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Perennial of the Asteraceae family, the Edelweiss is one of the most emblematic plants of the mountains of Central and Southern Europe. It naturally grows in rocky grasslands, calcareous scree, and cliff ledges, generally between 1,700 and 3,000 meters altitude, on very well-drained calcareous substrate, in full exposure.
The plant forms small low tufts of 5 to 12 cm. The cauline leaves are medium green, slightly tomentose, narrow and lanceolate. The inflorescence, on the other hand, is crowned with narrow and elongated bracts, densely pure woolly white at the center, gradually turning to silvery gray-green towards their tips. The central capitulum, clearly visible, is unique and still slightly open on this specimen. This contrast between the bright green foliage and the intense whiteness of the bracts is one of the best-expressed characteristics on wild-origin stocks.
In its natural habitat, its blooming extends from July to September depending on the altitude. In cultivation, it generally occurs in June-July.
Plants from commercial seeds, often a mix of origins, frequently lose this morphological finesse. This Slovenian Alps stock illustrates what wild provenance can retain in precision and character. It requires in cultivation a very drained, poor, calcareous soil, in full sun, with a mineral mulch at the collar to prevent any stagnant moisture.