This clump forming herbaceous perennial is native to the rocky limestone soils of alpine areas in Austria, Germany, Switzerland, France and Italy. It is a member of the aster family, Asteraceae, that also includes daisy, yarrow, and lettuce. Plants grow 4-12″ tall and spread by creeping stems to form mats 12″ across. The narrow gray leaves are woolly and felted on both sides. The yellow flowers are borne in clusters of 7-9 heads from late spring to early summer. Each cluster is 1.5″ wide and is subtended by showy white woolly bracts often tipped with black. Plants need full sun, cool temperatures, and exceptionally well-drained soil, and do poorly in heat and humidity. They will reseed if their needs are met but are otherwise short lived in the garden. The flowers are valued for both fresh and dried arrangements and the plants are attractive in xeriscapes, screes, containers, raised beds, as well as in rock, cottage, wildflower, alpine, and cutting gardens. The genus name, Leontopodium, comes from the Greek words leon meaning lion and podion meaning foot, originally applied to another plant and referring to the resemblance of the flowers and bracts to a lion’s paw. The specific epithet, alpinum, is the Latin word meaning of the high mountains, and refers to the natural habitat of the plant.
Type: Herbaceous perennial
Bloom: Clusters of tiny yellow flowers subtended by showy white woolly bracts from late spring t early summer
Size: 4-12″ H x 12″ W
Light: Full sun
Soil: Average, dry, very well-drained, alkaline
Hardiness: Zones 4-7 (with low humidity)
Care: Low maintenance
Pests and Diseases: None of significance but root rot can be a problem in poorly drained soil.
Propagation: Seed, division in spring
Companion Plants: sea thrift, hens and chickens, stemless gentian
Outstanding Selections: ‘Berghman’
Photo Credits:Wiktionary and Wikimedia, respectively
Karen Meyers