code: 992
grows high on the the Fell Fields of California
Family: Primulaceae
Common name: FAIRY CANDELABRA, PYGMY FLOWER
Plant Classification: Hardy annual Hardy biennial
Minimum Height: 5 cm
Maximum Height: 10 cm
Packet Content(approx.): 10
Androsace septentrionalis is a small-flowered and rather inconspicuous plant, and is the most common member of this genus in the West, out of six in the US. Plants are very variable in size, reflecting the wide range of habitats and elevations – from near sea level to over 11,000 feet. Stalkless leaves grow at the base, in a flat rosette, and often have a few teeth along the margins, and ciliate hairs. Leaf surfaces may be hairless or sparsely short hairy.
Plants typically produce between 1 and 5 leafless flower stalks, which divide near the top into between 5 and 20 pedicels of unequal length (and ranging from 0.1 to 2.3 inches), each topped by a small, white, five-petaled flower, enclosed by a green or reddish calyx, either larger or comparable in size. Each pedicel is subtended at its base by a narrow, lance-shaped bract. The calyx is bell-shaped, and has five lobes, extending from pronounced ridges towards the base. Fruits are greenish capsules, approximately spherical in shape. All plant parts become reddish as they wither.
Sowing advice:
Seeds can be sown at any time but are best sown in winter or early spring to benefit from a cold spell in the wet compost to break their dormancy. We advise covering seeds very thinly with sand or fine grit to about the depth of the seed size. If the seeds do not come up within 6 to 12 weeks the damp seed tray can be given cold treatment in a fridge for about four weeks. They may still take very many months to appear, so please never discard the pot or tray.
Optimal Growing Conditions
Sun Exposure
Full Sun
Soil Type
Normal or
Sandy
Soil pH
Neutral or
Alkaline or
Acid
Soil Moisture
Dry
Care Level
Moderate
Appearance and Characteristics
Flower Colour
White
Blooming Time
Mid Spring
Late Spring
Foliage Color
Deep Green
Plant Uses & Characteristics
Alpine & Rock
Containers
Drought Tolerant
Evergreen
Fragrant
Wild Flower
Flower Head Size
Very Small
