Dionysia 'Charlson Thomas'

RHS Plant Profile

dionysia 'Charlson Thomas'

RHS

Other common names

dionysia 'Charleson Thomas'

Alpine Rockery Conservatory Greenhouse

A small, hummock-forming plant with tiny leaves and abundant, pale lilac flowers, each with a light yellow eye, opening in early spring

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Sand

Max Height

Up to 10 cm

Max Spread

0-0.1 metre

Size

Time to Maturity: 5–10 years
Max Spread: 0-0.1 metre
Max Height: Up to 10 cm

Growing Conditions

Sand

Moisture: Well–drained
pH: Neutral

Position

Full sun

Aspect: South–facing or West–facing or East–facing
Exposure: Exposed or 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): H4

Colour & Scent

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Primulaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Evergreen
Habit: Matforming
Genus: Dionysia are small evergreen perennials forming cushions of oblong or spoon-shaped leaves, with 5-petalled, salver-shaped, yellow, pink or purple flowers in spring or early summer
Name Status: Accepted

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow under glass or in an alpine house in a mix of 3 parts grit to one part each of loam and leaf mould. Provide a deep collar of grit and maintain good ventilation in full light. When in growth water sparingly from below (ensuring the collar is kept dry) and water sparingly in winter. Also easy to grow outdoors in tufa in full sun but protect plant surface from wet

Propagation

Propagate by cuttings of single rosettes in summer. Water from below

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Patio and container plants
Rock garden

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

May be susceptible to aphids

Diseases

May be susceptible to grey moulds