MELITTIS Melissophyllum

Height x Spread: 50cm x 45cm

Large, white flowers with pinky-purple lower lips appear along upright sturdy stems, at the points where pairs of dark green oval leaves emerge, which are honey scented. It’s naturalistic form lends itself to woodland planting, where it will clump up quickly.

Commonly known as ‘Bastard Balm’, this rare British native plant is a great candidate for a more shady area of the garden, flowering in early summer. Alternatively use it to under-plant shrubs, adding brightness at a lower level. Bees love it. It thrives in light shade, in a soil that is free draining, but which does not dry out.