Horticultural hybrid of the Montiaceae family, 'Michael Campbell' combines two species from the North American west with distinctly different characteristics: Lewisia longipetala, endemic to the granitic heights of the Sierra Nevada, and Lewisia rediviva, a species from the plains and arid slopes of the Rockies, capable of surviving a long complete summer dormancy. This hybrid was obtained and named in tribute to a British enthusiast passionate about lewisias.
The plant forms a very compact and low rosette, with linear, fleshy, glaucous to gray-green leaves that are short and upright, more reminiscent of the stocky habit of L. rediviva than the more spreading leaves of L. longipetala. The flower buds, tinged with dark reddish-brown before opening, emerge directly from the rosette on very short stems, remaining practically at the level of the foliage.
The open flowers are large relative to the size of the plant, with delicately rounded lilac-pink petals, slightly veined, with a creamy white heart and well-visible white stigmas. This contrast between the ample flower and the tiny rosette is the most striking feature of this cultivar.
In cultivation, it requires absolute drainage and a very mineral substrate. Planting in a wall crevice or between rock blocks, sheltered from winter moisture, suits it perfectly. It is a plant for discerning collectors.