This very slow growing cultivar is a
self-pollinated seedling of H. 'Dorset Blue' that was registered
by Dr. Ralph (Herb) Benedict of Michigan in 2003. It forms a small size mound about 11 inches tall by 23 inches wide of
Tardiana-type
foliage. The leaves are ovate, moderately wavy and cupped
lengthwise with a thick underside bloom and thick substance. Its
purple flowers bloom in whorls on purplish colored scapes from mid-July into August.
According to
The Hostapedia by Mark Zilis (2009), "This cultivar was named for its whorled flowering habit,
though the actual name for this trait is "verticillate". The
first group of a dozen or so flowers is arranged in a whorl
about two-thirds up the scape. About 3" higher on the scape,
another whorl of six to eight flowers usually develops, and
often a third whorl of six or more flowers forms at the top of
the scape. If that isn't enough, the foliage...retains its rich
blue color into late summer."
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