Leontopodium alpinum EDELWEISS (20 seeds)

Edelweiss is a rare, slow-growing perennial plant from the Asteraceae family. This beautiful, mythical alpine plant, standing 20 to 30 cm tall, grows wild in limestone-rich pastures at altitudes between 1,800 and 3,000 meters in the Alpine mountains. It is protected in the wild, and picking it is strictly prohibited in the Hautes-Alpes. It acclimates easily to lowland areas in semi-shaded spots with fresh soil.

Edelweiss seeds from Leontopodium alpinum are black, elongated, and thin, measuring only one millimeter in length. They are harvested 2 to 3 weeks after the start of flowering.

The flowers are small, measuring 3 cm in diameter, star-shaped, and white in color.

This variety possesses silvery, velvety leaves. They form a compact rosette on the mountains. Their oval shape and silky hairs protect the plant from cold winds.

- Properties:

This emblematic flower of the French and Swiss Alps is used in both cosmetics and herbal medicine due to its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. It can also be made into infusions to relieve respiratory disorders.
Do not consume without medical advice from a healthcare professional.

In Tyrol and more broadly across the Alpine arc, it is a symbol of purity and love. It was a tradition for a fiancé to offer a bouquet of these flowers to his betrothed on their wedding day.

- Germination and Sowing of Seeds:

• The most favorable time to sow edelweiss flowers is during the winter period, from January to March, or by artificially stratifying the culture in the freezer for 2 months. Note that stratification is mandatory.
• Sow the seeds in a small pot of fine potting soil without burying them.
• Gently water the surface of the substrate with a small hand sprayer.
• Place the "Silver Star" culture in a spot with a temperature between 15 and 25°C.
• Germination will generally begin 3 to 5 weeks after following the stratification and sowing procedure.

- Substrate / Soil Type:

The ideal soil type for its cultivation is a very light, highly mineral substrate rich in organic matter, ideally with a slightly acidic pH. The soil must be able to remain fresh.

- Exposure / Light:

The plant grows in a sunny location; the more sun it receives, the more spectacular the flowering will be.

- Temperature / Hardiness:

It does not appreciate heatwaves during the summer at all. It thrives when temperatures oscillate between 5 and 20°C. Its hardiness is excellent; its USDA zone is 4, meaning it can tolerate very cold winter temperatures down to -34°C.

- Watering / Humidity:

It is recommended to water it moderately, about once or twice a week during the hottest summer months. During cooler months, watering can be reduced to once every two weeks.

- Multiplication / Reproduction:

The easiest way to reproduce it remains the sowing of its seeds and the division of its clumps by separating the roots of the plant to obtain new seedlings.