About Horminum pyrenaicum L.
Horminum pyrenaicum L. is a perennial flowering plant that reaches up to 45 cm in height. Its square stems bear small hairs and sessile glands. Its leaves grow in basal rosettes: they are 3 to 7 cm long, 2 to 5 cm broad, borne on long stalks, ovate in shape, glossy deep green, quilted in texture, and have bluntly toothed margins. Flowers form whorls on the upper sections of the stems; they are violet-blue or dark purple, tubular to bell-shaped, 1.5–2 cm long, and have two lips. This species flowers from July through August. This species is native to the Pyrenees and Alps in western Europe. It grows naturally on rocky slopes, in pastures, and in grasslands at elevations between 1,400 and 2,500 metres (4,600–8,200 ft) above sea level. For cultivation, grow Horminum pyrenaicum in peaty, well-drained soil that is not overly rich, placed in full sun. As an alpine plant, it grows best in areas with mild summers and cool nights. Keep the soil evenly moist, and apply one dose of slow-release fertiliser at the start of the growing season. Propagate this plant either from seed sown in autumn and exposed to low winter temperatures, or by dividing established clumps in spring.
