Azorella trifurcata Nana

Azorella trifurcata 'Nana' is a dwarf form of Azorella, a curious perennial ground-covering plant native to the Andean mountains, also known as Andean Cushion. Incredibly adapted to its habitat, it resists the harshest cold in dry soil, and survives in a deprived environment. Azorella 'Nana' slowly forms a very low carpet that extends indefinitely, slowly enveloping any support with its tough and evergreen foliage, becoming a large carpet of juxtaposed rosettes that weeds struggle to penetrate. Its flowering, with tiny corollas, creates a pattern of bright green velvet with a yellow moiré effect in summer. A rarity for dry terrains, it should be planted in poor, well-drained soil, in a rock garden, a dry garden, or a Japanese-style garden.

Azorella trifurcata belongs to the Apiaceae family, the former Umbelliferae, like carrots. It is a perennial native to Chile and Argentina, where it grows on rocky slopes at very high altitudes. 'Nana' forms an even more compact cushion than the type, reaching a height of 5cm (2in) with theoretically unlimited spread. This carpet is made up of very small, dense rosettes of dark green, fleshy, shiny, toothed, and lobed leaves that are aromatic when crushed. It slowly but surely spreads over many years. The summer flowering is discreet: the small, fleshy yellow flowers are grouped in small umbels scattered on the vegetation. It is a  resinous aromatic plant, which possesses recognized medicinal properties.

For Azorella, a tufa rockery is ideal. In any case, it likes very porous, rocky, well-drained soils, but it does not tolerate limestone well. Winter humidity can jeopardize its hardiness in unsuitable soil. A fantastical plant, Azorella trifurcata 'Nana' is ideal in the company of alpines, pasque flowers, saxifrages, bellflowers, thyme, and silver baskets... It will also thrive in pots or in the crevices of walls. Plant it in a large container, protected from winter rains, and it will be perfectly happy. Azorella 'Nana' can also replace moss in Japanese gardens, in sunny areas. Like sedums, it can thrive in soils with almost no earth and very little water, in a not excessively arid exposure from May to September.

Aromatic, it is used in traditional South American medicine, and thanks to its high calorific value, it was once used as fuel, like peat.