Convolvulus sabatius

A subshrubby perennial of the Convolvulaceae family, native to northwestern Italy and northern Africa, where it grows on limestone cliffs, rocky screes, and steep slopes of the Mediterranean coast, in full sun. Its natural range is relatively restricted, centered around the Savona region in Liguria, which gives it its epithet.

It develops long, flexible stems, creeping to trailing, non-twining, forming a dense, covering carpet that can extend over several tens of centimeters. The leaves are oval to rounded, a deep green and slightly glossy, quite different from the silky, silvery foliage of other low-growing Mediterranean Convolvulus.

The funnel-shaped flowers, a bright blue-violet to lilac, with a paler almost white center, are produced abundantly throughout the beautiful season. In its natural habitat, flowering extends from May to September. In cultivation, in mild climates, it can bloom almost continuously from spring to the first frosts.

It requires well-drained soil, a very sunny exposure, and winter protection in cold climates. It is perfectly suited to cultivation on walls, in cascading rock gardens, or as ground cover in Mediterranean gardens.