About
Petrocallis pyrenaica, rock beauty, is a cushion-forming, evergreen perennial to 5 cm with dense rosettes of three-lobed, grey-green leaves. Small clusters of vanilla-scented, pink-purple or white flowers appear in spring. An exquisite, fragrant alpine for a sunny, very well-drained rock garden, scree or alpine trough.
About the genus
Petrocallis are tiny, cushion-forming, evergreen perennials with rosettes of lobed, grey-green leaves and small clusters of four-petalled, fragrant flowers in spring. Grown in sunny, very well-drained alpine conditions.
Growing conditions
SunlightFull sun
Soil typeSand
Soil pHAcid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil moistureWell-drained
AspectSouth-facing, West-facing, East-facing
ExposureSheltered
UK hardinessH7
Plant details
Plant typeAlpine Rockery
HabitMatforming
FoliageEvergreen
HeightUp to 10 cm
Spread0.1-0.5 metres
Time to full height2-5 years
Suggested usesCity and courtyard gardens, Rock garden, Cottage and informal garden, Gravel garden, Patio and container plants
Native toEurope (Mts)
FragranceFlower
Care notes
CultivationRequires poor, gritty, very well-drained soil in full sun. Intolerant of winter wet, so in many areas better grown in an alpine house
PruningNo pruning required
PropagationPropagate by seed sown in a container in a cold frame in autumn, or by separating rosettes in early summer and rooting them as cuttings
Pest resistanceSusceptible to aphids, glasshouse red spider mite and glasshouse whitefly if grown under cover
Disease resistanceGenerally disease-free