Description
Soldanella – Snowbell –
There are about 10 small, spring flowering, evergreen perennial, related to Primrose, in this genus. They are found naturally occurring in the mountains of Europe in alpin turf or among rocks, often flowering through the melting snow. All interbreed freely. They produce basal rosettes of long stalked, rounded or kidney shaped, leathery leaves. The nodding to pendent, funnel or bell shaped, purple to white flowers have fringed petals and are borne in umbels, rarley singly. Grow in a rock garden.
Grow in humus rich, moist, sharply drained soil in full sun with some midday shade, oor in partial shade in warm area.. Top dress with sharp grit, and protect from excessive winter moisture, Divide in early spring.
Prone to slugs and snails.
S. carppatica – This rosette or clump forming, alpine perennial from Eastern Europe grows 6″ tall and wide. It produces rounded, dark green leaves, to 2″ long, violet-purple beneath. In early spring, each stems bear 2-5 funnel shaped, violet blue flowers, to ½” across, resembling those of S. alpina, but more freely borne, with fringed petals cut to 2/3″ of their lengths.
Zones 4-7
