Halimium April Sun

Halimium April Sun, sometimes called Yellow Rockrose, is an evergreen undershrub native to the western Mediterranean, well adapted to poor, dry soils, just like cistus and helianthemums to which it is closely related. It is bushy and compact and with pretty, dark grey-green foliage and a long and abundant spring-to-summer flowering that is absolutely radiant, with small cups of bright lemon yellow flowers. Each flower lasts only one day, but they are constantly renewed over a long period from April to September, depending on the climate and soil moisture. Halimiums are charming discreet shrubs for rockeries, slopes or sunny terraces. They can be grown in any well-drained soil without excessive limestone, in full sun, with little water or fertilizer.

Halimium is also called Cistus libanotis according to certain nomenclatures. It is an undershrub of the cistaceae family, found in the wild in dry meadows or sandy heathlands in Spain, Portugal, and North Africa. It reaches an average size of 45 cm (17.7 in) in all directions, with a compact, almost prostrate habit that is kept dense by regular light pruning.

'April Sun', still relatively uncommon in cultivation, is a more floriferous selection of this botanical species. The very abundant and long-lasting flowering, takes place before or outside the period of drought and summer heat, from April to September depending on the climate and soil. At the end of the branches, green buds tinged with pink appear, grouped in clusters that open into small single flowers with a diameter of 3 cm (1.2 in), formed by 5 bright lemon yellow petals. The centre of the flower is occupied by a bouquet of yellow-orange stamens. Each flower disappears in the late afternoon, releasing a shower of petals on the ground. The countless buds ensure a long flowering. The leaves are evergreen, 2 cm (0.8 in) long, with slightly rolled edges. Downy when they emerge, they become dark grey-green at maturity and emit a balsamic aroma in hot, dry weather. The root system of this "rockrose" is both deep and branching, so powerful that it manages to infiltrate between fractured rocks or in dry sand to draw the slightest trace of moisture from deep down, while its superficial roots capture surface moisture. Its lifespan varies between 12 and 15 years in the garden. This plant is sensitive to root asphyxiation in overly compact and moist soil in winter. Its hardiness is around -12°C (10.4 °F) in properly drained soil.

Halimium April Sun is a plant for rockeries and poor soils, well adapted to summer drought: its delicate flowers hide a strong temperament and a robustness that withstands any test. Create a bed evoking the Mediterranean scrubland, by mixing the foliage and scents of lavender (blue, white, pink), rosemary (creeping or erect), thyme (T.vulgaris, T. polytrichus), sage (Salvia x jamensis or officinalis), oregano, teucriums (T.chamaedrys, T. x lucidrys, T. hircanicum), California poppies, catmints, ballotes and dryland euphorbias (E.characias, E. cyparissias). Growing in large pots is also possible, with proper drainage and abundant but spaced watering in summer, allowing the substrate to dry out between waterings.