Garden and Flowers

‘Procumbens’ means ‘lying,’ and this Asarina certainly grows horizontally. As soon as the sticky, hairy stems and leaves cease to find a support, they start trailing. The species grows naturally in the south-west of France and the adjoining regions of north-east Spain, but it is not fully hardy in cooler regions. In a light, airy, and dry position under glass, the plant did, however, tolerate 14 °F during my own practical experiment.

In warm, dark positions, the species is difficult to overwinter, so cultivation as an annual is preferable. Plants propagated by cuttings are on sale in small quantities in spring. You may also sow them indoors in February-March. After germination at temperatures around 68 °F, you should put the plants in a cooler, light, and frost-free position until they can be planted out-of-doors in May. They tolerate a fair amount of shade and cool soil which, however, must be well drained. Cultivation in partial shade on a rockery, or in a hanging basket or container is ideal. The plants will come into flower about four months after sowing, and go on flowering until the frosts begin. In combination with their greyish-green foliage, the soft yellow flowers resembling those of snapdragons have an intense, modest beauty. Seeds from the spherical fruit may be harvested for cultivation next year.

Trailing semi-evergreen perennial with fragrant light yellow snapdragon-like flowers. Blooms April thru Oct. 2” x 24” Grow in sun to part shade in well drained, sandy soil. Drought tolerant. Use in rock gardens, trailing down banks or over walls, in hanging baskets. Comes back nicely if trimmed back. Native to the Pyrenees mountains where it grows shaded among the rocks. Hardy to –10 F.