This small tropical shrub has cane-like woody stems and slender spreading branches that form a sprawling habit. It has dark green elliptical leaves and the intense blue cup-shaped flowers appear in a terminal or axillary spike during winter.

Hardiness zones 10 to 11

Eranthemum pulchellum is naturally found from India to the Himalayas and western China growing in the understory of woodlands or along shaded valleys.

It prefers a warm semi-shaded to sunny wind protected position and grows in well drained organic rich moist sandy to clay loam that is tending acidic with a pH range from 5.6 to 6.5 and is drought and frost tender.

Blue Sage is grown for its flowers and spreading habit. It is planted small or cottage gardens along perennial borders or used in the understory for colour. It is also commonly grown in pots, tubs planter boxes and in cold climates it is placed under glass or grown in a conservatory. It is suitable coastal and inland regions and establishes in 1-2 years but may be short lived. This easily propagated plant is cultivated in many countries and is used in tropical gardens for its winter floral display. ID 3677

Eranthemum  (er-RANTH-ee-mum)  pulchellum  (pul-KEL-um)

Acanthaceae (ah-kanth-AY-see-ee)
Acanthus Family