About
Eritrichium howardii is a compact, cushion-forming alpine perennial from the Rocky Mountains producing tight mats of silver-hairy foliage and small, sky-blue, forget-me-not-like flowers. A beautiful specialist alpine for a very well-drained sunny rock garden or alpine house.
About the genus
Eritrichium, the Arctic forget-me-nots, are compact, cushion-forming alpines with silvery-hairy foliage and small, sky-blue, forget-me-not-like flowers. They are among the most sought-after and challenging of all alpine plants, requiring very well-drained conditions in a sunny alpine house.
Growing conditions
SunlightFull sun
Soil typeChalk, Loam, Sand
Soil pHAlkaline, Neutral
Soil moistureWell-drained
AspectSouth-facing, West-facing
ExposureExposed, Sheltered
UK hardinessH5
Plant details
Plant typeHerbaceous Perennial, Alpine Rockery
HabitSpreading branched
FoliageSemi evergreen
Height0.1-0.5 metres
Spread0.1-0.5 metres
Time to full height2-5 years
Suggested usesGravel garden, Rock garden
Native toSE Europe, SW Asia
Care notes
CultivationGrow in a sunny spot in gritty, well-drained soil, and protect from excess winter wet. Ideal for a rockery or alpine house
PruningNo pruning required
PropagationPropagate by seed, by division in spring, or by basal softwood cuttings in late spring and early summer
Pest resistanceGenerally pest-free, may be susceptible to vine weevil if grown in containers
Disease resistanceGenerally disease-free