# Pale Alpine Forget-Me-Not (*eritrichium argenteum*) The Pale Alpine Forget-Me-Not (Eritrichium argenteum) is a stunning alpine perennial that clings to life in some of the harshest environments on Earth. Nestled in high-altitude rocky crevices and scree slopes of western North American mountain ranges, this resilient plant forms dense, low-growing cushions. Its vibrant, sky-blue flowers with bright yellow centers stand in stark contrast to the barren, grey rocky landscapes they inhabit, offering a rewarding sight for intrepid backcountry hikers. To survive the extreme cold, intense UV radiation, and drying winds of the alpine tundra, this miniature marvel is covered in dense, silvery-white hairs that act like a natural greenhouse, trapping moisture and protecting the plant from freezing temperatures. It is a testament to botanical resilience, blooming briefly during the short alpine summer before retreating into winter dormancy. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 1 - **Habitat:** Found on exposed alpine ridges, talus slopes, and rocky crevices at high elevations, typically above the treeline where soils are thin and gravelly. ![Pale Alpine Forget-Me-Not](https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/47597315/medium.jpg) Photo: Nick Block, CC BY 4.0 · [iNaturalist](https://www.inaturalist.org/photos/47597315) ## Appearance This plant forms compact, ground-hugging cushions or mats typically measuring 2 to 8 centimeters in height. Its small, lance-shaped leaves are densely covered in long, silky, silvery-white hairs, giving the entire foliage a distinct frosted or metallic appearance. The flowers are small, about 5 to 10 millimeters in diameter, featuring five rounded petals that range in color from a pale sky blue to a deeper azure, occasionally appearing near-white. At the center of each flower is a contrasting bright yellow or orange eye that fades to white as the blossom ages. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Boraginales - **Family:** Boraginaceae - **Genus:** Eritrichium ## Interesting facts - Because they grow extremely slowly, a cushion of Pale Alpine Forget-Me-Not just a few inches wide could be several decades old. - Despite living in freezing, wind-swept conditions, the interior of a cushion plant can be up to 15 degrees Celsius warmer than the surrounding air. - The genus name Eritrichium comes from the Greek words for 'woolly' and 'hair', highlighting the plant's distinctive furry coating. ## Special abilities - **Silvery Hair Shield:** Densely packed, silky hairs trap a microclimate of warm, moist air around the leaves, reducing water loss from wind and protecting against freezing temperatures. - **Cushion Growth Form:** Growing in compact, rounded mats close to the ground reduces wind resistance, traps heat from the soil, and minimizes physical damage from blowing ice crystals. - **Antifreeze Chemistry:** Synthesizes specialized soluble sugars and proteins in its cellular sap to prevent ice crystal formation, allowing the plant to survive severe sub-zero temperatures. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 2-8 cm - **Lifespan:** 5-20 years ## Diet & Feeding As a photoautotrophic plant, it produces its own energy through photosynthesis, utilizing sunlight, carbon dioxide, and water while absorbing essential mineral nutrients from alpine soils. - **Primary Foods:** Sunlight, Carbon Dioxide, Water, Soil Minerals ## Ecological connections - **Mutualism:** Alpine Bumblebee (*Bombus balteatus*) — Collects nectar and pollen from the flowers, facilitating pollination in high-altitude environments. - **Eaten by:** American Pika (*Ochotona princeps*) — Harvests alpine vegetation, including leaves and stems, to store in haypiles for winter food. - **Mutualism:** Glomus mycorrhizal fungus (*Glomus intraradices*) — Symbiotic root association helps the plant absorb scarce nutrients and water from rocky, nutrient-poor alpine soils. ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low No special safety notes yet. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Pale Alpine Forget-Me-Not? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Pale Alpine Forget-Me-Not? 2-8 cm ### How long does Pale Alpine Forget-Me-Not live? 5-20 years ### What does Pale Alpine Forget-Me-Not eat? As a photoautotrophic plant, it produces its own energy through photosynthesis, utilizing sunlight, carbon dioxide, and water while absorbing essential mineral nutrients from alpine soils. ### Where is Pale Alpine Forget-Me-Not usually found? Found on exposed alpine ridges, talus slopes, and rocky crevices at high elevations, typically above the treeline where soils are thin and gravelly. ## Where to spot - [Independence](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/independence) — Colorado, US · Neighborhood - [Summit Lake Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/summit-lake-park) — Colorado, US · Natural Landmark ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Pale Alpine Forget-Me-Not: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/pale-alpine-forget-me-not)