Helianthemum nummularium ‘Henfield Brilliant’

sun rose

  • © Blooming Nursery, Inc.

Outstanding Qualities

Sun roses are an underused plant that can bring a variety of sherbet colors to the late spring, early summer garden; especially for sites with full sun and little water. The evergreen foliage is grayish green with the small leaves being lance-shaped. This spreading, woody-stemmed perennial could be considered a subshrub as its creeping stems rarely venture above a foot in height and spread to three or so feet. In May to June the bright flower colors of various cultivars burst forth with 'Henfield Brilliant' being a dazzling orange. The rose-shaped flowers only last a day, but on well-grown plants the bloom can be profuse.

Quick Facts

Plant Type: perennial

Growth Habit: spreading

Foliage Type: evergreen

Plant Height (10-year): 1 ft. 0 in. (0.30 meters)

Plant Width/Spread (10-year): 3 ft. 0 in. (0.91 meters)

Hardiness: USDA Zones 5 to 8

Flower Color: orange

Sun/Light Exposure: full sun

Water Requirements: drought tolerant once established

Seasonal Interest: colorful rose-shaped flowers in late spring, early summer

Wildlife Associations: bees, butterflies

Culture Notes

Being native to habitats with plenty of sunshine these plants flower best on full sun sites. Water until established and then sun roses are drought tolerant. Any average soil will do as well as soils that are clay or sandy provided the drainage is excellent.