Chamerion dodonaei

A perennial of the Onagraceae family, Chamerion dodonaei is widespread in the mountains of Central and Southern Europe, from the Alps to the Balkans and the Carpathians, where it colonizes mobile scree, stream beds, alluvial gravels, and sunny rocky slopes, generally between 500 and 2,000 meters. It is particularly characteristic of calcareous or siliceous scree cones with pioneer vegetation.

It forms upright and branched clumps 30 to 70 cm in height, with often reddish stems, densely leafy. The leaves are very narrow, almost linear, of a medium green, reminiscent in their fineness of those of rosemary or lavender, which immediately distinguishes this species from Chamerion angustifolium with significantly wider leaves.

The flowers, with four narrow and well-spaced petals, are bright pink to intense magenta-pink, borne in loose clusters at the top of the stems. Their starry and airy shape gives them a particular lightness, accentuated by the long protruding styles and stamens. The reddish flower buds contribute to the colorful effect of the whole.

In its natural habitat, its flowering extends from June to August depending on the altitude. In cultivation, it generally occurs from June to July.

It requires full sun, very well-drained, mineral, and rather poor soil, and tolerates drought well once established. Its tolerance to mobile and unstable substrates makes it an interesting candidate for rocky embankments and gardens with a natural mountain character.