Helianthemum Supreme - Rock Rose

Helianthemum 'Supreme' is a particularly floriferous rock rose with a dazzling flowering. This subshrub forms a cushion of dark green foliage, on which many large, intense pink-red single flowers bloom. Rock roses tolerate heat and summer drought well. They flower all summer, as long as faded flowers are regularly removed, even in poor and rocky soil. A very pretty variety that will form an attractive ground cover in sunny areas of the garden, such as rockeries or the top of a wall. 

Belonging to the family of Cistaceae, Helianthemum 'Supreme' is one of the many hybrids between Helianthemum apenninum, native to southern Europe, and Helianthemum mummularium, widespread in Europe and Turkey. Like its ancestors, 'Supreme' loves limestone, rocky, sandy soils, and the sun. With a low, spreading and dense habit, it forms a cushion about 25cm (10in) high and 40cm (16in) wide. Its foliage consists of tiny linear leaves, fairly dark green, covered with bristles that give it a silvery appearance, especially when it is hot and dry. It enhances its abundant flowering. From May-June to August-September, it is covered with a multitude of cup-shaped flowers, about 4cm (2in) in diameter, with five slightly crumpled pink-red petals, adorned with a beautiful bouquet of golden stamens.

Helianthemum means "flower of the sun" in Greek, an appropriate name for these flowers that only open in sunny conditions. Its delicate little flowers do not last long, but constantly renew themselves, sometimes until autumn if the weather allows it. 

The rock rose is the ideal plant to enhance a rocky garden, a sunny slope, the top of a wall, the gaps in a paving... It also thrives in pots or containers for terraces. It can also be considered for the creation of green walls and green roofs. Combine it with other rock plants (Erigeron, creeping Gypsophila, 'Mount Olympus' St. John's Wort, Teucrium, silver baskets), but also with perennial plants such as lavenders, rosemary, dwarf irises, Sedums or its cousins the Cistus. Its flowers blend delicately with the grey foliage of Stachys, Artemisias or Ballotas.