Moss rose

Moss rose: how do you recognise it?

Habit

Low, creeping, spreading succulent 10–15 cm high and 30 cm wide, with reddish stems.

Leaves

Thick, fleshy and cylindrical, 1–2.5 cm long, glossy green, with small hairs at the base of the flowers.

Flowers

Cup-shaped, 3–4 cm, single or double, from June to September; they open in the sun and close in cloudy weather and in the evening.

Colour

Pink, red, orange, yellow, white and two-tone, often very bright.

Roots

Shallow and fibrous; the plant stores water in its leaves and stems.

Flowering: June–September · Sowing: March–May · Plants: May–June

Why grow it?

• Flowers from June to September, precisely in the heat and drought in which other summer flowers give up.
• Drought tolerant: the fleshy little leaves store water, so ideal if you water little.
• An excellent ground cover for poor, dry, sunny spots, such as rock gardens, gravel gardens and paving gaps.
• The flowers attract bees.
• Compact and low (10–15 cm): pretty in pots, containers, hanging baskets and at the edge of a patio.

Moss rose: where does it grow best?

• Full sun and warmth: the flowers only open in sun, and in shade it hardly flowers.
• Poor, very free-draining soil: sand or loam, acid to chalky. In rich, wet soil it rots.
• Dry to moderately dry: let the soil dry out well between waterings.
• Warm and sheltered; it dislikes cold, wet nights.
• Plant 15–20 cm apart, or five plants in a 30 cm pot.

Light

Sun

Soil type

Sand or loam

Acidity

Not fussy

Moisture

Dry

Size

0.15 m tall, 0.3 m wide

Hardiness

Frost tender: plant out after the last frost (mid-May)

Goes well with

• Stonecrop: The same sun and drought, with sturdy rosettes and late flowers.
• Lavender: Sunny and dry; the purple spikes contrast nicely with bright moss rose.
• Blue fescue: Fine blue-grey tufts that calm the bright colours.
• Verbena: Flowers just as long and likes the same warm spot.

Moss rose: when and how to plant it?

Plant in May–June.

1. Plant out only from mid-May–June, when nights are no longer cold; below about 5 °C it suffers.
2. Choose a sunny spot with poor, very free-draining soil; mix heavy soil with plenty of sand or fine grit.
3. For a pot: use cactus or succulent compost, or compost with a third sand, and a pot with drainage holes.
4. Set the plants 15–20 cm apart at the same depth as in the nursery pot.
5. Water once after planting and after that only when the soil is dry.
6. Do not use a compost mulch: a layer of gravel or fine pebbles keeps the base dry.

Care

Water

Little: water only when the soil is completely dry, and then at the base. In a pot in hot weather once a week or more often.

Feeding

Hardly needed. One light dose of flowering-plant feed in June is enough; too much feed gives leaves instead of flowers.

Sun

Always put the pot in full sun, because in shade or cloudy weather the flowers stay closed.

Tidying

Remove wilted or rotting parts; they attract fungi.

Repotting

Usually unnecessary: it is an annual; use fresh compost every year in pots.

Tip: Do not sow too early, because moss rose needs warmth to germinate. Plant in poor, dry soil in full sun and water little; ideal for pots on a sunny patio.

Moss rose: when to prune it?

When: It is not really pruned; just cut off wilted stems or long, bare shoots now and then.

How:

• In July, shorten long, bare stems to just above a cluster of leaves; it then regrows and keeps flowering.
• Remove rotten or damaged parts straight away, back to healthy tissue.
• You do not need to cut off faded flowers: they wither by themselves.

Pruning calendar and basic rules

Propagation

Sowing

In March–April indoors at 20–25 °C, or in May in place. The seed is dust-fine: scatter it on the soil and press it in lightly, because it needs light to germinate. It germinates in 1–2 weeks. Thin the seedlings to 15–20 cm.

Cuttings

In August–September: cuttings of 5–8 cm root easily in sandy soil or even in a glass of water. Overwinter them in the light at 10–15 °C.

Moss rose: how does it get through the winter?

Hardy to 5 °C: protect in harsh winters.

• Not hardy: it does not tolerate frost and suffers already below about 5 °C. It dies off in the first cold nights.
• If you want to keep it, take cuttings in August–September and overwinter them in a bright, frost-free place at 10–15 °C, almost dry.
• Or sow again next spring: seed is cheap and easy to collect from the seed capsules in September.

Diseases and pests

• Stem and root rot: Limp stems turning brown or black with too much water or cold, wet soil. Water less, ensure very light soil and remove affected plants.
• Closed flowers: Not a real problem: the flowers only open in sun and close in cloudy weather and in the evening. Put it in a full-sun spot.
• Aphids: Small insects on young shoots and buds. Rinse off with water or a mild soap solution.
• Slugs: Young plants or flowers nibbled. Collect slugs in the evening or set traps around the plants.

Through the year

• March: Sow indoors at 20–25 °C, do not cover the seed.
• April: Sow and prick out. Keep warm and bright.
• May: Plant out after mid-May or sow in place.
• June: First flowers. Water sparingly.
• July: Full flower. Shorten long, bare stems.
• August: Flowering. Take cuttings to overwinter.
• September: Last flowers. Collect seed.
• October: Clear away before the first cold nights.

Good for wildlife

Bees

Nectar and pollen for honeybees and wild bees.

Did you know?

• Moss rose is related to purslane (Portulaca oleracea), an edible plant that grows as a weed in vegetable gardens.
• The flowers respond to light: they open in sunshine and close in cloudy weather or in the evening.
• The name Portulaca comes from the Latin portula (little gate), because the seed capsule opens with a small lid.