I purchased some Lithodora 'grace ward' for my rock garden.When can i put it in the ground? I live in Ga. zone 8 & we are already having days in the high 70's & nights in the 40's but if we do have a freeze or hard frost will it be ok if i plant it now?

Use the Plant Database at ATP to find out. Just click on Plant Database up top next to Home in the menu bar and type the name of the plant in the box. There you will find all sorts of information including how hardy it is!

That would be good advice if there were any growing information on Grace Ward in the database. Unfortunately, that entry has not been filled out yet. I'll add some information to it later today. According to other sources, however, Grace Ward should be hardy to zone 6, so you can plant it outside anytime now in your zone, Jelinda.

It isn't called Lithodora anymore, by the way. Lithodora diffusa is now a synonym of Glandora diffusa.

I don't know how they (whoever they are) expect us all to keep up with the name?? That was the name on the label, i guess it takes a while to catch on,even for the nurseries.I had already looked on the database when i posted the question,so just before i got back on ATP i googled it.The temp. outside is 75F right now at 5:30. This is my first time growing this plant.This will be one of my many first,i hope it does good for me. I am in the process of making a rock garden & learning a lot.Thanks to ATP not making to many mistakes.But i do learn from the ones i make.

Thanks a bunch and for the heads up on the name!!

I have tried Lithodora twice over the past few years. I am in zone 8a but each time they failed to show the following year. They are such a cute little plant I will try them again but expect them to be an annual.
To the question asked: I bought and planted them in early spring.

They come back for me in zone 9a, but I keep them out of the sun.

I wasn't aware that cultivars of the same species might be treated differently. Learned something new.

I've had difficulties with Grace Ward here in the Pacific Northwest, but there is a rockery down the road from me with a very healthy patch of them. Mine do well the first year, and I absolutely love the clear blue color, but the next year the center dies out with only a smattering of blooms on the ends, then the whole thing turns black. Perhaps too wet? I've just given up and drive by the neighbor's for a visual treat.

Yes, probably too wet. Mine grows best in a scree bed -- four inches of gravel, combined with only the bare minimum of soil.

They are very pretty, I would like to try some. You say gravel? Hummmm, do you think they would like the driveway? I promise not to drive over them.

I bought mine because it was suppose to be drought tolerant once established & I am planning on putting it in a rock garden i'm working on.Maybe i will have luck with them.

I did read while researching them they can die out in the center and you can give them a severe pruning & they will come back?? I think i have a lesson or two ahead of me with this plant. but it's so pretty and that's how we learn the most.

I have tried for a couple of years to grow it. No luck. but then, I probably watered too much. Now that I know not to I may get another. Actually, I have a varigated one that lived somehow, just not the Grace Ward. I love them!

Glandora 'Star' is able to take more sun and more water in my garden.

Purple Gromwell (Glandora prostrata 'Star')

Yep, that's it. Too lazy to go outside in the rain and look at the tag

That would explain why that one lived. I cut it way back a couple weeks ago. Hopefully it will revive.

Now i'm wondering about it not having enough shade in my rock garden!? Was thinking about planting it under some upright Sedum and around a mound of Sempervivum.May have to rethink my planting plans for this plant.