Androsace Strigillosa

Description

Androsace strigillosa has neat rosettes of small leaves in winter, and much larger leaves in summer. It has upright stems with a loose umbel of a few flowers, white when they are open. But what makes this highly sought after is the reverse of the petals, seen also in bud, which is a deep, dusky pink, outlined with white. It has grown well outside for many years, eventually making a wide clump. A variable species forming loose clumps or hummocks depending on altitude. Central Himalaya (Nepal to Bhutan) above 2500m in light woodland and among scrub, smaller forms higher up in alpine meadows. Allied to and in cultivation confused with A. foliosa. A variable species forming loose clumps or hummocks depending on altitude. Native from Central Himalaya (Nepal to Bhutan) between 2400-4700 metres in light woodland and among scrub, smaller forms higher up in alpine meadows. It is also in India and Southeast Tibet. Medicine - The root is chewed to treat boils on the tongue.

Sowing Advice

Seeds can be sown at any time but are best sown in winter or early spring to benefit from a cold spell in the wet compost to break their dormancy. We advise covering seeds very thinly with sand or fine grit to about the depth of the seed size. If the seeds do not come up within 6 to 12 weeks the damp seed tray can be given cold treatment in a fridge for about four weeks. They may still take very many months to appear, so please never discard the pot or tray.

Key Facts