Aphyllanthes monspeliensis Mediterranean Europe The dramatic flowers are composed

The dramatic flowers are composed of dark purple inner spurs and mauve outer sepals

The drought-tolerant

Gentiana saponaria 'Rockford' is a 2016 Plant Delights/JLBG introduction of a special strain of the easy-to-grow

spiny-edged foliage that clothes this architectural clump emerges solid bronze

Aphyllanthes monspeliensis Mediterranean Europe The dramatic flowers are composedFew gardeners have ever run across the monotypic Aphyllanthes monspeliensis, unless you've spent time in the Mediterranean region south to Morocco. This solitary genus in the Asparagus family produces a small rock garden size plant that looks like Festuca glauca until it flowers, then it looks just like a sisyrinchium or other irid. The narrow wiry glaucous leaves form a tight clump, topped, starting for us in mid April with 1" medium blue flowers.