The Helianthemum, also known as the rockrose, has an intriguing story. Legend has it that these beautiful flowers were formed when the Greek sun god, Helios, shed a tear upon seeing the love between the mortal princess, Leucothoe, and the god Apollo. As the tear fell upon the ground, it transformed into a Helianthemum flower, forever capturing their immortal love. This enchanting tale adds a touch of magic to these wonderful blooms.
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Short Description
Helianthemum /ˌhiːliˈænθɪməm/, known as rock rose, sunrose, rushrose, or frostweed, is a genus of about 110 species of flowering plants in the family Cistaceae. They are widely distributed throughout the Northern Hemisphere, especially in the Mediterranean.
New World species formerly classified as Helianthemum have been transferred to genus Crocanthemum.
Description
These are usually shrubs or subshrubs, and some are herbaceous
annuals or perennials. The leaves are oppositely arranged, but some plants may have alternately arranged leaves along the upper stems. The flowers are solitary or borne in an array of inflorescence types, such as panicles, racemes, or headlike clusters. The flower has three inner sepals and two smaller outer sepals. It has five petals usually in shades of yellow, orange, or pink. The style at the center is tipped with a large stigma. The fruit is a capsule containing many seeds.
Cultivation
Several Helianthemum species, and the numerous hybrids and cultivars derived from them, are widely grown as ornamental plants, popular in rockeries. A broader range of colours is available among the cultivars, including bright salmon-pink to dark red. They are best grown in well-draining soil in full sun, and have a long flowering period from spring to summer. Numerous cultivars have gained the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit:
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