Bulbous plant of the Amaryllidaceae family, native to the mountains of Central Asia, from the Caucasus to the Altai, where it grows on rocky slopes and high-altitude screes, in well-drained and poor soils.
It is one of the smallest and most delicate of the genus in cultivation, not exceeding 10-15 cm in height. Its loose umbels bear star-shaped flowers of a bright pink to carmine pink, relatively large in size compared to the plant's stature, which gives it a particular charm. Flowering occurs in May-June. The leaves are narrow, channeled, often only two per bulb.
A rock garden plant par excellence, it requires perfect drainage and a sunny exposure. It is particularly suited to planting between stones, in walls or alpine gardens, where its reduced scale and bright colors are highlighted. It multiplies easily by division of clumps and naturalizes in suitable conditions.