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Alpine Rockery

Androsace laevigata

cliff dwarf primrose

A cushion-forming, evergreen perennial to a height of 5cm, with dense rosettes of small, hairy, dark grey-green leaves. Small clusters up to 2cm across, of deep pink flowers, are produced on very short stems in early summer

Synonyms

Douglasia laevigata

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Ultimate height

Up to 10cm

Time to ultimate height

2–5 years

Ultimate spread

0.1–0.5 metres

Sand

Loam

Chalk

Moisture

Well–drained, Moist but well–drained

pH

Neutral, Alkaline, Acid

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun

Aspect

West–facing or South–facing

Exposure

Exposed or Sheltered

Hardiness
Hardiness ratings
All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

Botanical details

Family: Primulaceae
Native to GB / Ireland: No
Foliage: Evergreen
Habit: Tufted
Genus: Androsace can be annuals, biennials or evergreen perennials forming mats or compact cushions, with salver-shaped flowers which may be solitary or in umbels
Name status: Correct
Plant range: Western N America

How to grow

Cultivation

Grow in moist but gritty well-drained soil in sun, in a rock garden, scree bed, or trough, in vertical crevices in rock-work or walls, or in an alpine house, where it can be protected from winter wet, in a mixture of sharp sand and leaf mould

Propagation

Propagate by seed sown in containers in an open cold frame as soon as ripe or in autumn. Root single rosettes as cuttings in early to midsummer. Keep moist but water from below to avoid wetting the rosettes

Suggested planting locations and garden types

City and courtyard gardens
Cottage and informal garden
Patio and container plants
Rock garden
Gravel garden

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

Generally pest-free. May be susceptible to aphids under glass

Diseases

May be susceptible to fungal diseases in damp conditons

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