Helianthemum apenninum - Rock Rose

Helianthemum apenninum, also known as the Apennine rockrose or white rockrose, is a perennial shrub native to the Mediterranean basin, particularly drought-resistant. It has given rise to numerous cultivars through hybridization with Helianthemum nummularium. Its delicate and silvery foliage is adorned with a profusion of cup-shaped white flowers with bright yellow throats in spring or summer. This wild rock rose naturally thrives in rockeries or gravel beds, in well-drained soil. It is particularly well-suited for ornamental purposes in dry gardens.

Belonging to the family of Cistaceae, the rockrose is related to the Cistus genus. Helianthemum apenninum is naturally found in the northern Mediterranean basin, west of North Africa and south of the Alps. This plant grows in limestone, rocky, and soils that are very dry in summer. It is a herbaceous plant with a woody base that forms a spreading, loosely branched tuft, about 25 cm (10 in) high and 30 cm (12 in) wide. Its evergreen foliage consists of tiny narrow leaves, rolled at the edges and covered with silvery bristles. Flowering occurs in April-May in southern regions, and in June-July further north. The plant produces numerous small flowers, about 3-4 cm (1.6 in) in diameter, in cup-shaped clusters. Each flower has 5 pure white petals with a golden yellow base, surrounding a cluster of stamens of the same golden yellow colour.

The Greek name Helianthemum means "flower of the sun," an appropriate name for these flowers that only open in bright sunlight. Its delicate flowers last only a few hours, but they keep blooming over a long period of time.

Helianthemum apenninum is the ideal plant to enhance a rocky garden or sunny slope, to cascade over a wall, or brighten up paving. It will also look beautiful in the foreground of perennial beds or raised flower beds. It is perfect for creating green walls and green roofs. It can be combined with many other rock plants (Erigeron, Alyssum, Rock cress, Aubrieta), as well as perennial plants such as Lavender, German Iris, Cistus, Convolvulus cneorum, Coreopsis. Its flowers blend delicately with the greay foliage of Stachys, artemisias, santolines or silver baskets.