Leontopodium

( lee - on - toh - POH - dee - um )

At-A-Glance Information

This genus, commonly called Edelweiss, includes perennial species that are low-mounding and need full sun and regular water to perform well in the garden. Leaves, bracts and petals on these plants are all covered in fuzzy white wool. Blooms appear in early summertime and have a very subtle, clean and honey-like. Edelweiss needs excellent drainage but otherwise is a relatively easy-care plant to have around the garden. It grows to about a foot tall and wide. Grow Edelweiss in rock or alpine gardens, in containers, or simply as specimen plants.

Leontopodium species and varietals

The genus Leontopodium is a member of the plant family Asteraceae and includes around 60 distinct species. Plants in this genus are closely related to those in Antennaria. The best growing zones for Edelweiss are USDA hardiness zones 4-7. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.

Leontopodium coreanum (Korean Edelweiss, Halla Edelweiss, Cotton Leg, Fluffy Stem, 솜다리, Som-Da-Ri)
This species of Edelweiss is native to Korea and includes two subspecies: Leontopodium coreanum coreanum and Leontopodium coreanum hallanisanense. They produce small flowers surrounded by fuzzy light green to white bracts. Plants can reach up to 6-8 inches tall and 8 inches wide at maturity.

Leontopodium microphyllum (Taiwan Edelweiss, Small Leaf Edelweiss, 玉山薄雪草, Yùshān bóxuěcǎo, Yushan Thin Snow Grass, Jade Mountain Snow-in-Summer)
This rare species is endemic to the mountains of Taiwan, and was first formally described by Japanese botanist Bunzo Hayata in 1908. These plants form low-growing herbaceous mounds of fuzzy light greenish-grey foliage and small yellow to green flowers, reaching up to 2-6 inches tall at maturity.

Leontopodium nivale (Edelweiss, Alpine Snow Flower, Alpine Edelweiss, Himalayan Edelweiss)
This species grows in mountains, and produces a plant that is covered with dense hairs. It is a scarce, short-lived flower, and is known for its rugged beauty. It is used as a symbol of alpine flora. Flowers are small, and surrounded by fuzzy white bracts in a double-star formation. Flowers bloom between July and September in the plant's native range. Individual plants reach up to 3-12 inches tall and 6-12 inches wide at maturity.

Caring for Leontopodium

Plant Leontopodium in an area of the landscape that receives full sun. They flower best when they're getting between 6 and 8 hours of sun each day. In too much shade, they can get leggy and not flower as well. Ensure that soil is well-draining, moderately fertile, and has a pH of between 6.5 and 7.5 (slightly acidic to slightly alkaline). If local soils are particularly poor in nutrients or do not drain well, make sure to amend the planting area with plenty of organic compost before installing. Edelweiss plants grow well in rocky and sandy soils, and do well in rock garden environments. Add a thick layer of mulch to the planting area to suppress weed growth, increase soil moisture retention, and decrease soil temperature fluctuations.

Water newly planted Leontopodium regularly to help it develop a strong root system. During the first year the plant is in the ground, water whenever the top inch or two of soil feels dry to the touch. At maturity, these plants are drought-tolerant and do not need supplemental waterings. They are naturally found in quite harsh, arid conditions. What they cannot handle is soggy soil; they do much better with underwatering than overwatering. Do not fertilize these plants, as they do better in poor, rocky soils. They do not need to be pruned. To discourage reseeding, remove spent flowering heads after blooms fade. They will spread to form small colonies over time, which can be divided and replanted elsewhere. For instructions on how to successfully divide Leontopodium plants, see the propagation section below. These perennial plants can survive for 2 to 7 years in the garden on average, though in their native environments can live for decades.

