The sun rose only opens its pretty flowers when the sun is shining and temperatures are above 20 °C. In the evening, when it gets dark, the flowers close again; they remain closed when it rains and on cold days.
The sun rose is actually not a rose at all
Maybe that's where the sun rose got its name from. It's hard to believe that it's quite hardy. Sunroses are about 15 - 30 cm high. There are about 175 different species that can have white, yellow, pink, orange, or red flowers. Depending on the species, the flowering period lasts from about May to September or October.
Is the sun rose a "real" dwarf rose?
The sun rose is only very distantly related to the roses and thus also to the miniature roses. While dwarf roses are simply small roses that belong to the rose family (Rosaceae), the sunrose is botanically classified as part of the rockrose family (Cistaceae). In retail, this difference is often not made so clear. They have a similar growth height, but look quite different.
Plant the sunrose
The Sun Rose prefers full sun and fits very well in a rock garden. It is best to plant it in spring in humus-rich, well-drained soil. It may also be slightly calcareous. Planting in autumn is also possible. Due to its small growth, it is also ideal for planting in a bucket or sufficiently large balcony box.
How to care for your sun rose
The sun rose does not need a lot of care, but you will certainly not be as happy with it without any attention. Give it a good layer of mulch in spring mixed with some gravel, this will keep the soil moist and encourage growth and plant resilience.
You should water the sunrose regularly, but not too much at once, so that there is no waterlogging. Give it a dose of plant fertilizer about once a month to keep it blooming profusely. It is best to cut off wilted flowers immediately, then the sunrose will sprout again and you can enjoy the pretty colors for a long time.
The essentials in brief:
- Growth height approx. 15 - 30 cm
- numerous flower colors
- Flowering period: May to September/October
- water regularly
- fertilize once a month
- hardy
tips
The sunrose fits perfectly in rock gardens and small beds.