Petrorhagia saxifraga Seeds - Tunic flower

Petrorhagia saxifraga, better known as Rock Campion or Saxifrage Campion, is a perennial herbaceous plant with a spreading habit for dry rock gardens of a genus that includes only this species. It develops linear foliage in a dense tuft of fresh green. A long flowering period from June to September produces small flowers in pink panicles with dark veins. Plant in full sun, in well-drained and light soil, even poor, neutral to limestone.

Petrorhagia saxifraga, formerly known as Tunica, belongs to the Caryophyllaceae family. Native to central and southern Europe, it is found in dry and sandy rock gardens or dry meadows. At maturity, the plant can reach 10 to 20 cm in height and 20 cm in width. The foliage of Rock Campion is semi-evergreen and forms a dense mat with a spreading habit. It has fine green leaves. The leaves are needle-like (linear, rigid, and pointed) and measure 0.5 to 1 cm in length. In summer, from June to August, delicate cymes appear, formed by small flat flowers measuring 0.5 to 1 cm in diameter, in pink or white with darker veins.

Petrorhagia saxifraga is well-suited for dry gardens, borders, or rock gardens, in full sun and poor soil, even limestone. It creates a beautiful ground cover with light foliage and a fairly loose habit, covered in summer with many small flowers. Combine it with creeping sedums, in front of aster ericoides, shrubby salvias, or Ceratostigma plumbaginoides.