Erinus alpinus aka Fairy Foxglove

Erinus alpinus, also known as the fairy foxglove, alpine balsam, starflower, or liver balsam, is a flowering plant that belongs to the family Plantaginaceae. Originally native to Central and Southern Europe, as well as Morocco and Algeria, this plant is a semi-evergreen perennial. It forms clusters of small rosettes with narrowly oblong leaves and ascending leafy stems that can reach up to 10cm in height. During late spring and early summer, it produces terminal clusters of small, pale purplish-pink flowers that are approximately 8mm in width. This adorable and low-maintenance alpine plant thrives in shady areas of a rock garden. It features evergreen leaves and short stems adorned with starry magenta-pink or white flowers. While it has a relatively short lifespan, it can self-seed in favorable conditions, particularly in crevices and rock walls. It also makes a lovely addition to alpine troughs or gravel scree gardens. It is important to provide protection from hot afternoon sun in warm-summer regions, but in cooler areas, it can tolerate a fair amount of sun as long as the soil remains moist.