HEMIZYGIA Candy Kisses

Graceful hybrid, perennial and evergreen, with a thick and tidy bushy habit, which over time can reach a maximum height of 1 m and a slightly lower width. Belonging to the Lamiaceaea family, it has "progenitors" that live spontaneously in the regions of South Africa. From the strongly branched and woody base, thin semi-succulent stems with a characteristic purple color rise: on these are arranged in an opposite way, small leaves, fleshy and ovate, briefly petiolate of a beautiful intense green irregularly marginalized in yellow. Between the beginning of autumn, and almost all winter, on the leaf mass, showy inflorescences formed by tiny pink flowers rise quickly.

It prefers sunny or partially shady positions, and possibly also sheltered from impetuous winds which could damage the delicate branches; it adapts to any type of soil, as long as its well drained. Little tolerant to temperatures even close to 0°C, especially if associated with atmospheric humidity conditions, it reacts optimally to situations of short drought, although periodic summer wetting can be advantageous. It does not show sensitivity to brackish winds, therefore it is also used in coastal gardens. At the spring recovery it is possible to intervene by removing all the branches from the plant by 1/3 to allow a new thick growth. Perfect for growing in medium-sized pots and containers on terraces and balconies; in the open ground, but only in gardens in climatically favored regions, its the only protagonist of undoubted decorative value, but it can also be arranged in a row to create pleasant and flowery borders.