Sabulina verna
Sabulina verna · Caryophyllaceae
The gardener's calendar
Ideal time to plant sabulina verna: set it out when the soil is neither frozen nor waterlogged, and water generously as it establishes.
ID card
- Common name
- Spring Sandwort
- Family
- Caryophyllaceae
- Type
- Perennial herbaceous plant
- Adult height
- 5 to 15 cm tall
- Foliage
- Evergreen, fine and linear
- Flowering
- April to June, white flowers
- Hardiness
- Very hardy, down to -15°C
- Origin
- Northern Europe and mountains
- Exposure
- Full sun to part shade
Care
Exposure
Sabulina verna prefers full sun to part shade, ideally on a well-lit rockery or rocky slope. It tolerates slightly shaded locations but will produce fewer flowers in such conditions. Avoid areas that are too humid and poorly ventilated.
Soil
This plant appreciates well-drained, low-fertility and rather dry soil. A mix of light soil with gravel or sand works perfectly. It dreads waterlogging and adapts well to poor substrates, typical of rockeries or alpine gardens.
Watering
Water moderately during the first year to establish the root system. Once established, Sabulina verna is very water-efficient and requires almost no watering, except during prolonged dry spells. Excess water promotes rot.
Fertilizer
No fertilizer is needed. This alpine plant develops best in poor soil. Excess nutrients risk encouraging excessive growth and weakening its structure.
Pruning and maintenance
Remove spent flowers after blooming to extend the flowering period. In late winter, clean up dead or damaged foliage. This compact plant requires little pruning; simply keep it in shape.
Diseases and pests
Sabulina verna is very resistant to disease. The main risk remains root rot if the soil becomes waterlogged. Check drainage before planting and avoid excess winter moisture.
Did you know?
Sabulina verna, formerly classified under the genus Minuartia, is a small herbaceous plant found in cold regions and mountains across the world. Its name evokes its spring flowering period, and its tiny stature makes it a discreet star of alpine gardens, capable of colonizing the most inhospitable rock crevices.
Where to buy it
Plant in spring or early autumn, avoiding spells of intense heat. Pick a plant with healthy foliage and roots that are not exposed. Best time: March, April, May, September.
Add this plant to my garden →Plants from the same family
- Smooth rupturewortHerniaria glabra
- Rock soapwortSaponaria ocymoides
- Snow-in-summerCerastium tomentosum
- Sticky CatchflyViscaria vulgaris
- Creeping baby's breathGypsophila repens
- Mountain sandwortArenaria montana
Tips generated and checked by Viridia — adapt them to your local climate.