Saponaria ocymoides
Rose soapwort, Tumbling Ted, Rock soapwort
Also known as Vaccaria
- Height × spread
- 0.25m × 0.8m
- Position
- Full sun
- Hardiness
- Cold to -15C (RHS H5)
- Flowers
- Summer
Availability
Please ask in store about availability
Many plants are seasonal. Call 01234 567890 to check current stock.
About this plant
This pretty little rock garden plant has clusters of starry, close packed pink to red flowers during summer. The leaves are small, long and bright green with a hairy surface. It looks pretty on a dry bank and can also handle planting pockets left in crazy paving. It grows naturally on limestone rocks in dry sites. It is pretty to associate this rather informal plant with plants that make close clinging carpets or foamy little domes.
- Flower colour
- Pink
- Foliage colour
- Green
- Variegated
- No
- Scent
- No
- Shape
- Prostrate
- Height
- 0.25m
- Spread
- 0.8m
- Season of interest
- Summer
- Flowers in
- Summer
- Evergreen
- Deciduous
- Garden style
- Rock garden, Gravel garden, Cottage garden
- Sun or shade
- Likes full sun
- Soil type
- Chalk, Clay, Loam (normal), Poor soil
- Soil pH
- Alkaline, Neutral
- Drainage
- Well drained soil, Drought resistant
- Hardiness
- Cold to -15C (RHS H5)
- Borders & containers
- Borders and containers
- Use for
- Butterfly attraction
- Hazards
- No
- Pet safe
- Yes – listed in our pet-safe plants
Spring
Spring - late · Outdoors
Feed with slow release fertiliser
Apply a general purpose slow release fertiliser, spreading it around the root area of the plant as it is coming into growth. (Or apply a liquid feed at regular intervals throughout the growing season.)
This is a simple way to provide a nutrient boost as a single annual procedure.
Spring-Autumn · Outdoors
Water during dry periods
For plants in the ground, when there has been little or no rain for a period of 7-10 days and the soil is dry, give it a deep watering and repeat weekly until there is a downpour of rain. Check plants in pots more frequently, especially in hot weather.
Spring · Planting
Divide when too large
The plant can be divided in alternate years. Clumps may be divided into two or more pieces. Rhizomes can be cut whilst small bulbs or offsets are detached. The new plants can be grown in a container or planted in the ground.
Planting & general
Planting
Deadhead blooms during flowering season
Remove flowers as they turn brown and fade. Snip the stem just below the bloom. This will keep the plant tidy and encourage more flowers.
The removal of spent flowers encourages the plant to produce fresh ones, rather than spend its energy on the development of seeds.