Marketing Name: Liquorice Blue, Blue Spike

Id-Code: AA 156
Family: Lamiaceae, Labiatae
Origin: China, Japan
Special Features: Aromatic foliage and spikes of hooded, rose-purple blooms
Colour: Rose-purple
Natural Flowering Period: June - September
Winter Hardiness Zones: Z6-9
Growth Habit: Upright
Foliage: Aromatic leaves
Height with Flowers: 60 cm (24'')
Spacing between Plants: 60 cm (24'')
Soil Requirements: Well-drained soils, pH 5.8 - 7.2
Location: Full sun
Use: Plant together in mixed containers, or the border with Achillea sibirica var. camtschatica 'Love Parade', Allium tuberosum and Belamcanda 'Hello Yellow'.
Specialities: First year flowering. Good for honeybees, too

Cultural Tips:
Grams per 1000 Seeds: 0,435
Seeds per Gram: 2300
Seeding Recommendation: 2 g / 1000 plants
Sowing Rate: 2-3 seeds per cell
Plug tray recommended size(s): 128, 288
Germination: Rapidly germinating, keep seed in constant moisture (not wet) with temperatures of about +20°C [68°F]. Do not cover the seed but tightly press into the earth. Keep in cooler conditions after germination occurs. The germination might be slower and more irregular. This poses no problems.

Scheduling:
Best Sowing Dates: Anytime
Sowing to Germination: 2 - 3 weeks
Germination to Transplant: 4 - 6 weeks
Transplanting to Salable Plant: 6 - 8 weeks
Cutting-Back at Transplanting: Cut-back once at transplanting and once again 4 weeks later

Growing On:
Container Size(s): 1 plug per 8/9 cm (3 1/2''); 1-2 plugs per 11/12 cm (4 1/2''); 2-3 plugs per 15 cm (6'')
Vernalization: There is no current research on vernalization but a prudent recommendation for any perennial would be 6-12 weeks (a few might need 15 weeks!) at an average daily temperature of 40°F (5°C). Exposure to cold may not be necessary for flowering but might improve quality.
Forcing: An obvious place to experiment - following vernalization - would be raising daytime temperatures to 60° - 65°F (15° - 17°C). Provide 16 hours of continuous lighting. During the short days of winter, provide a night interruption lighting of 4 hours between 10:00 p.m. and 2:00 a.m.
Fertilization: Medium (150-200 ppm)