Description
This is a recently described (1977) subspecies from Mount Chortiatis in Northern Greece. It is distinguished from the other subspecies by having black anthers and flowering in spring, at which time it has long leaves present. These are grey green and lack any veins in the grooves on their undersides.
The flowers are white or pale violet and together with the yellow pubescent throat and black-purple anthers this is a very striking, if rarely encountered, plant.
Excellent in a pot or pan but this is perfectly happy under standard conditions for the species. For some reason a suggestion of tenderness has arisen. This I regard as totally fallacious, its wild habitat is a cold area in winter and it grows there with other hardy species. It has been perfectly happy outside in central Europe as well as here.
