Helianthemum Flower

How to Grow Helianthemum Plants in your Garden....

How to Grow Helianthemum Plants in your Garden

Gardener's HQ Guide to Growing Sun Rose and Rock Rose

Plants of the Helianthemum plant genus are half hardy or hardy perennials that have a shrubby nature.

They may reach a height of about 30 cm (12 inches), and are ideal for use in rock gardens and to fill the gaps between stones in drystone walls and paving.

The foliage of Helianthemum Plant is silver or green in colour

They flower from spring to autumn (species specific) with flowers of orange, scarlet, yellow or bronze.

Some of the common names for Helianthemum include Sun Rose, Rock Rose and Frostweed.

How to Grow Sun Rose (and other Helianthemum)

Helianthemum plants can be grown directly outside by sowing seeds on the soil surface in late autumn, or before the first frost of spring.

Sun Roses (and other Helianthemum), as per the name, like to grow in sunny areas of the garden.

It is very important that the soil they grow in has good drainage but the quality of teh soil is not as important.

If you plan to start growing Helianthemum seedlings indoors, then they should be prepared about eight weeks in advance (put the Helianthemum plant out in the garden after the last frost of spring).

It usually takes them about three weeks to germinate, at a temperature of 21 to 24 degrees centigrade (70 to 75F).

Also called ‘Sun Rose’ or ‘Rock Rose’, this subshrub comes from the family Cistaceae and barely grows up to 1 feet tall. Providing a well-drained soil and full sun (part shade in warmer climates) it blooms happily. The showy flowers of this genus come in shades of orange, pink, yellow, scarlet, and white. There are some varieties available that bloom for a long time from spring to fall (autumn). Grows in USDA Zones 5-9, this plant usually dies back in the colder regions when the winter perks up, whereas in warmer zones it remains evergreen.