Pincushion Plant

Diapensia lapponica

Taxonomy

Division:
Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
Family:
Diapensiaceae
Genus:
Diapensia
Species:
Diapensia lapponica

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:
Perennial
Growth Habit:
Subshrub
Height:
Less than 6 in
Light Requirements:
Full Sun
Bloom Months:
jun, jul
Bloom Colors:
White
Ground Cover:
Yes
Evergreen Shrub:
Yes

Native Range

United States: Alaska, Maine, New Hampshire, New York, Vermont, Canada: British Columbia, Manitoba, Nova Scotia, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Quebec, Yukon

Host Plant for Caterpillars

Franklin's blue (Agriades franklinii)

Reported Fauna Sightings

Bees: Brown-belted bumble bee (Bombus griseocollis), Brown-belted bumble bee (Bombus griseocollis), Common eastern bumble bee (Bombus impatiens), Common eastern bumble bee (Bombus impatiens), Half-black bumble bee (Bombus vagans), Half-black bumble bee (Bombus vagans), Red-belted bumble bee (Bombus rufocinctus), Red-belted bumble bee (Bombus rufocinctus), 🛑Rusty-patched bumble bee (Bombus affinis), 🛑Rusty-patched bumble bee (Bombus affinis), Two-spotted bumble bee (Bombus bimaculatus), Two-spotted bumble bee (Bombus bimaculatus)

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:
sandy, acidic, nutrient-poor soil
pH:
4.5 - 6.0 (acidic to slightly acidic)
Drainage:
excellent drainage required
Moisture:
dry to moderate
Notes:
thrives in cold, alpine environments

Germination Information

Pre-treatment: Cold-moist stratification for 30 days at 1–5°C (34–41°F).; then Cold-moist stratification for 60 days.

Source: OpenAI GPT-4o