Authors: Mill.
This polymorphic species forms a cushion of rosettes made up of 0.5-6cm long more or less glaucous, lime-encrusted leaves incurving to varying degrees in different forms. They vary from ovate to oblonglingulate with very characteristic forward pointing saw-teeth along their cartilaginous margins, upwardly curved at their tips. Flowering stems 4-30cm high, branching in their upper third to form a panicle of numerous white or pale cream flowers, petals 4-6mm long, plain or with varying degrees of red spotting. The species has a very extensive range throughout southern and central Europe extending also into the arctic region including Canada, Greenland, Iceland, the Faroes and Norway. As might be expected, many different forms occur through the range. The only one accorded subspecific rank by Flora Europaea is subsp. cartilaginea from the Caucasus. In the past this has also been given specific rank. Its leaves end in a fine point, have toothed, cartilaginous margins and are scarcely encrusted. The flowers are pure white on 6-20cm tall flowering stems, the petals 5-6mm long. There is also a pink-flowered variety kolenatiana, 6-15cm high and kolenatiana major 15-25cm high. The subsp. cartilaginea and its varieties do best in a half shady position and are not as easy as most of the other S. paniculata forms. There are many different cultivars in cultivation of which the following are the most distinct and attractive: 'Balcana'; medium-sized incurved rosettes. Flowering stems about 15cm tall. Large white flowers heavily spotted with red. 'Baldensis' see 'Minutifolia'. 'Hirsuta'; medium-sized compact, grey-green rosettes with leaves and stems densely clothed with short, white hairs. Flowering stems up to 15cm high. Flower creamy-white with a few red spots. 'Hirtella'; like 'Hirsuta' but smaller in all its parts. 'Labradorica'; rosettes very small and silvery. A neat plant. Flowering stems 7-8cm tall. Flowers white. 'Lutea'; large rosettes. Leaves long and narrow. Flowering stems 22-30cm high. Flowers pale yellow. 'Malyi' (syn. 'Major'); rosettes large and incurving. Leaves often turn red in winter. Flowering stems 30-45cm high and hairy. Flowers large, white, heavily sprinkled with red. 'Minor'; small densely silvered rosettes, flowering stems 7cm tall. Flowers creamy-white. 'Minutifolia' (syn. 'Baldensis'); very small silvery rosettes tightly packed together. Flowering stems 5cm high bearing few, starry, creamy-white flowers. 'Orientalis'; medium-sized rosettes, leaves very silvery. Flowers stems 15-25cm tall. Flowers creamy-white, sometimes lightly spotted with crimson. 'Rex'; large spreading rosette. Flower stems mahogany-red, 20-25cm Flowers large, creamy-white, without spots. 'Rosea'; rosettes large, leaves not very silvery, strap-shaped. Flowering stems 22-30cm Flowers clear rose-pink. 'Sturmiana'; rosettes large. Flowering stems 15cm tall. Flowers creamy-white. 'Venetia'; very tiny rosettes of dull green, lime-encrusted upward pointing, wedge-shaped leaves with purple on the reverse. Flowering stems 5cm high, reddish. Flowers pure white. Other named cultivars are 'Brevifolia', 'Carinthiaca', 'Correvoniana', 'Cultrata', 'Elongata', 'Flavescens', 'Lagraveana', 'Notata', 'Punctata', 'Punctatissima', 'Rosularis' and 'Stenoglossa'. For hybrids with S. crustata see S. X pectinata and S. X portae.
a, S. bryoides; b, S. cuneifolia; c, S. paniculata; d, S. rotundifolia; e, S. sibirica;
