Helianthemum hybridum
Sun rose
Common names: Garden sun rose
At a glance
- Light
- Full sun
- Pot size
- from 5 l
- Lifespan
- Perennial
- Flowering
- May–Jul
- Hardiness
- Hardy
Category imageThis description was machine-translated.
Description
The Sun rose is a low, evergreen semi‑shrub suitable for rock gardens and dry borders. From May to July (weeks 19 to 27) it opens new, cup‑shaped flowers daily in yellow, orange, pink, red or white; each flower lasts only one day. The plant forms dense, carpet‑like mats 20 to 30 cm high and is highly attractive to wild bees and other insects. It is a hybrid of various Helianthemum species and is sold under cultivar names such as ‘Ben Nevis’ or ‘Wisley Primrose’.
Care instructions
Plant the Sun rose in full sun in a warm spot. The soil may be sparse and well‑drained; on heavy, water‑logged soils mix in sand or gravel. Cut the mats back by about one third immediately after the first flowering to keep them compact and encourage a second bloom. Water only during prolonged dry periods and sparingly; the plant does not tolerate waterlogging. In winter it prefers a dry location, such as under a roof overhang or covered with loose straw.
The care notes were machine-translated from German.
Garden year
FloweringMay–Jul
Soil & site
Soil pH
Soil type
well-drained, lean, lime-loving, sandy
Rock roses want a well-drained, rather lean soil without standing wet. Chalky, sandy to stony substrates, as in a rock garden or on a dry-stone wall, suit them especially well. If your garden soil is heavy and loamy, drainage made of sand or fine gravel before planting will help.
Feeding
Light feeder
Rock roses need practically no feeding; soil that is too rich makes them rather limp and short-lived. A thin layer of compost in spring is quite enough if the site is very lean anyway. Rather skip fertiliser altogether than mean well with the nutrient supply.
Overwintering
Rock roses are hardy but dislike wet cold. A loose winter cover of brushwood protects them in very exposed spots, but a place without waterlogging in winter matters more. After hard winters, cut back dead shoots in early spring, and the plant will then shoot afresh from below.
Propagation
Methods
- Cuttings
- From seed
- Division
The most reliable way to propagate rock roses is by semi-ripe cuttings in summer, for example after the first flowering in June or July. Take non-flowering shoot tips 8 to 10 cm long and insert them in a lean, sandy substrate. Sowing is also possible, but it takes longer to the first flower and the cultivars often do not come true from seed. Older, open clumps can also be divided carefully in spring.
For your garden
Grow Sun rose yourself
Gartenkern tells you when frost is coming, when to sow and when to harvest, for your location.
Free, no time limit
Notes from real gardens
What other gardeners have written down about this variety, anonymous and voluntary.
No notes shared yet. Will you be the first to write one down?