Erinus alpinus Hähnle

Erinus alpinus 'Docktor Hähnle' is a small alpine plant, easy and ideal for rock gardens. It forms a low cushion of evergreen leaves bearing short stems of clusters of dark carmine pink star-shaped flowers in late spring and early summer.

The Alpine Balsam, belongs to the family Plantaginaceae.  It rarely exceeds 8 cm (3in) in height and spreads to 10 cm (4in), forming lovely compact and bushy plants for a sunny rock garden or between paving stones in a pathway. The upright flower spikes hold up well and will rebloom in autumn if cut back after the first flowering.

The short lifespan does not hinder the ability of Erinus alpinus 'Dr Hähnle' to self-seed abundantly in the smallest cracks in the garden. It appreciates light, dry and poor soils with a tendency towards limestone, rocky or scree soils, and can be planted in troughs or containers where it will join some alpine perennials such as edelweiss or rock cress (Saxifrage), or will thrive in the company of heucheras and grasses such as carex.