White Sagebrush Pachostachys 'Valerie Finnis'

Artemisia ludoviciana 'Valerie Finnis' is a clump-forming herbaceous perennial that offers some of the brightest silver foliage available for the UK garden. Its wide, lance-shaped leaves are covered in a dense, silvery-white felt, providing a luminous backdrop for Mediterranean bulbs or darker-flowering perennials. The stems are stiff and upright, reaching about 60cm in height. In late summer, it produces small, inconspicuous brownish-yellow flower heads, but these are secondary to the foliage interest. This plant is exceptionally hardy and drought-tolerant, flourishing in poor, well-drained soils where many other plants might struggle. It can spread via underground runners, making it an excellent choice for filling gaps in a border quickly, though it may need to be managed in smaller spaces. For the best appearance, it should be grown in full sun; in shade, it tends to lose its intense silver colour and can become floppy. A hard cut back in spring promotes fresh, vigorous growth.

Sun: Full sun.

Soil: Well-drained or dry soil.

Hardiness: H7 — below −20°C.

Flowering: Aug, Sep.