Purple Mountain Saxifrage 'Theoden'

'Theoden' is an exceptional cultivar of the Purple Mountain Saxifrage, a plant renowned for being one of the first heralds of spring in high altitude environments and across the Scottish Highlands. This cultivar forms a very low, creeping mat of tiny, scale-like dark green leaves arranged in four rows. In early spring, often while snow is still on the ground elsewhere, it is completely smothered in relatively large, upward-facing, vibrant bowl-shaped flowers of a rich rosy-purple hue. It is incredibly hardy, rated H7, and thrives in the cooler, wetter parts of the UK. To succeed in warmer southern gardens, it must be kept out of the midday sun and never allowed to dry out completely. It prefers a north-facing aspect in a rockery or a crevice within a limestone wall where it can enjoy sharp drainage alongside constant moisture. It is a slow grower that adds significant early-season interest.

Sun: Full sun to partial shade.

Soil: Gritty, alkaline, moist but well-drained.

Hardiness: H7 — below −20°C.

Flowering: Feb, Mar, Apr.