Caucasian Crosswort

Phuopsis stylosa is a charming and somewhat underused evergreen perennial that makes an excellent low-growing ground cover. It forms a dense carpet of whorled, narrow, light green leaves that have a faint, spicy scent when crushed. In early summer, it is covered in a mass of small, rounded, pom-pom-like flower heads made up of many tiny, star-shaped, bright pink flowers with long, elegant styles. Reaching only about 15-20cm in height but spreading effectively, it is perfect for the front of a border, cascading over walls, or in a rock garden. It is fully hardy and very easy to grow in any well-drained soil in full sun or light shade. After flowering, it can be sheared back to keep it tidy and encourage fresh foliage growth. While the scent of the foliage is sometimes described as similar to fox or skunk, most gardeners find it a reliable and attractive plant for filling gaps and suppressing weeds.

Sun: Full sun to partial shade.

Soil: Well-drained soil.

Hardiness: H5 — down to −15°C.

Flowering: Jun, Jul, Aug.