Acantholimon venustum

RHS Plant Profile

beautiful prickly thrift

RHS

Alpine Rockery Conservatory Greenhouse

A small, cushion-forming, evergreen sub-shrub with densely packed, grey-green, needle-like leaves and pink flowers borne in short, upright spikes in summer, followed by papery seed heads

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Chalk, Loam, Sand

Max Height

Up to 10 cm

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 5–10 years
Max Spread: 0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height: Up to 10 cm

Growing Conditions

Chalk Loam Sand

Moisture: Well–drained
pH: Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun

Aspect: South–facing
Exposure: Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20): H7
Drought Resistance: Yes

Colour & Scent

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Plumbaginaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Evergreen
Habit: Matforming
Genus: Acantholimon are evergreen perennials forming dense mats of small, needle-like leaves, with funnel-shaped flowers in short spikes or panicles in early summer
Name Status: Correct
Plant Range: W Asia

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow outdoors in full sun in very free-draining soil, such as an upright wall crevice, with protection from winter wet, or in an alpine house or frame in equal parts peat-free, loam-based potting compost and coarse grit

Propagation

Propagate by seed sown in spring, or by semi-ripe cuttings taken in late summer

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Patio and container plants
Rock garden
Gravel garden

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

Generally problem free

Diseases

Generally problem free