A tiny evergreen, heather-like shrub from 1 to 3 in. high, with prostrate, slender stems completely covered with closely set leaves. Leaves 1⁄8 in. long, linear, overlapping, somewhat erect, but not flattened against the stem. Flowers solitary on slender, erect, reddish stalks 1⁄3 to 3⁄4 in. long, produced at the end of the shoot; corolla nodding, white, bell-shaped, 1⁄6 in. long, with five rather deep, rounded lobes; calyx red. Blossoms in April and May. Bot. Mag., t. 2936.
Native of the Arctic and sub-Arctic parts of Europe and N. America, and of the mountain-tops of more southern latitudes; introduced in 1798.