Cultivar selected for the intensity of its floral color, 'Rubra' stands out from the type by its bright carmine-pink to deep red flowers, gathered in dense heads borne on short, upright stems.
The foliage is pinnate, gray-green, slightly silvered by a fine pubescence that gives it a silky appearance characteristic of the species. The plant forms a compact, cushion-like groundcover of 10 to 20 cm, willingly anchoring itself between the stones of a rock garden where it finds conditions close to its natural habitat.
As with the type, the deep taproot system allows it to withstand summer droughts by seeking moisture deep down — but watering remains necessary during prolonged periods of intense heat. Full sun, well-drained substrate, hardy.