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Products > Trichostema lanatum   Trichostema lanatum - Woolly Blue Curls     [2nd Image] Habit and Cultural Information Category: Shrub Family: Lamiaceae (Labiatae) (Mints) Origin: California (U.S.A.) Evergreen: Yes Flower Color: Blue Bloomtime: Spring/Fall Height: 3-4 feet Width: 4-5 feet Exposure: Full Sun Summer Dry: Yes Irrigation (H2O Info): Low Water Needs Winter Hardiness: 10-15° F Trichostema lanatum (Woolly Blue Curls) - This California native evergreen shrub comes from dry slopes of the south coast ranges. It grows to 3-4 feet tall and sprawls to 4-5 feet with narrow aromatic leaves that are shiny green above and woolly white underneath. From late spring through summer appear the 1 foot long clusters of blue (typically) flowers with long recurved stamens. The bloom period can extend into fall with a little supplemental summer watering (only when soil drains adequately). Plant in full sun in a very well-drained lean soil as it will not tolerate summer moisture in heavy soils. Do not amend or fertilize heavily. Hardy to 10 degrees F without freezing back and has been known to recover from the base at temperatures down to below zero. Gets a little leggy with age and benefits from early pruning. Makes a great cut flower for the vase. Our plants from seed that exhibits some variability in flower color from nearly white to dark violet blue. Another listed common name for this plant is Romero, which comes from the similarities between Rosemary (Romero) and Trichostema lanatum, that were noted during the Portola expedition in 1769. Other names include California Rosemary and American Wild Rosemary.  The information on this page is based on research conducted about this plant in the San Marcos Growers library, from online sources, and from observations made of the crops growing in our nursery, plants in the nursery's garden and those in other gardens where we may have observed it. We also have incorporated comments received from others and welcome getting feedback from those who may have additional information, particularly if this information includes cultural information that would aid others in growing Trichostema lanatum.     [MORE INFO]