King of the Alps (alpine forget-me-not) Eritrichium nanum
King of the Alps (alpine forget-me-not) (Eritrichium nanum) is an evergreen perennial flowering plant in the Boraginaceae family, native to High rocks (2,500–3,600 m) of the Alps and Carpathians. It grows 2–5 cm (1–2 in) tall and 5–12 cm (2–5 in) wide, wants full sun and low water, and is hardy to about -40 °C (-40 °F). Space plants about 10 cm (4 in) apart.
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King of the Alps (alpine forget-me-not) at a glance
| Type | Perennial flowering plant, evergreen |
|---|---|
| Family | Boraginaceae |
| Mature height | 2–5 cm (1–2 in) |
| Mature spread | 5–12 cm (2–5 in) |
| Spacing | 10 cm (4 in) centre to centre |
| Sun | Full sun, at least 7 h of direct sun a day |
| Water | Low; drought tolerance moderate, waterlogging tolerance none |
| Soil pH | 4.5–6.5 |
| Cold hardiness | About -40 °C (-40 °F) once established (roughly USDA zone 3) |
| Heat stress | Likely above about 22 °C (72 °F) |
| Flowering | from about June for 2–4 weeks (northern hemisphere; later in cold climates, earlier in warm ones) |
| Wind tolerance | High |
| Pollinator value | Moderate |
| Edible | Not grown as food |
| Native to | High rocks (2,500–3,600 m) of the Alps and Carpathians |
| Common in gardens of | 🇩🇪 Germany, 🇫🇷 France, 🇮🇹 Italy, 🇬🇧 United Kingdom |
Is King of the Alps (alpine forget-me-not) toxic?
- People: not known to be toxic
- Cats: not known to be toxic
- Dogs: not known to be toxic
Not known to be poisonous.
If a child or pet may have eaten part of a plant, call a poison centre or vet straight away.
Companion planting: what to grow with King of the Alps (alpine forget-me-not)
No well-documented helpful pairing. Group it with plants that like full sun and low water.
Questions about King of the Alps (alpine forget-me-not)
- How far apart should I plant King of the Alps (alpine forget-me-not)?
- About 10 cm (4 in) apart, centre to centre. A mature plant spreads 5–12 cm (2–5 in).
- Does King of the Alps (alpine forget-me-not) need full sun?
- Full sun: at least 7 hours of direct sun a day.
- How much water does King of the Alps (alpine forget-me-not) need?
- Low water. Drought tolerance is moderate and waterlogging tolerance none.
- How cold-hardy is King of the Alps (alpine forget-me-not)?
- It tolerates about -40 °C (-40 °F) once established, roughly USDA zone 3.
- When does King of the Alps (alpine forget-me-not) flower?
- From about June for 2–4 weeks (northern hemisphere; later in cold climates, earlier in warm ones).
- Is King of the Alps (alpine forget-me-not) poisonous to cats and dogs?
- For cats it is not known to be toxic; for dogs not known to be toxic; for people not known to be toxic. Not known to be poisonous.
- What grows well with King of the Alps (alpine forget-me-not)?
- There is no well-documented companion pairing for King of the Alps (alpine forget-me-not). Group it with plants that like the same sun (full sun) and water (low).
Sources and evidence
Evidence grade A (A: strong evidence).
- Plants of the World Online (taxonomy, native range), Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
- Alpine Garden Society Encyclopaedia of Alpines and plant portraits, Alpine Garden Society, Pershore (UK)
Notes and assumptions
- A silver, woolly cushion only a few centimetres across, studded with intensely sky-blue forget-me-not flowers with yellow eyes. Legendarily hard to grow at low altitude; usually seen only in alpine houses by expert growers.
Reference values for planning, not horticultural, veterinary or medical advice. Varieties, soils and local climates differ: check with a local nursery or extension service.
Related plants
- Borage Borago officinalis
- Comfrey Symphytum officinale
- Woodland forget-me-not Myosotis sylvatica
- Lungwort (pulmonaria) Pulmonaria officinalis
- Heliotrope Heliotropium arborescens
- Tree echium (giant viper's bugloss) Echium pininana
- Virginia bluebells Mertensia virginica
- Pride of Madeira Echium candicans