Edelweiss: Sowing, planting and harvest calendar
When and how do you plant alpine edelweiss?
Plant alpine edelweiss, Leontopodium nivale subsp. alpinum, in a sunny position with very sharp drainage. Spring often suits establishment, outside frost and excessive heat. Cold hardiness does not compensate for ground that stays waterlogged in winter. A cool summer climate suits it better than persistent humid heat.
Prepare a rock garden, raised bed or container with drainage holes and a mineral, sandy-to-gritty mixture, neutral to alkaline. Water must escape throughout the root zone. A few stones at the bottom of a hole in heavy soil do not turn it into a freely draining site.
Moisten the rootball and remove the pot carefully. Plant at the original growing depth, with the crown level with the surface. Return soil around roots without burying the rosette’s centre. Firm gently, water for contact and let the surplus drain away.
Check moisture during establishment: being a mountain plant does not mean a young specimen should dry out completely. Space plants for their expected size and protect them from vigorous neighbours. Avoid thick organic mulch over the crown and heavy feeding. Watch rosette condition and drainage after rain.
When does alpine edelweiss flower and what should you look for?
