About
Parnassia palustris, the grass of Parnassus, is a rosette-forming perennial to 20 cm with heart-shaped basal leaves and erect stems bearing solitary, star-shaped, white flowers 2.5 cm across with greenish veins in late spring and early summer. A beautiful native plant of wet meadows and flushes, best grown in a moist, sunny rock garden or bog garden.
About the genus
Parnassia are herbaceous perennials with basal rosettes of ovate or heart-shaped leaves and solitary, bowl-shaped, white or pale-yellow flowers on upright, leafy stems in summer. Grown in moist, sunny borders and rock gardens.
Growing conditions
SunlightFull sun
Soil typeClay, Loam
Soil pHAcid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil moisturePoorly-drained
AspectWest-facing, South-facing
ExposureExposed, Sheltered
UK hardinessH7
Plant details
Plant typeBogs, Herbaceous Perennial
HabitClump forming
FoliageDeciduous
Height0.1-0.5 metres
Spread0-0.1 metre
Time to full height2-5 years
Suggested usesWildflower meadow, Rock garden
Native toEurasia
Care notes
CultivationGrow in deep, fertile, wet but not stagnant soil in full sun
PruningCut back after flowering
PropagationPropagate by seed, sown in containers in autumn, or by division in spring
Pest resistanceMay be susceptible to slugs and snails
Disease resistanceGenerally disease-free