Helianthemum Raspberry Ripple - Rock Rose

Helianthemum 'Raspberry Ripple', an excellent rock plant, is a spreading, semi-evergreen subshrub, forming a low-growing and compact mat, remarkable for its long and generous summer flowering, with single flowers, variegated white with garnet. A cascade of small vanilla-raspberry sorbets, along borders or in rockeries!

This 'Raspberry Ripple' hybrid is a low-growing, spreading, and dense subshrub, forming a cushion of fine and woody branches that spread on the ground. It measures 20cm (8in) tall with a spread of 30cm (12in). Its semi-evergreen foliage, composed of small linear, opposite, dark green silvery leaves, highlights the abundant and luminous summer flowering, starry white with purple. From May to June, it is covered with a multitude of small 3cm (1in) diameter cup-shaped flowers, adorned with a bouquet of golden stamens. The flowers, with a very original colour, are white, widely marked with purple-pink, on the heart and petals. Belonging to the Cistus family, Helianthemum resembles Cistus in terms of the shape and delicacy of its flowers, as well as its pronounced preference for the sun. Helianthemum means "flower of the sun" in Greek, an appropriate name for these flowers that only open in the presence of strong sunlight. Its delicate little flowers only last a few days but constantly renew throughout the summer, even until autumn.

Very easy to cultivate, Helianthemum 'Raspberry Ripple' appreciates well-drained, even rocky, soils and sunny and warm exposures. South-facing and scorching situations suit it very well, as it is not afraid of heat. This very floriferous and beautifully coloured dwarf shrub, used both as a rock plant and as ground cover, offers a wide range of uses. Helianthemum is the ideal plant to enhance a rocky garden, a sunny slope, cascading over a wall, or in paving... It will also be very effective in the foreground of perennial borders or raised flowerbeds. It also thrives when grown in pots or containers for terraces. It is perfect for creating green walls and green roofs. It can be combined with many other rock plants (Sedum, Shrubby Sage, Wormwood, Yarrow, Geranium), as well as perennial plants such as Lavender, Iris germanica, Cistus, Penstemon, Shrub Cinquefoil, and Gaura.