Description

Acantholmon – Prickly thrift

This genus has 120 different species of dwarf evergreens, perennials and subshurbs which comes from Eastern Mediterranean and Western and central Asia where they occur in dry Mountain and desert areas. They have ½-3” prickly; needle like crowded rosette of leafs.  Few have been introduced into cultivation, usually found in rock garden.  It grows in mat or mound with over it’s dead leaves.  Early and mid summer funnel shape pink or white flowers are grouped on short spikes nestled among the leaves.

Where there are cold climates with high winter rainfall grow in greenhouse.  It has specialized requirements, thrives in very dry hot areas in coarse gritty soil with its stem sitting on warm surface like a rock and it dislikes wetness especially when dormant.

Prone to spider mites and fungal leaf spots occur occasional.

Acantholimon ventustrum – From Turkey, Syria, Iran and Iraq, this slow grower only reaches 3” inches tall and about 8” inches wide.  With rosettes of linear-lance-shape spiny ½-1 ½” blue gray silver edge leaves.  Spikes up 1 ¼” long bear 20 pink flowers in mid summer.

Zones 6-9