Compact tufts of open rosettes 2-5cm across with offsets on short stolons. Leaves ovate to spoon-shaped, 10-20 by 5-10mm long, green with a purplish tinge, densely short hairy giving them a velvety look. Flowering stems leafy, 15-20cm high carry wide inflorescences with pink to red-purple flowers 2cm across, having eleven to thirteen petals. Endemic to mountains of Bulgaria. S.e. 'Red Velvet' has the leaves heavily suffused purplish-red.