Description
Ourisia –
There are about 25 species of low growing, mainly rhizomatous, evergreen or semi evergreen perennials in this genus. They occur in alpine regions of Tasmania, New Zealand, SouthAmerica and Antarctica. They have mostly radical leaves, which are usually conspicuously veined, but are grown for their usually short tubed flowers, each with 5 spreading lobes, the 3 lower larger than the upper 2. The flowers are held singly or in whorls or racemes on leafless stems. Ourisia grow best in cool, moist climates, and are suitable for a shady rock garden or wall.
Grow in reliably moist, fertile, humus rich soil in partial shade. Rhizomatous species quickly exhaust soil nutrients, so divide and replant when they begin to deteriorate. Divide in spring.
Prone to slugs and snails.
O. coccinea – This mat forming, evergreen perennial from the Chilean Andes grows 8″ tall and 16″ wide. It produces rosettes of broadly elliptic or oblong, toothed, strongly veined, light green leaves, to 1/4″ long. Throughout summer it bears loose, terminal racemes of pendent, long tubed, noticeably 2 lipped scarlet flowers, to 1 ½” long. May spread widely in cool, moist areas.
Zones 7-9
