Lewisia
Bitter root, Bitter wort
- Height × spread
- 0.1m – 0.3m × 0.05m – 0.3m
- Position
- Full sun
Availability
Generally available in Spring
Many plants are seasonal. Call 01234 567890 to check current stock.
About this plant
There are around 19 species of Lewisia. They all have rather fleshy leaves that make often lush rosettes. These plants are found over a large part of North America. They are generally known to the ordinary gardener through a range of cultivars that have Lewisia cotyledon as part of their ancestry. These have showy flowers, often many-petalled and in shades of white, red and pink as well as bi-coloured forms. The flowers appear from spring to summer. These are generally grown in raised beds or rock gardens, or indeed walls, requiring very good drainage.
- Flower colour
- Orange, Pink, Red, White, Yellow
- Foliage colour
- Green
- Variegated
- No
- Scent
- No
- Shape
- Prostrate, Round
- Height
- 0.1m – 0.3m
- Spread
- 0.05m – 0.3m
- Season of interest
- Spring, Summer
- Evergreen
- Evergreen
- Garden style
- Small scale garden, Shady court, Rock garden, Gravel garden
- Sun or shade
- Likes full sun, likes part shade, tolerates light shade
- Soil type
- Gravelly soil, Loam (normal)
- Soil pH
- Acid (ericaceous), Neutral
- Drainage
- Well drained soil
- Winter hardiness
- Varies, some are not hardy
- Borders & containers
- Borders
- Use for
- Wall cover, Bee attraction
- Hazards
- No
Spring
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.
Summer
Summer · Planting
Remove offsets to create new plants
Offsets are small plants or shoots that develop around the parent plant. They should have developed a root system of their own before they are detached. They can be planted directly, or grown in pots if so small they could be 'lost' in the garden.
Offsets may be used to replace an aged parent plant, to extend or establish a colony, or can be given away or sold.
Found in
More Lewisia
Lewisia 'Little Plum'
Bitterwort, Bitterroot
Lewisia cotyledon
Cliff maids, Imperial bitter root
Lewisia cotyledon 'Safira Coral'
Cliff maids, Imperial bitter root
Lewisia cotyledon 'Safira Sensation'
Cliff maids, Imperial bitter root
Lewisia cotyledon 'Safira Tropic Pink'
Cliff maids, Imperial bitter root
Lewisia cotyledon 'Sunset Glow'
Bitter root
Lewisia tweedyi
Tweed's bitter root
Lewisia cotyledon 'Mountain Dreams'
Siskiyou lewisia