The snowbells are amongst the favourite flowers of the European Alps, pushing their way through the melting snow, to show their delightful fringed bells. Their characteristic round, shiny leaves follow, and one way of identifying species is by way of the colour underneath the leaves, which can be red, green, blue-grey or purple. They are all fine plants for a cool damp place, outside or in a pot. They should be divided regularly to maintain vigour, and marauding slugs should be persuaded to hunt elsewhere. [I was astonished to read that a Soldanella germinated from a block of peat dug as fuel in Orkney.]

Soldanella alpina has lovely deep lavender flowers, the petals fringed half way to the centre of the flower. The leathery, rounded leaves are dark green.