About

Vigorous, spreading evergreen shrub to 30cm tall, with silvery-grey oblong leaves. Flowers single, 3cm wide, pale pink with an orange-yellow centre.

About the genus

Helianthemum are bushy or spreading evergreen shrubs with small paired leaves and saucer-shaped flowers borne in short racemes in spring and early summer

Growing conditions

SunlightFull sun
Soil typeChalk, Loam, Sand
Soil pHAlkaline, Neutral
Soil moistureWell-drained
AspectSouth-facing, North-facing, West-facing, East-facing
ExposureExposed, Sheltered
UK hardinessH4

Plant details

Plant typeAlpine Rockery, Shrubs
HabitMatforming
FoliageEvergreen
Height0.1-0.5 metres
Spread0.1-0.5 metres
Time to full height2-5 years
Suggested usesCoastal, Patio and container plants, City and courtyard gardens, Cottage and informal garden, Gravel garden, Rock garden

Care notes

CultivationGrow in fertile, neutral to alkaline, moist but well-drained soil in full sun. Suitable for rock garden or the front of a border, or as a groundcover on a sunny bank. This plant was included in the RHS Helianthemum (rock rose) trial 2024-2026
PruningPruning group 10, after flowering
PropagationPropagate by softwood cuttings in late spring or early summer
Pest resistanceGenerally pest-free
Disease resistanceMay be susceptible to honey fungus in gardens where it is present but insufficient data to determine degree of susceptibility