Pseudodictamnus mediterraneus

Pseudodictamnus mediterraneus, the false dittany, is a species of flowering plant in the mint family Lamiaceae. It is native to the southern Aegean region.

Taxonomy
Several common names are attached to this plant, including false dittany, false divinity, and Greek horehound.

Etymology
The Latin specific epithet pseudodictamnus means "false dittany". In this case, the resemblance is to the classical dittany of Crete, Origanum dictamnus, not to the much more distantly related genus Dictamnus in the family Rutaceae.

Description
A low mound-forming evergreen shrub growing to 50 cm tall and wide, it bears almost circular, dished, silver-green leaves with a soft felted texture; and masses of pink flowers (which are mostly hidden by the leaves) in late spring and early summer.

It tolerates temperatures as low as -10 C, but requires very dry conditions and sharp drainage in full sun.

Distribution
Pseudodictamnus mediterraneus is native to dry Mediterranean regions in Europe and western Asia, including Greece (South Aegean), Egypt, Libya and Turkey. It is also an introduced species in the British Isles and Italy (Sicily).

In horticulture
In cultivation in the UK, this plant has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.