Perennial of the Caryophyllaceae family, found in the mountain ranges of central and southern Europe, from the Pyrenees to the Alps and the Apennines. It colonizes rocky lawns, slabs, and stabilized scree in full sun, generally between 800 and 2,000 meters, on well-drained siliceous or mixed substrates.
It forms dense, rounded clumps, distinctly domed, 8 to 12 cm in height, composed of very fine linear leaves reminiscent in shape of those of the larch, of a medium and persistent green. This tight foliage gives the plant a compact and regular habit, even when not in bloom.
During flowering, the clump is covered with a multitude of flowers with five well-spaced white petals, slightly spaced apart, giving them a characteristic starry appearance. The green sepals remain clearly visible between the petals and accentuate this character. In its natural habitat, flowering extends from June to August. In cultivation, it generally occurs from May to July.
It requires full sun and very well-drained soil, poor to moderately rich, preferably with an acidic tendency. Robust and undemanding once established, it is perfectly suited to rock gardens, walls, and gravel gardens where it spreads regularly.