The sunrose (bot. Helianthemum) is a popular and easy-care flowering plant for rock and gravel gardens, for greening wall crowns and for planting beds. The low-growing subshrub is available in numerous varieties and colors. In addition to bright yellow and orange flowering forms, there are also red, white and pink variants. However, the tirelessly blooming sunrose only shows its true splendor with the right care.

Sunroses love sun

Table of Contents

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  1. origin and distribution
  2. use
  3. appearance and growth
  4. flowers and flowering time
  5. toxicity
  6. Which location is suitable?
  7. soil / substrate
  8. Plant sun roses correctly
  9. water sun roses
  10. Fertilize sunroeschen properly
  11. Cut sun roses correctly
  12. propagation
  13. diseases and pests
  14. species and varieties

    15. origin and distribution

    Rock roses (bot. Helianthemum) are a genus of dwarf and semi-shrubs comprising around 175 different species from the rockrose family (Cistaceae). The pretty, perennial to cushion-like plants are originally at home in the Mediterranean region and in Asia Minor, but are usually hardy here too.

    Incidentally, the genus owes its name to the ability of the flowers to align themselves with the position of the sun and to close in the dark and at cool temperatures of less than 20 °C. The yellow coloring of the flowers, which is characteristic of the wild species, also refers to the sun, while the hybrid forms now also have numerous other colors.

    use

    Whether wild or hybrid, the shallow-rooted sunrose is ideal for rock and gravel gardens and for greening stone joints and wall crowns. In the garden bed or in the border, the low plant looks best in the foreground and with taller perennials as an accompaniment, in the rock garden it harmonises especially with summer flowering plants such as cushion bluebells (Campanula poscharskyana) and summer asters (Callistephus chinensis) as well as grasses such as blue fescue (Festuca glauca). Sunroses are also suitable for planting in tubs and balcony boxes (€109.00), preferably in combination with other upholstery perennials.

    appearance and growth

    Rockroses are dwarf or semi-shrubs that stay low and form dense cushions, the shoots of which do not wither in winter - as is usual for perennials - but become woody over time. Depending on the variety, the plants are between 15 and 30 centimeters high and form richly flowering, dense cushion carpets. On the wiry, slightly woody shoots of the dainty rockrose there are numerous oblong, narrow leaves that are dark green, gray or silver-green, depending on the variation. Most species and varieties are at least evergreen, some are evergreen.

    flowers and flowering time

    The shell flowers of the rockrose, which are arranged in panicles, appear in early summer and last until August for most varieties. The five wide open petals are usually yellow in color but can also be white, orange, pink or red in various shades. There are also two-tone varieties with a differently toned center of the flower. In this there are always many yellow stamens that stick out conspicuously. Rockroses develop flowers en masse over a period of weeks: new buds appear every day, which open in the early morning and usually only bloom for one day. In addition to the typical simple bowl-shaped flowers, hybrid varieties with semi-double and double calyxes are now commercially available.

    toxicity

    The sunrose is not poisonous to humans or animals. Instead, it is sometimes used in naturopathy, especially in Bach flower therapy.

    Which location is suitable?

    As their name suggests, sunroses feel most comfortable in a warm, full sun. After all, the flowers only open when the sun is shining and temperatures are above 20 °C.

    soil / substrate

    Rockroses thrive best on rather dry, sandy to gravelly, well-drained and moderately nutrient-rich soil. The plants also need a calcareous subsoil for healthy growth. Helianthemum cultivated in planters is best planted in potting soil mixed with plenty of sand, perlite (37.51€) or similar. Give preference to compost-based varieties.

    Plant sun roses correctly

    Mix some compost into the excavation when planting the sunroses. You should also water the plants vigorously and mulch them afterwards so that the moisture remains in the soil. Mix the mulching material with gravel that is as fine as possible.

    planting time

    Plant the young sunroses in the bed in spring. If you do not overwinter the plants, you can pull them out on the windowsill from March and then place them directly in the bed. Specimens planted out between the end of May and the beginning of June also survive the coming winter better, as they were able to grow vigorously in the months in between. Alternatively, autumn planting is also possible, provided the weather is still mild and frost-free. In harsh locations, both newly planted and overwintering rockroses can use some light winter protection.

    planting distance

    In general, the ideal planting distance is 25 centimetres, which is why you should plan around ten small plants per square meter of planting area. However, the distances may vary depending on the variety selected.

    water sun roses

    Water the rockroses moderately but regularly - this will encourage flowering. However, while the plants are quite insensitive to dry phases, they do not tolerate waterlogging at all. If the dry periods last too long, the flowers will wilt. Sunroses like hard water very much, which is why they like fresh tap water - but not ice cold! - May use for watering.

