These little flowers are naturally found growing in many Alpine countries at high altitudes.
It grows slowly and will begin flowering in its second year.
It makes an excellent addition to arock garden.
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
Plant edelweiss in the early spring to give it the entire growing season to get established.
Edelweiss Care
Edelweiss flowers are a breeze to care for.
These plants prefer nearly neutral pH levels, between 6.5 and 7.5.
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
These flowers also grow well in rocky, limestone soils.
Water
Edelweiss flowers do not require additional water once established.
These fuzzy plants are naturally found in harsh, arid conditions.
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
They cannot tolerate soggy soil and do better with underwatering rather than overwatering.
During the first year of growth, water when the soil feels dry.
Wooly leaves help protect the plant from wind and rain.
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
In fact, these flowers require cold temperatures to thrive and are grown inUSDA hardiness zones4 to 7.
They do not grow well in hot, humid climates.
Pruning
Edelweiss does not need any pruning.
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Propagating Edelweiss
Propagation is primarily done throughdivision.
This is best to do every few years, as edelweiss has a short life span.
Division will keep edelweiss growing for years to come.
The pot must have drainage holes that allow water to drain freely.
Because edelweiss stays quite small and is a slow grower, repotting is not often needed.
When edelweiss outgrows its container, gently loosen the roots from the container until they slide out.
Place the plant into a slightly larger container and cover the roots with well-draining soil.
They enjoy having a thick blanket of snow to protect them.
Simply refrain from watering these plants and let the snow do the rest.
When spring arrives, move aside the mulch to allow new growth to appear.
Crown rot is a common ailment of Edelweiss.
Remove a plant showing signs of advanced crown rot to prevent the disease from spreading to the surrounding plants.
As a preventive measure, remove any fallen foliage from around the plant.
How Long Does Edelweiss Bloom?
Individual flowers dont last very long but edelweiss blooms intermittently from late spring to late summer.
What Do Edelweiss Flowers Look and Smell Like?
Edelweiss flowers are white and fuzzy with a pale yellow center.
What looks like star-shaped wooly petals are actually bracts with a greenish underside.
It has a sweet smell with a note of hyacinth but it is not nearly as strongly scented.
Fertilizing the plant does not produce more flowers, on the contrary, edelweiss does better in poor soil.
Deadheading wont extend the bloom.
They make wonderful additions to rock gardens, adding a rugged, wild feel to your backyard.
It is considered an endangered species.
Although it self-seeds if the conditions are right, the plant is not invasive.
