Lithodora oleifolia

Perennial sub-shrub of the Boraginaceae family, Glandora oleifolia is a species endemic to the eastern Pyrenees, known from a very restricted range, limited to a few calcareous massifs on the Spanish side and the Barcelona region. It grows on sunny calcareous rocks and scree, between approximately 400 and 1,200 meters.

It forms a small loose and upright bush, 10 to 15 cm in height, with woody stems at the base. The leaves are oval to elliptical, grayish-green, slightly hairy, reminiscent in shape of olive leaves, as its epithet oleifolia suggests.

The funnel-shaped flowers open in a soft lilac blue, slightly pink when in bud, with a lighter throat. The hue is less intense and more milky than that of Glandora diffusa. In its natural habitat, its flowering extends from May to July.

In cultivation, it requires calcareous or at least well-drained soil, sunny exposure, and protection against stagnant winter moisture. It is suitable for rock gardens on calcareous substrate, where it remains relatively rare among collectors.