Helianthemum 'The Bride'

Common name: The Bride Rock Rose

Description: This charming evergreen subshrub forms a low, spreading mound of small, narrow, grey-green leaves that provide year-round structure in the garden. In late spring and early summer, 'The Bride' produces an abundance of pure white, papery flowers with golden yellow centres, creating a stunning display that can almost completely cover the foliage. Each individual bloom lasts only a day, but they are produced in such profusion over several weeks that the overall flowering period is quite extended. The flowers have a delicate, crinkled texture reminiscent of crepe paper and open fully in sunny conditions, closing in the evening or during cloudy weather. After the main flowering period, occasional blooms may appear sporadically into autumn. The plant develops a woody base with age, maintaining a neat, cushion-like habit that works beautifully in rock gardens, at the front of borders, or spilling over walls and edges.

Other benefits: drought resistant, deer resistant, low maintenance, long flowering period

Wildlife attraction: bees, butterflies, hoverflies and other beneficial insects

Height & spread (approx.) at 10 years: 0.3m x 0.5m

Position: full sun; flowers will not open fully in shade

Soil pH: prefers neutral to alkaline soils; tolerates poor, chalky conditions

Moisture: excellent drought tolerance once established; requires very well-drained soil; cannot tolerate wet conditions especially in winter

Winter hardiness: hardy in most UK areas; cold hardy to -15°C; benefits from shelter from cold, drying winds