Caring for Leontopodium in Containers
These flowers do well in the ground, but can also be grown in containers. Choose a container that is at least a few inches wider and deeper than the nursery pot or root ball. Ensure that the pot has adequate drainage holes on the bottom to allow for excess water to flow away. Fill with a well-draining potting mix amended with organic material and perlite, and top with a layer of mulch to suppress weed growth, maintain consistent soil temperatures, and to increase soil moisture retention. Water regularly as the plant establishes itself in its new home. Once established, waterings can be lessened. Edelweiss plants grown in containers will need more frequent irrigation than those grown in the ground. As a general rule of thumb, water whenever the top few inches of soil feels dry to the touch. Prune to remove dead, damaged, or diseased foliage at any time during the growing season. Every few years, check the bottom of the pot to ensure that the plant is not outgrowing its root space. If roots are growing through the drainage holes in the bottom of the container, it is a good indication that it needs to be potted up; choose a slightly larger container and repot.

Propagation

Leontopodium can be propagated either by division or from seed. To ensure that your propagated plant will have the exact same qualities and characteristics as the parent plant, use the division method. If you would like to experiment and see what plant you can grow from seed, just keep in mind that it will not necessarily be the same as the parent plant. To propagate your Edelweiss plant, follow the instructions below:

Propagating Leontopodium by Seed

Keep in mind that the plant you get from seed will not necessarily mimic all of the characteristics of the parent plant. To propagate by seed, you will need a paper bag, a pot or tray filled with well-draining compost or other organic material, a spray bottle and a fork. The best potting medium for seed germination is a light blend of 1/3 pasteurized soil or compost, 1/3 sand, vermiculite or perlite, and 1/3 coconut coir or peat moss.
Harvest your seeds. The seed heads on plants are pretty easy to spot, they're left behind after flowers have faded. Once they have dried out and begun to split open, you can harvest the seeds inside. Cut them off of the plant, placing them in a paper bag. Harvest as many as you can, and place the paper bag in a dry, cool, dark area. They will continue to split open and release the seeds contained inside. Once they have been released, take them out of the bag and put them in a container so you can work with them.
In either late winter or early springtime, get your container prepared. Water your prepared seed tray or pot filled with soil, and ensure that good drainage is occurring. Place your seeds in your prepared pot or seed tray about a quarter inch to a half-inch under the soil surface. Cover them with soil and water with your spray bottle. Place your tray of seeds in a warm area that receives bright, indirect light. A greenhouse is the most ideal climate, but a planting tray inside a window will do as well. Germination usually takes 4-8 weeks from sowing. Once you begin to see seedlings sprout and they are able to be handled, transplant them to their own individual 3-inch pots, filled with the same potting medium as described in Step 1. Loosen the seedlings from the potting medium by digging down with the tines of your fork about an inch and a half, gently working the seedling up until it is out. Then, replant the seedling in its individual pot.
Keep the seedling's potting medium moist, but not wet, by spraying the soil with your spray bottle. Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 65 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring (after the danger of frost has passed), when you can transplant it to its new home.

Propagating Leontopodium by Division
This type of propagation is relatively simple; you will need a clean shovel, mulch, fresh soil, compost and pots (only necessary if you will be saving divided plants for transporting elsewhere). Division is best done in very early spring (after the plant has entered dormancy, but before it has begun its new spring growth), and needs to be done every few years regardless of whether you have the goal of propagating the plants for best performance, especially if they are grown in containers. To propagate by division, follow these steps:

Using a shovel, dig up your existing plant. Start from the outside and work your way in to avoid damaging the rhizome(s). Once you have worked it up out of the ground, lay it out.
Start to tease apart the roots with your fingers. Once the roots are untangled, separate your plant into segments, ensuring that each one has at least one thick root section attached.
Prepare your pot(s) or new planting site(s) with amended, well-draining soil. You can either bring in new soil or simply amend your existing soil with compost to complete this task. Then, plant your rhizomes and water them in thoroughly.
Apply a thick layer of mulch over the new planting to protect it from cold weather as it acclimates to its new home. Then, enjoy watching it sprout in the next growing season.

Edelweiss seed heads are small, but each plant has the potential to produce between 50 and 500 viable seeds.

Leontopodium seeds are very tiny, lightweight, and dust-like. They often have a feathery plume to assist in wind dispersal.

Problems and Pests

Edelweiss plants are typically quite resistant to pest and disease issues in the landscape, though they can suffer from the following from time to time: