Stachys corsica

Perennial of the Lamiaceae family, endemic to Corsica and Sardinia, where it inhabits rock crevices, scree, and rocky slabs of mountain massifs, generally between 1,000 and 2,000 meters in altitude, on siliceous or granite substrates.

It forms small creeping and mat-forming tufts, dense, hardly exceeding 5 to 8 cm in height. The thin, glandular, and hairy stems bear small, rounded to slightly crenate leaves, of a bright green, whose soft and pubescent texture is perceptible to the touch.

The flowers, bilabiate as is usual in the family, are remarkably large compared to the plant's habit. The lower lip is ample, spread out like a fan, of a very delicate pinkish-white to pale pink, slightly veined, while the upper lip, shorter, takes on a more pronounced pink hue. In its natural habitat, its flowering extends from June to August depending on the altitude.

It is one of the few species of the genus to present such a dwarf habit and a flower of such relative amplitude, making it a plant sought after by alpine rock garden enthusiasts. In cultivation, it requires perfect drainage, a granite or acidic substrate, a sunny exposure, and protection against stagnant winter moisture; cultivation in a trough or cold greenhouse suits it particularly well.