    Fertilize sunroeschen properly

    If you planted the sunroses in a location with nutrient-rich soil and perhaps worked compost into the plant substrate, fertilization is initially not necessary. However, you can fertilize when needed, such as when the flower is on the lean side due to a likely lack of nutrients. However, potted plants and specimens planted on nutrient-poor soil should be supplied with a liquid fertilizer for flowering plants about every four weeks between April and August.

    Cut sun roses correctly

    During flowering, you should regularly trim faded twigs to suppress the formation of seeds and instead encourage the sunroses to continue flowering. After the main bloom - but no later than September - you can also grab the scissors and cut the plants back vigorously in preparation for winter. The clippings are very suitable for composting.

    propagation

    During the summer months, sun roses can easily be propagated by cuttings or layering, in spring or autumn older plants can also be easily divided.

    sowing

    If you do not cut off the faded shoots, they will develop seed-bearing capsule fruits. You can harvest these in autumn and use them for sowing. Let the seeds dry for several days and keep them cool and dry in a well-sealed container. However, the sun roses obtained from it are not of a single variety. And this is how you grow the young plantlets from seeds:

    • Sow the seeds in shallow trays from March.
    • These are filled with growing substrate and
    • should be cool at five to ten degrees Celsius.
    • Only cover the seeds very thinly with substrate.
    • Keep it slightly moist all the time.
    • Prick out as soon as the first cotyledons appear.
    • Now care for the plants separately in small pots.
    • A temperature of around 15 °C is now ideal.
    • From the end of May, the young plants can then go outdoors.

    cuttings

    Rockroses can be propagated just as easily by cuttings. To do this, cut off five to six centimeter long, non-flowering and semi-woody shoots in summer. Put them in a small pot filled with potting soil and slightly moisten them. Cover with a translucent plastic bag or a cut-off PET bottle to create a warm, humid climate ideal for root growth. Alternatively, the cuttings can also be rooted in a glass of water.

    The young plants should be wintered cool but frost-free and only put outside in the following spring.

    division

    In spring and autumn it is also possible to divide larger sun rose cushions. Proceed as follows:

    • Dig up a strong and healthy plant.
    • Using a clean and sharp knife, cut them into several subplants.
    • Each part must have several shoots and buds.
    • Plant the sections separately in a new location.
    • Water them well.

    diseases and pests

    Diseases and pests rarely occur on rockroses, only aphids can become a problem. However, they can be easily driven away by spreading nettle liquid manure.

    tips

    Basically, most varieties of sun roses are hardy. However, in regions with wet winters or generally severe frosts, it is advisable to provide the plants with a light winter protection. Fir or spruce branches, for example, are suitable for this.

    species and varieties

    There are around 175 different species of the sunrose, with hybrids - the so-called garden sunrose (bot. Helianthemum x cultorum) - primarily being used in the garden. While species such as the common rockrose (bot. Helianthemum nummularium) mainly flower yellow, the cultivars are available in numerous colours. The most beautiful variants for the home garden include the following:

    • Common rockrose (Helianthemum nummularium): yellow flowers, robust, up to 30 centimeters high

    'Annabell': numerous pink, single flowers
    'Rose Glory': distinctive dark pink, single flowers

    • Alpine Sunrose (Helianthemum alpestre): yellow flowers, robust, up to 15 centimeters high
    • Garden Rockroses (Helianthemum x cultorum): different colors and shapes

    'Ben Fhada': bright yellow flowers with an orange center, cushion-forming, evergreen, height of growth up to 20 centimeters
    'Bronze Carpet': brown-orange flowers, ground-covering, clump-forming, growth height up to 15 centimetres
    'Cerise Queen': bright crimson, double flowers with a yellow center, evergreen, height of growth up to 20 centimetres
    'Cheviot': apricot-colored flowers, filigree growth, evergreen, cushion-forming
    'Cornish Cream': vanilla-yellow, delicate flowers with a strong yellow centre, evergreen, clump-forming
    'Bullfinch': deep red flowers with a pink edge and a yellow centre, clump-forming, height of growth up to 15 centimetres
    'Golden Queen': bright yellow flowers with an orange centre, plentiful, evergreen, height of growth up to 20 centimetres
    'Lawrensons Pink': crimson-pink, semi-double flowers with a yellow center, clump-forming, evergreen, robust, growth height up to 20 centimetres
    'Raspberry Ripples': two-tone pink and white flowers, evergreen, cushion-forming, showy
    'Rubin': dark red, double flowers, evergreen, height of growth up to 20 centimetres
    'Ruth': red-brown flowers, grey-green foliage, cushion-forming, evergreen
    'Snow Queen' / 'The Bride': radiant white flowers with a yellow centre, develops dense cushions, grows up to 25 centimetres
    'Sterntaler': deep yellow flowers, compact, clump-forming growth, height of growth up to 15 centimetres

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