Selected cultivar of the Spanish species, a suffrutescent perennial of the Brassicaceae family, sharing the same ecological requirements as the type, but not found spontaneously in nature.
It retains the dense, woody, hemispherical cushion habit at the base of the species, reaching 15 to 25 cm in height with a spread that can exceed 40 to 50 cm. The foliage is small, narrow, silvery gray, and densely tomentose, identical to that of the type, with branches ending similarly in spines after flowering.
The essential difference lies in the color of the flowers, a deep magenta to purple-pink, very different from the white of the type species, and of remarkable intensity at full bloom. The small, tight corymbs completely cover the cushion, almost hiding the silvery foliage under a carpet of bright color. The contrast between the purple flowers and the gray foliage is one of the main attractions of this cultivar in rock gardens. In cultivation, it blooms in May-June.
It requires the same conditions as the type species: absolute full sun, very well-drained, poor, and dry soil, with good tolerance to summer drought. Excess moisture in winter remains its main limiting factor. Propagation is done by cuttings, as seeding does not produce true-to-type offspring.