Ramonda nathaliae –

Description

Ramonda – There are 3 species of rosette forming evergreen perennials, in this genus. They occur in shady rock crevices and cliff faces in Northeastern Spain, the Pyrenees, and the Balkan Mountains. They are grown for their hairy, crinkled leaves, of variable shape and color, and their flat or shallowly cup shaped, colorful flowers. The flowers are often slightly 2 lipped, with 4 or 5, rarely 6 petals, and are born singly or in cymes like panicles on slender, leafless stems, in late spring and early summer. Grow Ramonda in a rock garden, in crevices in a stone wall, or alpine house. In an alpine house, grow in equal parts loam, leaf mold and grit, in bright filtered light with shade from hot sun. Outdoors, grow in moist but well drained, humus rich, moderately fertile soil in partial shade. Plants are best grown on their sides to avoid accumulation of moisture in the rosettes, which may cause rotting in winter. Leaves wither in dry conditions, but recover if watered throughly. Very susceptible to slugs and snail. R. nathaliae – This rosette forming, evergreen perennial from Bosnia, Herzegovina, Macedonia and Northern Greece, grows 4″ tall and wide. It produces elliptic to broadly ovate, hairy, slightly crinkled, glossy, mid to dark green leaves, that are downy on the undersides, to 2″ long, either smooth edged or with slightly scalloped margins. In late spring or early summer, it bears panicles of outward facing, flattish, 4 petaled, deep purple flowers, to 1 ½” across, with orange-yellow centers and yellow anthers. Zones 6-7