BC Living
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This beautiful, vibrant groundcover perennial's resistance to pests and disease allows it to thrive in your garden
H. Henfield Brilliant, one of the author’s favourite type of rock rose
Rock roses (or sun roses as they’re also known) are incredibly beautiful groundcover plants for sunny areas and mass plantings.
Once established, they are especially adaptable to hot and dry areas, a highly attractive feature in this era of watering restrictions and xeriscaping.
The Latin name Helianthemum actually means “flower of sunshine,” and these plants really do live up to their name. There are many cultivars available, ranging from the purest of white to vivid, intense colours like reds and oranges. You’ll see these colours produced over an extended period in summer. If the flowers are cut back lightly after summer blooms begin to fade, you are often rewarded with a burst of re-bloom in autumn.
The predominately evergreen foliage is very attractive as well, and is often quite dense, ranging from rich greens to silvery blue.
These dwarf shrubs are usually sold as perennials at nurseries. They are truly delightful in the rock garden, for edging at the front of the border, or even in containers.
All sun roses require well-drained soil that is not too rich. They really dislike the wetness of winter. As for hardiness, most Rock roses are quite happy in zone 5 or with winter protection to zone 4, or even less.
The rock roses found in gardens are mainly hybrids from three species: H. appeninum, H. cruceum and H. nummularium. Most are listed under H. nummularium.
Just a small sampling of the many cultivars available:
Another attractive feature of rock roses is that they are quite resistant to pests and diseases.
Rock roses definitely deserve to be grown more often.