Orchid Rockrose

Orchid rockrose is the showiest member of the genus, producing flowers six to eight centimeters across, large for a rockrose, in bright pink, each petal carrying a dark red-maroon blotch at the base that looks like it was painted on by hand. The blooms appear three to a cluster through late spring and early summer, creating a display that is bold enough to anchor a border on its own. The plant grows two to four feet tall with evergreen, aromatic foliage and the same tough, Mediterranean constitution that defines the genus.

Orchid rockrose carries the same cultural demands as its relatives: full sun, excellent drainage, no winter waterlogging. In Western Washington, site it on a slope, in a raised planter, or in any spot where water never pools. Five diseases and one pest are tracked, a longer list than the white-flowered species, reflecting greater surveying rather than a weaker plant. Root rot in saturated soils remains the primary killer. Where conditions are right, this is one of the most ornamental drought-tolerant shrubs you can grow in the region. The flower size and color pattern are genuinely distinctive. If your site supports rockrose, orchid rockrose is the one to choose for maximum visual impact.