Andromeda polifolia alba Seeds - Rare Exotic Shrub - NEW

Andromeda polifolia, common name bog-rosemary, is a species of flowering plant native to the northern parts of the Northern Hemisphere. It is the only member of the genus Andromeda, and is found in bogs in cold peat-accumulating areas. It is a small shrub growing to 10–20 centimetres, rarely to 40 cm, tall with slender stems. The leaves are evergreen, alternately arranged, lanceolate, 1–5 centimetres long and 2–8 millimetres broad, dark green above (purplish in winter) and white beneath with the leaf margins curled under.

The flowers are bell-shaped, white to pink, 5–8 mm; flowering is in late spring to early summer. On offer here is the white flowering variety. Seed - Sow the seeds from August to September (spring) in acidic compost in the greenhouse. Surface sow or only just cover the seed and place in a lightly shaded position. The seed usually germinates in 1 - 2 months at 12°c. Prick out the young seedlings into individual pots as soon as possible, they are prone to damp-off and so should be kept well ventilated. Grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter and plant them out in early summer once they are 15cm or more tall. They require damp acid soil in shade.