Culture
Grow in average, medium moisture, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade. Produces root suckers.
Noteworthy Characteristics
Leptodermis oblonga is native to northern China. It is a dwarf, mounding, deciduous shrub that typically grows to only 12-18” tall but produces flowers throughout much of the growing season. Fragrant, tubular, violet-purple flowers appear in clusters in a late spring bloom (4-6 weeks), followed by reduced and intermittent flowering on new wood throughout the rest of the summer into fall. Ovate to oblong medium green leaves (to 3/4” long).
Genus name comes from the Greek words leptos meaning thin and derma meaning skin from the membranous fused bracteoles forming a sheath or skin covering the calyx.
Specific epithet mean oblong.
Problems
No known serious insect or disease problems.
Uses
Low shrub or edger. Rock gardens and border fronts.