The semi-shrubby false dittany adds robust light grey-green splashes to the mauves and purples that otherwise dominate the Labiatae beds of Systematics and the hot-dry plantings of the Mediterranean Beds by the Glasshouse Range.
The leaves are held in alternate pairs around the stem, shaped and wavy-edged like an opened out scallop shell. These support the densely packed whorls of insignificant pale pink flowers shown up by the prominent saucer shaped, lime green calyces. The arrangement looks like some long-past-their-sell-by-date prawn cocktail Skips have been piled incongruously onto a refined, pale grey cake stand!