Plant Name

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Androsace pyrenaica

Androsace is the second largest genus in the Primulaceae, and is widely cultivated by horticulturists for its dense cushions covered in white or pink flowers. It is a predominantly Arctic-alpine genus with many species in the mountains of central Asia, the Caucasus, and the southern and central European mountain systems, particularly the Alps and the Pyrenees.

Common Name

...

Soil

Sharply drained acidic sandy soil in vertical crevices in rock work or a dry wall.

"It is not easy to grow well, but does best in deep fissures between upright rocks; it may also be grown on the flat, in peat and sandy loam between buried stones. " from Love to Know.

Sun Aspect

Full Sun or Part Shade

Soil Moisture

Dry

Plant Type / Alpine/Alpine

Evergreen Perennial / Alpine

Height x Spread in feet

4 inches x 9 inches

Evergreen Foliage

Hard rounded cushions of grey-green foliage rosettes no more than 0.25 inches across, composed of narrowly elliptic leaves

Flower Colour in Month(s). Seed

Umbels of White flowers on short stems in May-June. Often the buds open in between the foliage rosettes, rounded in the best forms but often star-shaped.

Comment

Superficially this is is not unlike a smaller Androsace hirtella but with foliage rosettes no more than 0.25 inches across, composed of narrowly elliptic leaves. It favours acid rocks, being generally found on granite cliffs above 2500 metres in the Pyrenees.

Perfect for alpine troughs.

The easy to grow species are ideal for the rock garden and raised bed (Rock Garden FAQS). High alpine species need vertical crevices in rock work, a dry wall or scree bed conditions. Some also grow well in holes drilled in tufa rock.
Androsaces in cultivation enjoy small fissures between stones, firmly packed with pure sandy peat, or very sandy or gritty loam, not less than 15 inches deep. They should be so placed that no wet can gather or lie about them, and so planted in between stones that, once well rooted into the deep earth—all the better if mingled with pieces of broken sandstone—they never suffer from drought. It is easy to arrange rocks and soils so that, once the mass below is thoroughly moistened, ordinary drought has little effect.
Many species make excellent, if demanding pot plants for the alpine house. All species need sharply drained soil and a site in full sun or part shade. Cushion-forming species in the alpine house need good ventilation and very litle water in winter. Any dead shoots must be removed as soon as possible and there is a lot to be said for the routine application of a fungicide. Aphids can be a serious problem (hidden in the heart of the cushion) and a systemic insecticide is required.

Androsace World aims to exhibit a photograph of every known species of Androsace.

The Androsace Group is a specialist group of the Alpine Garden Society and aims to circulate information on the cultivation and naming of androsaces and on their ecology and status in the wild. It also aims to investigate the problems of preserving species and hybrids in cultivation and to take what steps it can to ensure such preservation. Publications dealing with Androsace from the Androsace Group, Scottish Rock Garden Group and the Alpine Garden Society.

Available from Graplant and Laporte Avenue Nursery.

Companions

Alpine House Cultivation

Quite easy in Compost A (Equal parts of loam, leafmould and sand. This is a suitable mixture for plants which require a light, open, porous soil with good drainage. A good mixture for troughs in a sheltered position in part shade.) to which 2 parts of chippings have been added, or Compost D (3 parts Cornish Silver Sand, 1 part flaked leaf-mould. A compost that will grow the difficult and rare high altitude alpines. This compost must have the Cornish silver sand in the mixture, as no other sand will take its place successfully. Do not transfer large growing specimens to this mixture, especially those which are intolerant of root disturbance once established. All trace of the old compost must be removed without fail before planting in a compost of this nature, so it will be necessary to start with small specimens.) will ensure a longer life over good drainage. In the latter the growth will be slower but more compact. They need

• a sufficiency of water in spring and summer,
• from September to April give only enough water to keep the compost dry but not from becoming arid in winter.