Leptodermis oblonga Summer Stars

The Leptodermis oblonga 'Summer Stars' is a beautiful find for the garden or patio. It is a small deciduous shrub with pretty, bright green foliage as a backdrop for the long, bluish-purple flowering. From June to September, small trumpet-shaped flowers bloom, spreading a pleasant fragrance. Resistant to cold, this compact shrub is easily grown in a pot to decorate a terrace or balcony throughout the summer. In the garden, it adapts to most soils as long as they are moist, as it does not like dry conditions. It is easy to grow and perfect for small gardens in sunny or semi-shaded locations.

Leptodermis is a little-known member of the Rubiaceae family, which includes over 600 genera and 10,000 species. This extensive family includes plants in all climates, such as the tropical Coffee plant, the wild Bedstraw of our countryside, or the Cephalanthus with its astonishingly ornamental flowers. Leptodermis oblonga is native to Asia, growing naturally in central China, Mongolia, and northern Vietnam. Its English vernacular name, Baby Lilac Bush, accurately describes the dwarf lilac-like appearance of this compact shrub with fragrant flowers.
'Summer Stars' is a horticultural variety that is still relatively uncommon in gardens, but it should become more popular as it is as charming as it is easy to grow. This relatively slow-growing shrub reaches maturity after 5 to 8 years of cultivation at approximately 50 to 60 cm in height and width. It forms an upright and spreading clump, giving it a more or less spherical habit. The brown branches are thin and dense and bear numerous sessile (without petiole) leaves grouped in whorls. Proportionate to the shrub's size, these leaves are small, measuring 3 to 4 cm long, with a lanceolate shape and a beautiful green colour. In late spring, tubular trumpet-shaped flowers appear, consisting of five fused petals that open at the tip. The same length as the leaves, they are grouped in five to seven units at the ends of the branches. Their colour varies from mauve lilac to bluish-purple and is well complemented by the bright green foliage. Blooming until September, they emit a pleasant fragrance and attract bees, butterflies, and other pollinators.

Growing in good, well-drained garden soil with a tendency to be moist, Leptodermis oblonga 'Summer Stars' is easy to cultivate. This shrub exudes a romantic charm, perfectly expressed in a beautiful glazed decorative pot or raw earth. The garden will find its place at the edge of a flower bed, alongside perennial plants or other shrubs. Plant some clumps of Daylilies with it, allowing you to create cheerful contrasts of shapes and colours, as the range available is rich in varieties, each more beautiful than the next. The Dicentra 'Pink Diamonds', a Bleeding Heart with stylishly patterned pink flowers enhanced by finely cut bluish-green foliage, will also be a perfect companion for your Leptodermis. In the background, the small Sambucus 'Cherry Lace' with its exceptionally finely cut dark foliage and beautiful glossy appearance will complete your scene. Blooming before the Leptodermis, it will offer you lovely bouquets of pink flowers.