Globularia punctata

Globularia punctata (synonym bisnagarica) is part of a group of small perennial plants or undershrubs called globulars, native to the dry and limestone slopes of southern Europe in the broadest sense. This one, sometimes called common globe flower, is a spontaneous plant. Insignificant for most of the year, this very low cushion plant reveals itself when its beautiful blue inflorescences in small pompoms appear, both soft and extremely bright. It will flower before the arrival of summer, early or late depending on the regions, accompanying botanical narcissus, dwarf iris, iberis, and low euphorbias in highly mineralised settings and on unrewarding embankments.

Globularia punctata belongs to the Plantaginaceae family. It is mainly native to southern Europe where it is frequently found in medium mountains, in dry meadows and stony soils, in limestone soil. 

It is an herbaceous perennial plant. Its stump forms a small low and spreading tuft, which will not exceed 15 to 20cm (6 to 8in) in height when flowering, with a 30cm (12in) spread. It develops small oval rosettes of leaves, often spatulate in shape, with small teeth. Flowering takes place from April-May to June, depending on the climate. Rosettes of leaves emerge from graceful floral stems, adorned with very small pointed leaves. At the end of its stems, solitary inflorescences are formed, organised in small hemispherical heads of 2 to 3cm (1in), characteristic of the genus Globularia. Surrounded by pointed bracts, each head is composed of hundreds of tiny sky-blue tubular flowers. After pollination by insects, the flowers give way to fruits called achenes, surrounded by persistent calyx. The basal foliage persists in winter, depending on the climate.

Globularia punctata is a sun-loving plant for rocky soil. It will fully play its role on unrewarding embankments and in rock gardens. It can be planted with other perennials that require similar growing conditions: Dianthus gratianopolitanus and perennial Geranium sanguineum, classic but unbeatable in this use. You can also grow it with other small cushions like creeping gypsophila, Helichrysum angustifolium, snow-in-summer (Cerastium tomentosum), or fleabane (Erigeron karvinskianus). In regions where spring arrives early, it can flower alongside dwarf iris and botanical tulips. It can also be planted in an alpine garden or in pots, containers, and flower boxes.