Description and General Information:
Hungarian snowbells are native from beech forests to subalpine meadows in the southern and eastern Carpathian Mountains. Plants produce a rosette of evergreen, leathery, round to kidney-shaped leaves, about 2.5 cm in diameter. In early spring, leafless stems arise 10-15 cm tall, topped with a cluster of nodding, open bell-shaped bluish-violet flowers which have distinctive heavily fringed edges.
Cultivation:
This species requires evenly moist humus-rich soil. Grow it in a shaded area of the rockery or in a woodland setting. It also does well in alpine troughs or pots. It is not fussy about the soil pH. It is prone to frost-heaving so mulch in the winter or place evergreen boughs over the plant.
Blooming Season:
In cultivation, it may blooms early as March in the south to as late as May in the north.
Propagation:
Hungarian snowbells may be propagated by division or seed. Large clumps may be dug and divided after blooming. Seeds may be sown in the fall and left outside to chill over the winter or alternatively they may be sown and stratified for at least 8 weeks.
