Creeping gypsophila

(Gypsophila repens)

This plant is actually a mountain plant that likes to colonises gypsum-rich rubble and field pasture sites. Along streams and rivers, however, it reaches also grows in the valley as an alpine alluvial plant and finds another habitat there on frequently flooded gravel banks. Insects love its scent.

Appearance:

• Leaves 1-2 cm long, are blue-green, bluish-tinged and appear fleshy
• Many small pink to white flowers on five heart-shaped petals
• Fruit consists of a capsule that releases many small ripe seeds
  
  

Habitat:

• In the high mountains and on gravel banks in floodplains
• Both are gravelly, barren habitats that need to be rooted quickly to ensure stability