trefle.io · Taken Jun 14, 2022 by Judith W (cc-by-sa)
Orobanchaceae
Velvetbells
Bartsia alpina
Also known as Velvet bells, Large yellow foxglove, Digitalis grandiflora, Alectorolophus erectus
Native Plants · Alpine · Wildflower · Semi-Parasitic · European · Velvetbells · Bartsia · Cool-Climate · Meadow · Rare · Hemiparasite
Velvetbells is a semi-parasitic alpine wildflower native to European mountain meadows and tundra, requiring a host grass plant to attach to for part of its nutrient uptake. It needs cool, moist, well-drained conditions and is essentially impossible to grow outside a carefully managed alpine garden setting. This plant is a true specialist's challenge and not recommended for typical home gardens.
Growing conditions
The details behind the basics
- Daily light
- 5 hours
- Watering
- Water moderately to keep soil evenly moist; avoid drought stress · Every 7-10 days
- Maintenance
- High
- Soil
- loam
- Soil pH
- 7–7.5
- Temperature
- -25°F to 85°F
- Cycle
- Perennial
- Propagation
- Seed
Hardiness
USDA 4b-9b
Form & growth
Mature size and habit
- Mature height
- 12 in – 3 ft
- Spread
- 2 ft
- Spacing
- 8 in apart
- Growth rate
- Moderate
- Root depth
- Medium
- Flowers
- No
- Foliage
- Medium
Ecology & origin
Where it belongs and what it brings
- Native to
- Austria, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greenland, Iceland, Italy, Labrador, Newfoundland, North European Russi, Northwest Territorie, Norway, Nunavut, Ontario, Poland, QuéBec, Romania
- Attracts
- Bees, Butterflies
Sources: trefle, usda
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