Family:  Mint (Lamiaceae)

Hardy to Zones 7 to 11

Rare woody perennial native to the Iberian Peninsula.  Early spring flowers are fragrant and resemble French Lavender (Lavandula stoechas) except for the yellow color. Flowers to 3 feet.  Plants prefer full sun and a dry to mesic, well-drained soil.  Commonly grown in open fields or as landscape plants, mellowing the corners and curbs between buildings, driveways and sidewalks.  They are tough to the sun but not particularly cold hardy, and should be trimmed back in the fall to prevent large amounts of snow from accumulating on them.  Gardeners in northern climes will want to pot them up and bring them in for the winter.   Seed is very hard and will benefit from a brisk sandpaper stratification, followed by sowing on sandy soil in the light, kept moist and cool until germination, which can take 4 to 6 weeks.  Once the seedlings gain a healthy size, transplant them to quarts, grow them on that way for some weeks, with a sharp eye out for snails and slugs, then transplant again up to gallons, always freeing the roots at transplant and using a rich but fast draining mix.  Space plants 3 feet apart.

30 seeds/pkt, Certified Organically Grown