Lewisia cotyledon Ultra Violet

Lewisia cotyledon 'Elise Ultra Violet' is the flashiest among the Siskiyou Lewisias from the 'Elise' series, selected for their ability to bloom at a very young age, starting from the first year of cultivation. On these adorable little perennials, a multitude of brightly coloured small star-shaped flowers bloom in spring and a large part of summer. In the 'Ultra Violet' cultivar, they display an intense pinkish-violet colour that turns magenta. Beautiful in rockeries, Lewisia 'Elise' are also very decorative plants for sunny flower pots. They should be planted in well-drained soil, in full sun or partial shade in warm climates.

Lewisia plants belong to the family of Portulacaceae, recently reclassified into the Montiaceae family. They are all native to the North American Rocky Mountains and were discovered in the early 19th century. They grow in small isolated populations in rocky crevices or gravelly scree slopes. Lewisia cotyledon 'Elise Ultra Violet' is a evergreen perennial in winter, without stems, possessing an underground storage organ called a caudex and a reddish-brown, branching, and taproot system. It hybridizes and self-seeds easily in rocky terrain.

The 'Elise' selection brings together some magnificent forms with very vivid or tender colours: sumptuous shades of pink, salmon, orange, white, and yellow, on solid or bicoloured flowers. These plants have a bushy habit of about 25cm (10in) in all directions. They form rosettes of succulent leaves that are dark glaucous green, turning red with cold weather. The leaves measure 5 to 10cm (2 to 4in) long, they are narrow, spatulate-shaped. Flowering occurs in spring, from March to June-July, more or less early depending on the climate. The flowers, about 3cm (1in) in diameter, are star-shaped corollas with 7 to 12 shiny, slightly fringed petals. They are grouped in small clusters carried by a stem overhanging the leaf rosettes. They close at night.

A charming little plant, Lewisia cotyledon 'Elise Ultra Violet' catches the eye with its profusion of very delicate and remarkably coloured flowers, which seem to be 'grafted' onto the rocks. Whether in a border, in a flowerpot on a balcony, or placed on top of a wall, it is easy to find a special place for this little marvel, sheltered from winter humidity, which it fears much more than the cold.

Lewisia plants are also called 'Bitter root' because their edible roots, covered with a bitter skin, were traditionally harvested by Native American tribes to be consumed once peeled and cooked, grilled, or dried, and even served as a form of currency. It is said that a plant kept dry for five years is capable of resurrecting to produce beautiful flowers the following summer. This is at least the adventure experienced by a curious London botanist.

Note: Please be aware that our young plug plants are professional products intended for experienced gardeners: upon receipt, transplant and store them under cover (veranda, greenhouse, cold frame...) at a temperature above 14°C (57.2°F) for a few weeks before planting them outdoors once the risk of frost is definitively eliminated.