1 named cultivar

‘Belgravia Rose’Belgravia Rose Sunrose

perennial

Sunrose

The Story

Plant Bio

Helianthemum nummularium, the sun rose or rock rose, is a low woody-stemmed evergreen from Europe and western Asia, six to twelve inches high and creeping to three feet across. Small grey-green leaves clothe wiry sprawling stems, and five-petalled rose-like flowers in pastel pink or yellow open in profusion through May and June.

Individual flowers last a single day, but they are produced in such quantity that the plant reads as continuously in bloom for weeks. Drainage decides everything here: it wants dry, alkaline, rocky or sandy ground, and rots quickly in anything that holds water, so a slope or gravel bed suits it far better than a border.

Uses & Benefits:

Weeks of small rose-like flowers over grey-green evergreen foliage on a sprawling mat.

Thrives on dry, alkaline, stony ground and holds slopes where irrigation is not an option.

Prolific open flowers give bees an easy nectar source across late spring and early summer.

Essentials

At a Glance

Plant Type

Perennial

Height

12 inches

Width

30 inches

Light

Full Sun

Zones

5, 6, 7, 8

Water

Low

Humidity

Low

Lifespan

Perennial

Native To

Europe and western Asia

Toxicity

Non-toxic

Planting

How to Grow

Plant in spring in full sun.
Choose dry, alkaline, rocky or sandy, sharply drained soil.
Site it on a slope or raised bed if drainage is doubtful.
Water sparingly; established plants prefer dry conditions.
Shear the plant back by a third after flowering.
Protect with a light cover in cold, wet winters.

Pro Tip

Shear it back hard as the first flush fades; unpruned plants get woody and bare at the centre within a couple of seasons.

Keep It Thriving

Care Guide

Do

Give it full sun and sharp drainage ☀️
Use alkaline, gritty or sandy soil 🪨
Shear it back after flowering ✂️
Let it sprawl over walls and rocks 🧱

Don't

Plant it in wet or heavy soil ❌
Water it freely once established ❌
Leave it unpruned and let it go woody ❌

Seasonal Care Calendar

Task	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Protect
Shear

Watch Out For

Pests & Diseases

Common Pests

Common Diseases

In the Garden

Landscape Uses & Companions

Landscape Uses

Rock garden and gravel bed plantingSprawling cover over walls and slopesFront-of-border edging in dry sunny sites

Companion Plants

Creeping Thyme DianthusHens And Chicks Lavender Blue Fescue

Multiply

Propagation Methods

Good to Know

Common Questions

Sunrose questions

What zones can Sunrose grow in?

Sunrose is hardy in USDA Zones 5–8. Inside that range it survives winter in the ground; outside it, grow it as an annual or a container plant you protect.

Is Sunrose deer resistant?

Yes — Sunrose is rated deer-resistant. Deer typically pass it over, though extreme hunger can override any plant's defenses.

When does Sunrose bloom?

Sunrose typically blooms in late spring to early summer through late summer. Exact timing shifts a week or two with your zone — Sow's bloom calendar maps it to your garden.

Does Sunrose need full sun?

Sunrose does best in full sun (6+ hours).

Is Sunrose drought tolerant?

Yes — once established (usually after the first full season), Sunrose handles dry spells with minimal watering. Water deeply its first year to build the root system that makes that possible.