Description
Cyamanthus –
There are about 25 species of tufted, or small carpeting or mound forming, perennials, in this genus. They occur in cool, moist, mountainous areas in the Himalayas and Western China. They have prostrate stems radiating form a cluster of thick, almost woody roots, and small alternate, linear to broadly rounded leaves, which are toothed, lobed, or smooth edged, and often hairy. Terminal, usually solitary, bell to trumpet shaped, blue, violet, or yellow, occasionally white flowers each have 5 spreading lobes and short tubes. Grow in a rock garden, scree bed, or trough.
Grow these difficult plants in poor to moderately fertile, humus rich, moist but well drained, preferably neutral to slightly acidic soil in partial shade. Will tolerate high levels of summer rain.
Prone to spider mites.
C. microphyllus – C. integer of gardens – This mat forming perennial found from Nepal to Southwestern Tibet grows 1-6″ tall and 10″ wide. It produces slender, red stems, clothed in heart shaped, hairy, dark green leaves, to 3/8″ long, with edges rolled under. In late summer and fall it bears solitary, violet blue, funnel shaped flowers, 1″ across, with tufts of white hairs at the throats.
Zones 5-7
