Lewisia cotyledon Rose Pink

Lewisia cotyledon 'Elise Rose Pink' is the most delicately pink of all the Siskiyou Lewisias, selected for their ability to flower very young, as early as the first year of cultivation. These adorable little perennials bloom in spring and much of summer, displaying a multitude of brightly coloured star-shaped flowers. In the 'Rose Pink' cultivar, the flowers are delicately edged with pale pink on a background that transitions from fresh pink to salmon pink. Charming in rock gardens, Lewisia 'Elise' is also a highly decorative plant for sunny containers. Plant in well-drained soil, in full sun or partial shade in hot climates.

Lewisia plants belong to the family of Portulaca, recently reclassified as Montiaceae. They are all native to the North American Rocky Mountains and were discovered in the early 19th century. They grow in small isolated populations in rocky crevices or gravelly scree. Lewisia cotyledon 'Elise Rose Pink' is an evergreen perennial without stems, possessing an underground storage organ called a caudex and a reddish-fusiform, ramified, and pivot root system. It easily hybridizes and self-seeds in rocky terrain.

The 'Elise' selection brings together some magnificent forms with very vibrant or very tender colours: sumptuous shades of pink, salmon, orange, white, and yellow, on solid or bicoloured flowers. These plants have a loose tufted habit of about 25cm (10in) in all directions. They form rosettes of succulent leaves that are dark bluish-green, reddening with cold. The leaves measure 5 to 10cm (2 to 4in) long, they are narrow and spatulate-shaped. Flowering takes place in spring, from March to June-July, earlier or later depending on the climate. The flowers, about 3cm (1in) in diameter, are star-shaped with 7 to 12 shiny, slightly fringed petals. They are grouped in small clusters carried by a stem overhanging the leaf rosettes. They close at night.

A charming little plant, Lewisia cotyledon 'Elise Rose Pink' catches the eye with its profusion of very delicate and cheerful flowers that seem to be 'grafted' onto the rocks. Whether in a border, in a container on a balcony, or placed at the top of a wall, it is easy to find a special place for this little marvel, sheltered from winter humidity, which it fears much more than the cold.

Lewisia plants are also known as 'Bitter root' because their edible roots, covered with a bitter skin, were traditionally harvested by native tribes to be eaten once peeled and cooked, grilled, or dried, and even used as currency. It is said that a plant kept dry for five years is capable of coming back to life and producing beautiful flowers the following summer. This is at least the adventure that a curious London botanist experienced.

Note: Attention, our young plug plants are professional products reserved for experienced gardeners: upon receipt, transplant and store them in a shelter (veranda, greenhouse, cold frame...) at a temperature above 14 °C (57.2°F) for a few weeks before planting them outdoors once the risk of frost has been definitively eliminated.