Sonnenröschen ∗ The 10 best care tips and varieties

Origin and Distribution

Sun rose (bot. Helianthemum) are a genus of dwarf and semi-shrubs comprising around 175 different species from the rockrose family (Cistaceae). The pretty, perennial to cushion-like plants are originally at home in the Mediterranean region and in Asia Minor, but are usually hardy here too.

The genus owes its name to the property of the flowers, according to the position of the sun align as well as in the dark and at cool temperatures of less than 20 ° C conclude. The yellow color of the flowers, which is characteristic of wild species, also points to the sun, while the hybrid forms now also have numerous other colors.

use

Whether wild species or hybrid breeding, the shallow-rooted sun rose is ideal for stone and gravel gardens as well as for greening stone joints and wall crowns. In the garden bed or In the border, the low plant works best in the foreground and with taller perennials as an accompaniment, in the rock garden it harmonizes well especially with summer flowers such as cushion bluebells (Campanula poscharskyana) and summer asters (Callistephus chinensis) as well as grasses such as to the Blue fescue (Festuca glauca). Furthermore, sun roses are suitable for planting pots and Window boxes,(€ 7.99 at Amazon *) preferably in combination with other upholstered perennials.

Appearance and stature

Sun rose are dwarf or semi-shrubs that stay low and form dense cushions, the shoots of which do not move in in winter - as is usual for perennials - but lignify over time. Depending on the variety, the plants reach heights between 15 and 30 centimeters and form richly blooming, dense upholstered carpets. On the wiry, slightly woody shoots of the graceful sun rose are numerous elongated, narrow ones, depending on the variation dark, gray or gray. silver-green leaves. Most species and varieties are at least evergreen, some even evergreen.

Blossoms and flowering period

The cupped flowers of the sun rose, arranged on panicles, appear in early summer and last until August in most varieties. The five wide-open petals are usually yellow in color, but can also be white, orange, pink or red in various tones. There are also two-tone varieties with a differently toned flower center. In this there are always many yellow stamens that protrude conspicuously. Sun roses develop flowers en masse over a period of weeks: New buds appear every day, which open in the early morning and usually only bloom for one day. In addition to the typical simple shell flowers, hybrid varieties with half-filled and filled calyxes are now also available in stores.

Toxicity

The sun rose is neither poisonous for humans nor for animals. Instead, it is sometimes used in naturopathy, especially in Bach flower therapy.

Which location is suitable?

As their name suggests, sun roses feel most comfortable in a sunny and warm location. After all, the flowers only open in sunshine and temperatures above 20 ° C.

Soil / substrate

Sun roses thrive best on dry, sandy to gravelly, well-drained and moderately nutrient-rich soils. The plants also need a calcareous subsoil for healthy growth. Helianthemum cultivated in planters is best planted with plenty of sand, Perlite(€ 35.50 at Amazon *) O. ä. mixed flowers resp. Potted plant soil. Give preference to varieties based on compost.

Plant sun roses properly

When planting the sun rose, mix some compost into the excavation. In addition, you should then water the plants vigorously and mulchso that the moisture remains in the soil. Mix in the mulch material as fine gravel as possible.

Planting time

Plant the young sun rose in the bed in spring. Unless you overwinter the plants, you can pull them out on the windowsill from March and then plant them directly in the bed. Specimens planted out between the end of May and the beginning of June also survive the coming winter better because they were able to grow vigorously in the months in between. Alternatively, autumn planting is also possible, provided the weather is still mild and frost-free. In rough locations, both freshly planted and hibernating sun roses can use light winter protection.

Plant spacing

In general, the ideal planting distance is 25 centimeters, which is why you need approx. should plan ten plants. However, the distances can vary depending on the selected variety.

Water the sun roses

Water the sun rose moderately but regularly - this will encourage flowering. However, while the plants are quite insensitive to dry phases, they do not tolerate waterlogging at all. If the dry periods last too long, the flowers will wither. Sunflower likes calcareous water very much, which is why you like fresh tap water - but not ice cold! - may be used for watering.

Fertilize sun roses properly

Unless you have planted the sun rose in a location with nutrient-rich soil and maybe If you have still worked compost into the plant substrate, fertilization is initially not necessary. However, you can if necessary fertilize, for example when the flowers are rather poor due to a likely lack of nutrients. However, potted plants and specimens planted on nutrient-poor subsoil should be provided with a liquid fertilizer for flowering plants approximately every four weeks between April and August.

