Jove’s beard, Jupiter’s beard
This is a native plant to the European and Southwest Mediterranean which Burncoose has only just started growing. Nevertheless our stock plant was well in evidence in flower on the Chelsea 2026 stand and commented on by many as an unusual rarity which they had never seen before.
A barba-jovis is an evergreen shrub growing, eventually, to around 4-5 feet in height. It has silver-grey pinnate leaves and terminal clusters of yellow then white flowers over the summer months. The flower is shaped rather like clover flowers.
This is a coastal growing plant and, in its native state, it is found in rocks and mountain crevices. Clearly it will also be suitable for growing in poor and sandy coastal locations in Cornwall and along the south coast. The pictures we see of it in the wild suggest that it may be tough enough to survive mild frosts once established, but, as yet, we have not had the new plant for long enough to know.
Full sun in a hot, dry, well drained location.
Images needed to follow.