Heuchera parvifolia var. nivalis

Heuchera parvifolia var. nivalis is a rarely grown botanical species, and undoubtedly one of the smallest in the genus. This miniature plant offers an unusual appearance and its cultivation method is also very different from the varieties usually grown in our gardens. This perennial plant forms a cushion of tiny round light green leaves that do not have lobes but are very fringed, from which very airy stems of small white flowers emerge in spring; these are delicate and adorned with slightly prominent, almost transparent stamens. This species grows well in both sunny and shaded places, prefers well-drained soils, and tolerates heat and summer drought well.

Heuchera parvifolia var. nivalis, not to be confused with Heuchera parviflora var. parviflora, is a caudex plant in the saxifrage family, native to North America. It is found growing on rocky outcrops in valleys, foothills, canyon walls, and subalpine and alpine meadows between 1200 and 3900 m (4,000 and 13,000 ft) in altitude. It is found in various states such as Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming.

This small heuchera forms a mound of evergreen foliage not exceeding 15 cm (6 in) in height, spreading over 20 to 30 cm (8 to 12 in) in diameter. Its thick, rounded, light green leaves are no larger than a thumbnail and have scalloped edges. Flowering takes place from May to July depending on the climate, in the form of thin stems, 30 to 70 cm (12 to 28 in) tall, bearing at their extremity a narrow spike 5 cm (2 in) in length, composed of yellowish-green to off-white flowers, with an orange throat, not exceeding 1 cm (0.4 in) in length, including the stamens. The stamens turn orange when ripe. This plant is perfectly hardy and self-seeds spontaneously when it is happy, giving rise to colonies of dozens of individuals.

Very tolerant of heat and drought, this curious little heuchera is planted in groups, in shaded or semi-shaded rockeries, on the edges of undergrowth, and can even be used on green roofs in the company of sedums, for example. It will also coexist with alpine plants such as saxifrages and Strobilanthes penstemonoides, as well as epimediums or perennial geranium macrorrhizum Spessart. It will also look beautiful planted among mossy stones.