacular though temperamental native shrub, growing about 5' tall with greater spread. Its stiff branches are densely clothed with narrow, very aromatic 2" leaves. In spring and summer (nearly all year in mild climates) it carries many blooming stems 1' or more long, covered by blue to reddish purple hairs, at the shoot tips. The lavender blue flowers have long, curled stamens. My own selection, ‘Fremont Peak’, is distinguished by relatively large, lush-looking leaves, and bright red-violet “wool” on the flower stems. Other forms have bluish purple or even white wool. Best suited for open bank and hillside plantings. Sun, very well drained soil, little or no watering when established. Hardy to about 15^oF.

purpusii. Mexico. This is a bushy, woody-based perennial, ultimately 2-3’ high. It has closely set, bright green leaves, pointed-oval in outline and about 1” long. It flowers profusely in summer and fall, in some locations most of the year. The flowers are quite showy, glowing coral pink in color. It needs moderate watering and is hardy only to 20-25^oF.