Lepechinia chilensis, pitcher sage, 9cm pot
Endemic to Chile and previously known as Lepechinia chamaedryoides, this rarely available shrubby perennial is ideally suited to dryer spots in the garden, with morning sun, or at least some shade from the mid afternoon heat. It also has some of the most beautiful ice-sky-blue flowers, like little chalices! Forms a bushy shrub with small, narrow, slightly 'pebbley' foliage, and a multitude of small bell-shaped flowers with a wide-open lower lip (resembling a pitcher) in tones of light sky blue. I am unsure of its hardiness in NZ as yet, but it can be grown in a pot, and at the very least I would mulch around it for protection in cold winters. Slow growing but eventually should reach around 1.5m at maturity, possibly more in the right spot, although it can also be pruned lower. 9cm pot.