Lithodora - Purple Gromwell

Lithodora, also known as Gromwell, is a low-growing perennial belonging to the borage family, celebrated for its intensely blue, star-shaped flowers and evergreen foliage. Native to southern Europe, this plant thrives in rocky, acidic soils and sunny slopes, making it a favorite in alpine and Mediterranean gardens. The most well-known cultivar, Lithodora diffusa ‘Grace Ward’, dazzles with a cascade of cobalt blooms from late spring through summer. Its neat, trailing habit makes it ideal for edging pathways, spilling over walls, or weaving through gravel beds. Beyond its beauty, Lithodora is drought-resistant and attracts pollinators, lending both form and function to thoughtful garden design.

Historically, Gromwell (Lithospermum officinale), a related plant) was prized in medieval herbals and apothecaries. Its hard, pale seeds were believed to aid in treating kidney stones and were used as charms against witchcraft—evidence of its role in both medicine and folklore. It even finds its way into old texts, where its seeds, likened to "stones of light," symbolized endurance and purity. Though the garden varieties like Lithodora diffusa are cultivated more for ornament than remedy, the lineage carries echoes of a time when flowers were as much talisman as decoration. Planting Lithodora today revives a piece of that legacy—beauty with deep-rooted meaning.