Elise Mix

Class

Dicotyledons

Division

Angiospermae

Family

Montiaceae

Order

Caryophyllales

Genus

Lewisia

Species

cotyledon

Description

Compact perennial herb with a ground cover habit, suitable for creating dense groups in flowerbeds, tubs and planters; also widely used to decorate rock gardens. It is highly hardy, withstanding the drought heat of summer but also the cold of winter during which it goes into vegetative rest. Appreciated for its luxuriant flowering that occurs throughout the spring-summer period until autumn with a profusion of flowers carried in inflorescences of bright, bright colours that emerge from the foliage gathered in rosettes. It requires no special cultivation care.

Variety description

Semi-grasulaceous plant with a wide assortment of colours, very drought-resistant, re-flowering over a long period of the year. Can also be used in rock gardens.

Curiosities and special features

Called Siskiyou in the Anglo-Saxon world in reference to the name of the county of Siskiyou located in California, the botanical species' native range.

Origin and distribution

A species native to the cool and sunny subalpine rocky mountain habitats of southern Oregon and northern California where it was collected by the American explorer Meriwether Lewis in 1806, from whom it derives its generic epithet; it later spread to Europe as an ornamental plant. In the past it was classified as belonging to the Portulacaceae family with whose species, like the flowering purslane, it has similarities such as the fleshy texture of its leaves.

Flower size

The flower is small but forms part, together with other flowers, of dense and very decorative inflorescences.

Leaf

The leaves are gathered in compact rosettes and each has a linear lamina.

Flowering period

It exhibits a long flowering period, from early spring to late winter lasting between 180 and 200 days, taking on the role of a coveted accent plant for growers, green designers and hobbyists, and offering volume and visual interest for a wide time of year to your green spaces.

Inflorescence

Inflorescence umbel bearing several flowers arranged along branched stems.

Leaf colour

Solid colours.

Plant height

The height of the plant varies from 0.15 to 0.2 m, making it suitable as a first-class plant when combined with other, taller species.

Lifespan

A perennial plant, it goes into vegetative rest during the winter period.

Where to plant

Its high rusticity as well as its aesthetic value and long-lasting blooms make it the optimal choice for adding elegance and liveliness to environments and outdoor spaces such as flowerbeds, rock gardens, tubs

Stem

Herbaceous stem, the variety has no thorns.

Flower

The flower has a simple, small form with plain petals. It is arranged in small umbel inflorescences. It flowers from early spring to late winter, with a flowering period of between 180 and 200 days. It is not particularly attractive to pollinating insects.

Growth

It shows compact growth, suitable for creating homogeneous groups in flowerbeds or planters.

Plant habit

The characteristic ground cover makes it possible to obtain dense, dense coverage, rich in colour conferred by the abundant and prolonged flowering.

Branching

It has little branching but is balanced overall.

PH

The ideal soil pH is slightly acidic, between 5.8 and 6.5.

Soil preparation

For spring transplanting to a flower bed, the soil must be properly prepared

so that the plant can develop in the best possible way and adapt to the new planting site. In particular, it is advisable to carry out light digging to remove any weeds and bulky stones, proceed by burying organic or chemical fertiliser and breaking up the coarse clods to make them more soft, and finally carefully level the surface.

Read more on the Joyflo blog

Sun exposure

It expresses best vegetative growth and flowering results when exposed in half shade, full sun.

Ideal climate and temperature

The ideal temperature is between 15 and 20 °C; it is also adapted to hot and dry climates.

The vital temperature is between -2 and 30 °C

Use

Appreciated by gardeners, landscapers and gardening enthusiasts for use in

Ornamental environment Outdoor ornamental use Indoor ornamental use

Hardiness

It is highly rustic, adapting to soil and drought conditions not always tolerated by other ornamental species.

Soil

The ideal bedding soil is peaty and well-draining to ensure better development of the root system and, consequently, of the entire plant; for use in pots or planters, a spring plant substrate with peat and perlite is recommended.

Difficulty

Appreciated and widely used as an ornamental also because of its easy crop management, maintenance requires a low level of overall effort.

Growing tips

To improve growth and flowering performance, it is recommended to
Avoid over-watering Keep the substrate dry at low temperatures

Combinations with other plants

It is possible to use it in homogeneous groupings or in compositions with other ornamentals such as Campanula portenschlagiana, Phlox subulata, Pulsatilla vulgaris; the combinations may involve shades of the same colour or an alternation by composing patterns or patterns according to personal fantasy, forming patches of colour or simple, elegant borders.

Planting

When transplanting into beds, it is necessary to correctly space each specimen by means of a suitable planting pattern, so an average density of 25 plants per square metre is recommended, allowing for balanced vegetative growth and, consequently, proportionate and visually pleasing final compositions.

Propagation

Propagation can be by seed or by cuttings.

Watering

Use rainwater, alternatively from the aqueduct, by hand watering or irrigation system. When transplanting, avoid excessive watering which can cause stagnation resulting in root rot and plant death. Afterwards, allow the soil or substrate to dry out slightly between one watering and the next, but prevent it from drying out; do not over-water and do not water the aerial part of the plant in the evening to avoid fungal diseases.

Read more on the Joyflo blog

Fertilising

During the growing season, apply a universal fertiliser for flowering plants to the soil or substrate, at the foot of the plant, to be distributed liquid, i.e. diluted in the irrigation water.

Read more on the Joyflo blog

Pet safety

May be toxic if ingested in certain quantities; consider the specific case.

Edibility for humans

Non-edible.

Toxicity for humans

May be toxic if ingested in certain quantities, avoid intake.

Tip

The plant is suitable for outdoor use but lives very well in bright, indoor environments and does not have great water requirements.