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Petrocallis pyrenaica

rock beauty

P. pyrenaica is a cushion-forming, evergreen perennial to 5cm, with dense rosettes of three-lobed, grey-green leaves. Small clusters of pink-purple, or white, vanilla-scented flowers appear in spring

Synonyms
Petrocallis lagascae
Draba pyrenaica

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Size
Ultimate height
Up to 10cm
Time to ultimate height
2–5 years
Ultimate spread
0.1–0.5 metres
Growing conditions
Sand
Moisture
Well–drained
pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Colour & scent
StemFlowerFoliageFruit
Spring Purple White Green Grey Silver
Summer Green Grey Silver
Autumn Green Grey Silver
Winter Green Grey Silver
Position
  • Full sun
Aspect

South–facing or West–facing or East–facing

Exposure
Sheltered
Hardiness
H7
Botanical details
Family
Brassicaceae
Native to the UK
No
Foliage
Evergreen
Habit
Matforming
Genus

Petrocallis are cushion-forming perennials with rosettes of lobed leaves and clusters of four-petalled flowers on short stems in spring

Name status

Correct

Plant range
Europe (Mts)

How to grow

Cultivation

Requires poor, gritty, very well-drained soil in full sun. Intolerant of winter wet, so in many areas better grown in an alpine house

Propagation

Propagate by seed sown in a container in a cold frame in autumn, or by separating rosettes in early summer and rooting them as cuttings

Suggested planting locations and garden types
  • City and courtyard gardens
  • Rock garden
  • Cottage and informal garden
  • Gravel garden
  • Patio and container plants
Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

Susceptible to aphids, glasshouse red spider mite and glasshouse whitefly if grown under cover

Diseases

Generally disease-free

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