Helianthemum arcticum

Growing in a very crowded spot in our rock garden

Bright yellow flowers appear late spring through early summer. Mat forming growth habit makes this plant well suited for rock gardens. Foliage is evergreen, which is often bad news for plants in our Saskatchewan garden - cold, sunny winter days here can desiccate these types of plants so badly it will kill them.

We haven't had much success over the years over wintering any of the Helianthemum cultivars, so when I spotted this species in the Chiltern Seeds catalogue, thought I'd give it a try. Had no seeds germinate in 1999, but managed one seed to germinate in 2000, which grew into the above plant (update 2003 - which has survived 3 winters now).

Chiltern Seeds says this about the plants origin: "Our seed comes from plants that originated in the Kola Peninsula in the far north of Russia, neighbouring Finland and Norway, inside the Arctic Circle and where Lapps herd reindeer in the tundra". This plant just might have the credentials to survive our tough winters.

We're growing it in in full sun in our rock garden, on a sharp slope to give it good drainage.

Hardy zone ?

Height of 3", spread of 12".

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