About
Dionysia aretioides, the aretioid dionysia, is a compact, evergreen cushion-forming perennial to 7 cm tall, producing tight rosettes of narrowly oblong leaves and aromatic, slender-tubed, bright-yellow flowers 1 cm across just above the foliage in spring. One of the most rewarding and widely grown of all the dionysia for an alpine house or well-drained trough.
About the genus
Dionysia are small, cushion-forming evergreen perennials from the mountains of central Asia and the Middle East, forming tight mounds of small, oblong or spoon-shaped leaves and producing 5-petalled, salver-shaped flowers in yellow, pink or purple in spring or early summer. Specialist alpines for very well-drained conditions.
Growing conditions
SunlightFull sun
Soil typeSand
Soil pHNeutral
Soil moistureWell-drained
AspectSouth-facing, West-facing, East-facing
ExposureExposed, Sheltered
UK hardinessH4
Plant details
Plant typeAlpine Rockery
HabitClump forming
FoliageEvergreen
HeightUp to 10 cm
Spread0-0.1 metre
Time to full height2-5 years
Suggested usesPatio and container plants, Rock garden
Native toN Iran
FragranceFlower
Care notes
CultivationGrow under glass or in an alpine house in a mix of 3 parts grit to one part each of loam and leaf mould. Provide a deep collar of grit and maintain good ventilation in full light. When in growth water sparingly from below (ensuring the collar is kept dry) and water sparingly in winter. Also easy to grow outdoors in tufa (a variety of limestone) in full sun but protect plant surface from wet
PruningNo pruning required
PropagationPropagate by cuttings of single rosettes in summer. Water from below
Pest resistanceMay be susceptible to aphids
Disease resistanceMay be susceptible to grey moulds