Eritrichium howardii

[Hoy]

I came to think about something - do you say you speak English or Canadian in Canada? (Not talking about French . . . ) 

I have to say something of the Eritrichiums too! They are very beautiful plants, like some refined form of forgetmenot. However I have never tried to grow any assuming they'll dislike the humid climate here.

[cohan]

There are occasions when we need to specify what sort of English, since we do of course have some different usage than U.S., various parts of Britain, Aus, NZ etc, so then we will specify Canadian English, but normally we just say English...

[Spiegel]

Pictured is Eritrichium howardii, which manages to get through our winters OK.  It will never look as it does in the wild. but the great news is that it seeded itself into a piece of tufa, where it has persisted for three years but has yet to flower.

[Lori S.]

It looks wonderful, Anne, and self-seeding yet too.   

[cohan]

Self perpetuating is extra good news, Anne

[Bundraba!]

January 31, 2013 update on Eritrichiums here. A day of record warmth for the date here (55F.) has melted all the snow that was covering these. E. howardii is showing full normal winter dormancy. There's probably some significance to the few yellow leaves. The dormant growing point appears purplish and the outer foliage is obviously dead. The Lemhi Mountains plant remains largely green. The Bighorn Mountains plant pictured has changed little since December despite its respite under the snow. Ditto the Wallowa Mountains plant (not shown).

[RickR]

So nice to document these differences, Michael!

Do they all have the same exposure?

[gervandenbeuken]

Pictured is Eritrichium howardii, which manages to get through our winters OK.  It will never look as it does in the wild. but the great news is that it seeded itself into a piece of tufa, where it has persisted for three years but has yet to flower.

The main problem is to get it through winter Ann. Propagation and get a full size plant during summer is rather easy here in the Netherlands but the problems start during autumn when the plants are getting dormant.
Probably a matter of providing just the right cilmate. I never tried outside on tufa, just in pots in the alpine-house.

[Bundraba!]

Eritrichium howardii (my garden) in late March 2013. They grow well in cool weather. It appears as if the flower buds begin in spring on these as opposed to fall, but I don't really know.

[Spiegel]

I think you're right, Michael.  I've never noticed any bud-forming in the fall.  Your plants looks really good.  Follow-up pictures, please.

[Bundraba!]

I think you're right, Michael.  I've never noticed any bud-forming in the fall.  Your plants looks really good.  Follow-up pictures, please.

Yes, Anne, of course! I was out there just a minute ago and there has already been change in the plant since morning. I love rock gardening!

[Merlin]

I used to grow E. howardii in a pot but have since focused on growing it in the open garden. we are a few weeks away from the garden plants flowering but here is one in a pot.

[Spiegel]

That is gorgeous.

[Hoy]

Looks good in a pot too

[James Mikkelsen]

Greetings,

E. howardii is one of the most common plants where I live in Western Montana.  Virtually every limestone outcrop is covered with them.

Fantastic!  What a glorious gem!