Cut sun roses properly

During flowering, you should regularly clean out dead branches in order to suppress the formation of the seeds and instead encourage the sun rose to continue to flower. After the main bloom - but no later than September - you can also use the scissors and cut the plants back vigorously in preparation for winter. The clippings are very suitable for composting.

Multiplication

During the summer months, sun rose can be easily propagated by cuttings or subsets, in spring or Older plants are also easy to divide in autumn.

sowing

If you do not cut off the withered shoots, seed-bearing capsule fruits develop from them. These can be harvested and used in autumn sowing use. Let the seeds dry for several days and store them in a well-sealable container in a cool, dry place. However, the sun rose obtained from them are not single-variety. And this is how you attract the young plants from seeds:

• From March onwards, sow the seeds in shallow bowls.
• These are with Growing substrate(€ 12.99 at Amazon *) filled and
• should be cool at five to ten degrees Celsius.
• Cover the seeds only very thinly with substrate.
• Keep this slightly moist continuously.
• Prick out as soon as the first cotyledons appear.
• Now care for the plants separately in small pots.
• A temperature of around 15 ° C is now ideal.
• From the end of May the young plants can then go outdoors.

Cuttings

Sun rose can be propagated just as easily by cuttings. To do this, cut off five to six centimeters long, non-flowering and semi-lignified shoots in summer. Put them in a little one with Potting soil filled pot and lightly moisten it. Put a translucent plastic bag or a cut-off PET bottle over it to create a warm, humid climate for root growth. Alternatively, the cuttings can also be rooted in a water glass.

The young plants are to be overwintered in a cool, but frost-free place and only put outside in the following spring.

division

In spring and autumn, it is also possible to split larger sun rose cushions. Proceed as follows:

• Dig up a strong and healthy plant widely.
• Use a clean and sharp knife to cut them into several sub-plants.
• Each part must have several shoots and buds.
• Plant the sections separately in a new location.
• Water them well.

Diseases and pests

Diseases and pests rarely occur on sunflower, only aphids can become a problem. However, they can be easily expelled by spreading nettle manure.

Species and varieties

There are around 175 different types of sun rose, with hybrids in the garden - the so-called garden sun rose (bot. Helianthemum x cultorum) - is used. While species such as the common sunflower (bot. Helianthemum nummularium) flowers mainly yellow, the cultivated forms are available in numerous colors. The most beautiful variants for the home garden include the following:

• Common sun rose (Helianthemum nummularium): yellow blooming, robust, up to 30 centimeters high

'Annabell': numerous pink, simple flowers
'Rose Glory': distinctive dark pink, simple flowers

• Alpine sun rose (Helianthemum alpestre): yellow blooming, robust, up to 15 centimeters high
• Garden sunflower (Helianthemum x cultorum): different colors and shapes

'Ben Fhada': bright yellow flowers with an orange center, cushion-forming, evergreen, growth height up to 20 centimeters
'Bronze carpet': brown-orange flowers, covering the ground, forming clumps, up to 15 centimeters in height
'Cerise Queen': bright purple-red, double flowers with a yellow center, evergreen, growth height up to 20 centimeters
'Cheviot': apricot-colored flowers, filigree growth, evergreen, cushion-forming
'Cornish Cream': vanilla-yellow, delicate flowers with a strong yellow center, evergreen, clump-forming
'Bullfinch': deep red flowers with a pink edge and a yellow center, clump-forming, up to 15 centimeters in height
'Golden Queen': bright yellow flowers with an orange center, richly blooming, evergreen, up to 20 centimeters in height
'Lawrensons Pink': purple-pink, semi-double flowers with a yellow center, clump-forming, evergreen, robust, up to 20 centimeters in height
'Raspberry Ripples': two-tone pink and white flowers, evergreen, cushion-forming, conspicuous
'Ruby': dark red, double flower, evergreen, height of growth up to 20 centimeters
'Ruth': red-brown flowers, gray-green foliage, cushion-forming, evergreen
'Snow Queen' / 'The Bride': brilliant white flowers with a yellow center, develops dense cushions, up to 25 centimeters in height
'Sterntaler': deep yellow flowers, compact, strongly clump-forming growth, growth height up to 15 centimeters