Description
Cassiope –
There are about 12 species of dwarf, low growing, evergreen shrubs, in this genus. They occur in diverse habitats in arctic and alpine regions in the Northern Hemisphere. They have 4 rows of tiny, overlapping, scale like leaves, pressed flat to the whipcord like stems. Wiry stems carry either single or large numbers of nodding small, white or pink, urn shaped flowers in late spring and early summer. Grow in a rock garden or in open areas in woodland.
Grow in sheltered site in moist, slightly acidic, humus rich soil in partial shade or in open sunny sites.
Prone to Exobasidium gall.
C. fastigiata – This lax, dense, erect shrub from high elevations of the Himalayas grows 10″ tall and 8-10″ wide. It produces furrowed, lance shaped, dark green leaves, to 1/8″ long, with fringed, silvery edges. In late spring it bears open bell shaped white flowers, 1/3″ across, with slightly reflexed lobes and green or red calyces held single on downward curved stalks. Parent of several popular hybrids.
Zones 3-8
