Anaphalis triplinervis 'Sommerschnee'

About this cultivar:

Anaphalis triplinervis 'Sommerschnee' is basically a more dwarf form of the species. Translate as 'Summer snow'. Smaller so good for paths, front of borders etc. More about the species below!

Anaphalis triplinervis is native to the Himalayas, and really the main plant we gardeners think about when we say 'Pearly Everlasting'. It is an upright, clump-forming plant that typically grows on funky zigzag stems. Each small flower head has a yellow-centred disk surrounded by a collar of fuzzy, thread-like, papery, white bracts. Flowers appear in dense, domed clusters (corymbs) over a long mid-summer to autumn bloom period. They dry out to give a bit of structure.

Very narrow leaves are gray above and woolly-white beneath. Leaves are usually 3-veined, thus giving rise to another common name for this plant of three-veined everlasting. I also think it gives it the species name, triplinervis means triple veined.

We like this and so do the RHS - it has the Royal Horticultural Society Award of Garden Merit (RHS AGM). It is quite fashionable with prairie-style gardeners but don't let that put you off. Often though off as a plant for dry soil, it also does fine in wet but doesn't like winter wet.

A classic fresh cut flower. The dried flowerheads are sometimes dipped in various bright coloured dyes for showy, dried arrangements which I think look awful (I am a natural kind of guy you know) but kids will love. Kids really love plastic stuff don't they?

• Position: Full sun, partial shade
• Soil: Almost any soil, grows well in Ballyrobert, doesn't like winter wet
• Flowers: July, August, September
• Other features: Royal Horticultural Society Award of Garden Merit (RHS AGM), Grows well in Ballyrobert
• Hardiness: H7 - Hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20°C), Fully hardy - grows well in Ballyrobert!
• Habit: Clump forming, bushy
• Foliage: Deciduous
• Height: 15 - 25 cm (0.5 -1 ft)
• Spread: 15 - 25 cm (0.5 -1 ft)
• Time to full growth: 2 to 5 years
• Plant type: Herbaceous Perennial
• Colour: Green, yellow, white, black
• Goes well with: Early flowering plants (like Lupins, Delphiniums and Papaver) in order to keep interest in that area once the earlier flowering plant has faded. However they also pair well with flowers such as Amsonia, Aolidago, Rudbekia, Helenium, Helianthus, and grasses such as Stipa. We have also experimented with Sedum, Astrantia and even Crocosmia.

About this genus:

Anaphalis is a genus of herbaceous and woody flowering plants within the sunflower/daisy family (Asteraceae) whose members are commonly known by the name pearl or pearly everlasting. The common name probably derives from the common practice of drying the flowers and stems for decorations through winter months. The Genus name comes from the classical Greek name for ‘another of the everlastings’. 

There are around 110 species with the vast majority being native to central and southern Asia. This plant was used extensively by Native Americans for a variety of medicinal purposes.

With such a large range of species it is difficult to generalise but most that we sell will be good garden plants in most parts the British Isles, see specific plants descriptions for details! Tho in general they tend to flower in summer and autumn and make great cut flowers.