Leafless-stemmed Globe Daisy

This unusual alpine is native to the mountains of central and southern Europe. It forms a slow-growing mound of dark green, leathery, evergreen leaves. In late spring and early summer, it produces leafless stems topped with unique, spherical flower heads of a soft, lavender-blue. These 'globes' are composed of many tiny, fluffy flowers, giving the plant its common name. It is a very reliable and hardy plant for the UK rock garden, requiring little maintenance once established. It prefers a well-drained, alkaline to neutral soil and a sunny position, though it can tolerate light shade. Because it is slower growing than many other mat-formers, it will not swamp its neighbours, making it an excellent companion for smaller, more delicate alpines. Its architectural flower heads add a different texture to the garden and are quite distinct from the usual bell or star-shaped alpine flowers. It is fully hardy and very long-lived.

Sun: Full sun to partial shade.

Soil: Well-drained, alkaline soil.

Hardiness: H5 — down to −15°C.

Flowering: May, Jun.