Also known as rosette mullein, this evergreen perennial is native to rocky soils in the Pyrenees and north eastern Spain. It is a member of the African violet family, Gesneriaceae, that also includes Gloxinia and goldfish plant. Plants grow 3-4″ tall and form rosettes of crinkly, hairy, dark green leaves that are broadly ovate and have prominent veins. In late spring and early summer leafless stems carry clusters of 1″ wide flowers with violet-blue petals and conspicuous yellow anthers. Plants are attractive in rock gardens and the crevices of walls. The genus name, Ramonda, honor Louis Francis Ramond, Baron de Carbonniere (1753-1827), French botanist and traveller in the Pyrenees. The speciic epithet, myconi, honors Francisco Mico (b. 1528), Spanish botanist and physician.
Type: Evergreen perennial
Bloom: Clusters of violet-blue flowers withyellow anthers in late spring and early summer
Size: 3-4″ H x 3-4″ W
Light: Partial shade
Soil: Average, medium moist, well-drained
Hardiness: Zones 5-7
Care: Low maintenance
Pests and Diseases: Slugs, snails
Propagation: Seed, leaf cuttings in early autumn
Companion Plants: Corydalis ochroleuca, Chiastophyllum oppositifolium, Arctostaphylos uva-ursi
Outstanding Selections:
Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons
Karen Meyers