One of the coolest alpine plants from Anya and I’s summit expedition to Aneroid Mountain in Oregon’s Wallowa Mountains. We were at 9,400’ in elevation and had just crawled our way up the last pitch, through fields of big toe high, Salix nivalis, and Silene acaulis and on the shady side of the rocks just below the summit where the snow had stayed longer there we found, Oxyria digyna forming low mats of bright green, kidney-shaped leaves topped with bright scarlet flowers. The edible, tangy leaves add interest to any rock garden or alpine trough. The flowers on these seed grown specimens are variable ranging from creamy white to peach to scarlet red.
Native Range:
Circumpolar Arctic and alpine regions of North America, Europe, and Asia — commonly found in high mountain meadows, scree, and tundra habitats.
Rock Garden Cultivation:
Thrives in cool, moist, well-drained soils with a gritty or rocky substrate. Prefers partial sun to full sun in cooler climates. Ideal for alpine gardens, troughs, and crevices where moisture is consistent but drainage is sharp. Protect from intense summer heat and drying winds.
Height: 4–8 inches
Hardiness: USDA Zones 3–7
One of the coolest alpine plants from Anya and I’s summit expedition to Aneroid Mountain in Oregon’s Wallowa Mountains. We were at 9,400’ in elevation and had just crawled our way up the last pitch, through fields of big toe high, Salix nivalis, and Silene acaulis and on the shady side of the rocks just below the summit where the snow had stayed longer there we found, Oxyria digyna forming low mats of bright green, kidney-shaped leaves topped with bright scarlet flowers. The edible, tangy leaves add interest to any rock garden or alpine trough. The flowers on these seed grown specimens are variable ranging from creamy white to peach to scarlet red.
Native Range:
Circumpolar Arctic and alpine regions of North America, Europe, and Asia — commonly found in high mountain meadows, scree, and tundra habitats.
Rock Garden Cultivation:
Thrives in cool, moist, well-drained soils with a gritty or rocky substrate. Prefers partial sun to full sun in cooler climates. Ideal for alpine gardens, troughs, and crevices where moisture is consistent but drainage is sharp. Protect from intense summer heat and drying winds.
Height: 4–8 inches
Hardiness: USDA Zones 3–7
