Centaurea gymnocarpa

This noble silver leaved evergreen shrub is an Italian endemic where it grows in hot dry rocky areas. It is endangered in the wild but happily for us it is very obliging in the garden. I grow it in full sun in a dry spot but it is just as happy growing in light dry shade. A form of it grows well under an olive tree in our dry garden. Whilst it is grown primarily for its foliage effect it also has attractive amethyst corn flowers during spring and sporadically through summer. 80cm tall by 90cm across.