Small evergreen shrub with large creamy white and green variegated leaves, and purple-violet flower spikes in summer into early winter
Care: needs minimal pruning; remove misplaced or frost-damaged branches in late spring
Watch out for: aphids (where possible tolerate infestation; can introduce natural predators eg ladybirds; plant mint, rosemary, marigolds, whose scent repels aphids), tortrix moth (manual removal or pheromone traps, see here), downy mildew (fungal - keep plants uncrowded, remove affected leaves & plants - see here), leaf spot (solution depends on symptoms - see here)
Propagation method: semi-hardwood cuttings (see here)
Soil type: neutral to alkaline, moist well-drained