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Leontopodium nivale subsp. alpinum

edelweiss

© RHS 2002
Sold by 14 nurseries

  • Other common names edelweiss

  • Synonyms Gnaphalium leontopodium
    Leontopodium alpinum

  • Family Asteraceae

  • Genus Leontopodium are herbaceous perennials with simple leaves and terminal clusters of small yellowish flower-heads surrounded by showy, white-felted leaf-like bracts

  • Details L. nivale subsp. alpinum is a perennial to 20cm in height, with narrow, grey-green leaves and starry white-felted flowering heads in late spring and early summer

  • Plant range Europe (mts)

Characteristics

  • Foliage Deciduous

  • Habit Spreading / Branched

  • Hardiness

    Hardiness ratings

    All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

    • H1a - Under glass all year (>15C)
    • H1b - Can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
    • H1c - Can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
    • H2 - Tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
    • H3 - Hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
    • H4 - Hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
    • H5 - Hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
    • H6 - Hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
    • H7 - Hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

    H6

Colour

Sunlight

  • Full Sun

  • Aspect South-facing or North-facing or West-facing or East-facing

  • Exposure Sheltered

Soil

  • Loam

    Loam

  • Chalk

    Chalk

  • Sand

    Sand

  • MoistureWell-drained

  • SoilLoam, Chalk, Sand

  • pHAlkaline, Neutral

Size

  • Ultimate height 0.1-0.5 metres

  • Ultimate spread 0-0.1 metre

  • Time to ultimate height 2-5 years

How to grow

Cultivation Grow in well-drained soil in a sheltered position in full sun. Suitable for rock garden, raised bed, or alpine house. Protect from winter wet

Propagation Propagate by seed

Suggested planting locations and garden types Garden Edging Cottage & Informal Garden Gravel Garden Patio & Container Plants Rock Garden

How to care

Pruning No pruning required

Pests Generally pest free

Diseases Generally disease free

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