Cortusa

Cortusa is a genus that consists of 19 species of delicate, hardy, alpine perennials, relative to "Primula" both in general appearance and habit of growth. The genus is named by the herbalist Matthiolus after his friend Cortusus, professor of botany at Padua, who discovered the plant called today "Cortusa matthioli". The plants are flowering herbaceous perennials native to the mountains of southern and eastern Europe, including the Alps and the Carpathians, and some species native to China. Most of the species are small spring bloomers for shade and rock garden. These low-growing and rather handsome little plants have clumps of downy, light green, heart-shaped leaves with serrated edges. In late spring, small loose umbel of delicate bell-shaped to lily-liked flowers born terminally on drooping spikes arise from the base, some 6-8in high. Flowers are magenta, pink, white and yellow. They are dormant in some months, and as spring begins, stems and leaves quickly start to reproduce.