Wulfenia

It is not enough to just collect the Wulfenia species but one must have the hybrid as well. And this natural progression of the collector disorder is a very good thing indeed as this is both intriguing and lovely. In part to light shade, this will tweak expectations of spring bloom with 10'' spikes of blue flowers that carry the graceful effect of a Penstemon gone astray in the best possible way in the woodland.

A must-have if you're Wulfenia obsessed. Endemic to the Carnic Alps, this has a limited range in the wild. Dense clusters of tubular, violet-blue flowers appear in mid-summer above glossy evergreen rosettes with scalloped-edged leaves. Needs a fertile, well-drained moisture-retentive soil but really, don't we all?