Globularia repens

A sub-woody perennial of the Plantaginaceae family, this dwarf globularia is found in the mountains of southwestern Europe, from the Pyrenees to the western Alps and the Cantabrian Range, where it carpets limestone rocks, crevices, and sun-exposed slabs between 1,500 and 2,800 meters in altitude.

It is the most creeping and smallest of the genus in Europe: it forms dense mats, almost plastered on the rock, only 2 to 5 cm in height, with woody stolons insinuating into the crevices. The leaves are tiny, spatulate, leathery, a bright and dense green, evergreen, forming a compact mosaic that closely follows the relief of the substrate.

The spherical capitula, borne on very short stems, are a pale lavender blue to pinkish lilac, smaller than those of other species of the genus. In its natural habitat, its flowering extends from June to August depending on altitude and exposure. In cultivation, it generally blooms in May-June.

It requires a limestone soil, very lean and perfectly drained, full sun exposure, and protection from stagnant moisture in winter. A choice plant for alpine troughs and sloping rock gardens, it is delicate to establish but rewards with a habit remarkably faithful to its wild appearance.