Francoa sonchifolia

Francoa sonchifolia is a perennial Andean plant rarely planted in gardens but highly prized in floral art. It forms a rosette of leaves from which dense flower spikes rise in late spring and early summer, with small pale-pink flowers with darker pink spots in the centre of the petals. Plant it in a border, in a sheltered and semi-shaded position, in well-drained, moist and humus-rich soil. It can also be grown in pots, which allows the plant to be protected from cold and humidity in winter.

Francoa sonchifolia is an evergreen perennial of mountainous origin belonging to the Francoaceae family. In the wild, it grows in the rocky crevices of the steep relief of the Chilean Andes, above water, where it forms dense ground covers. This plant develops basal rosettes consisting of lanceolate, deeply lobed and undulate leaves of variable shape, which persist in winter. Flowering occurs from June to August depending on the climate. Rosettes of leaves emerge from non-branched stems, carrying compact clusters of star-shaped flowers 1 to 2cm (1in) in diameter, 45cm (18in) above the ground. They emerge as dark pink buds and then open into pale-pink corollas marked with a small purplish pink comma at the base of the petals. This species can tolerate temperatures around -8 to -10°C (17.6 to 14°F) for a short period if the soil is dry in winter.

Their beautiful, long-lasting flowers are often used in bouquets. They can be grown in full sun or semi-shade, to form beautiful borders along pathways, or in front of perennial and annual beds. These majestic alpine plants are ideal in cool rock gardens, surrounded by saxifrages, edelweiss, Ajuga reptans, gentians, Alchemilla mollis, or androsaces. They can also be grown in pots, which can then be protected from winter rains, thus ensuring their perennial nature.