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Leontopodium alpinum - Cass.

Common Name Edelweiss
Family Asteraceae or Compositae
USDA hardiness 5-9
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Alpine meadows and screes.
Range SE and SC Europe.
Edibility Rating    (0 of 5)
Other Uses    (0 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (1 of 5)
Care (info)
Fully Hardy Moist Soil Semi-shade Full sun
Leontopodium alpinum Edelweiss


http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Illustration_Leontopodium_alpinum0.jpg
Leontopodium alpinum Edelweiss
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Summary

Bloom Color: White. Main Bloom Time: Early summer, Late summer, Mid summer. Form: Upright or erect.


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of flower
Leontopodium alpinum is a PERENNIAL growing to 0.2 m (0ft 8in) at a medium rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 4. The species is monoecious (individual flowers are either male or female, but both sexes can be found on the same plant).
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Habitats

 Cultivated Beds;

Edible Uses

None known

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.


The whole plant is astringent and antitussive[7].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

None known

Special Uses

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Landscape Uses:Alpine garden, Container, Ground cover, Rock garden, Specimen. Requires a position in full sun in any gritty perfectly drained not too fertile circumneutral or slightly alkaline soil[200]. Given a well-drained soil and protection from winter wet, this is one of the easier alpine plants to grow[200]. The plant has been avidly collected from the wild in the past for its ornamental use as a dried flower - this has caused it to become rare in the wild and it is now a protected species[7]. Special Features:Attractive foliage, Suitable for dried flowers.

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

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Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in the cold greenhouse. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Division.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Plant Search

Search over 900 plants ideal for food forests and permaculture gardens. Filter to search native plants to your area. The plants selected are the plants in our book 'Plants For Your Food Forest: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens, as well as plants chosen for our forthcoming related books for Tropical/Hot Wet Climates and Mediterranean/Hot Dry Climates. Native Plant Search

Found In

Countries where the plant has been found are listed here if the information is available

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Leontopodium discolor Perennial0.2 5-9  LMNM10 

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

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Expert comment

Author

Cass.

Botanical References

200

Links / References

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Subject : Leontopodium alpinum  
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