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Helianthemum nummularium

Common name:	Common Rockrose	Family:	Cistaceae
Author:	(L.)Mill.	Botanical references:	11, 17, 200
Synonyms:	Helianthemum vulgare (Gaertn.), Helianthemum chamaecistus (Mill.)
Known Hazards:	None known
Range:	Europe, including Britain, south and east to Spain and Iran in W. Asia.
Habitat:	Basic grassland and scrub, to 600 metres[17].
Edibility Rating (1-5):	0	Medicinal Rating (1-5):	1

Other Possible Synonyms:	From various places across the web, may not be correct. See below.
	Cistus lusitanicus[G] Cistus nummularius[G] H. mutabile[G]
Other Common Names:	From various places around the Web, may not be correct. See below.
	Common Rock-rose [L], Geel Zonneroosje [D], Rock-rose [H],
Epithets:	From a Dictionary of Botanical Epithets
	nummularium = coin shaped;
Systematics:	From a USDA Plants Database
	Order: Violales. Rock-rose family

Physical Characteristics

An evergreen shrub growing to 0.5m by 1m at a fast rate. It is hardy to zone 5. It is in leaf all year, in flower from June to September. The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by Insects. The plant is self-fertile. We rate it 0/5 for edibility and 1/5 for medicinal use.

The plant prefers light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. The plant prefers acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It requires moist soil.

Habitats and Possible Locations

Woodland, Sunny Edge, Dappled Shade, Walls, Ground Cover.

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal Uses

Disclaimer

Bach.

The plant is used in Bach flower remedies - the keywords for prescribing it are 'Terror', 'Panic' and 'Extreme fright'[209]. It is also one of the five ingredients in the 'Rescue remedy'[209].

Other Uses

Ground cover.

A prostrate growing plant, it can be used as a ground cover[11].

Cultivation details

Requires an open sunny position in a light well-drained soil with a pH between 5.5 and 8[200].
Plants are hardy to at least -10°c[200].
A vigorous plant suitable for the rock garden, crevices in walls or gravel beds[200]. Plants are short-lived, though, soon becoming leggy or sparse, and require fairly frequent replacement[200].
The flowers only open in bright sunshine[200].
Plants resent root disturbance and should be placed in their permanent positions as soon as possible[200].
A polymorphic species[11], there are some named forms that have been selected for their ornamental value[200].
Plants are generally pest and disease-free[200]. Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[200].

Propagation

Seed - sow spring in a greenhouse. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts.
Cuttings of half-ripe wood, 6 - 8cm with a heel, late summer in a sandy soil in a frame[200].

Cultivars

'': There are some named forms for this species, but these have been developed for their ornamental value and not for their other uses. Unless you particularly require the special characteristics of any of these cultivars, we would generally recommend that you grow the natural species for its useful properties. We have, therefore, not listed the cultivars in this database[K].

Suppliers

For more details of plant suppliers please see our Suppliers Page which lists many more places to look.

Web References

[G] Data (Common Names, Uses, Distribution) from the USDA/ARS NPGS's GRIN taxonomic database.
[G] Data (Common Names, Uses, Distribution) from the USDA/ARS NPGS's GRIN taxonomic database.
[HP] Links, Photos, Suppliers from Hortiplex Plant Database

References for Helianthemum vulgare (a possible synonym).

[H] Details of Scandanavian and European Common names in Henriette's names database

References for the family Cistaceae.

To be included in the Flora of China.

See the PFAF Links Pages for other sources.

Also try Photos and info from the The Plants Database which has 14,000 images.

References

[11] Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981
A classic with a wealth of information on the plants, but poor on pictures.

[17] Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press 1962
A very comprehensive flora, the standard reference book but it has no pictures.

[200] Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.

[209] Chancellor. P. M. Handbook of the Bach Flower Remedies C. W. Daniel Co. Ltd. 1985 ISBN 85207 002 0
Details the 38 remedies plus how and where to prescribe them.

Readers Comments

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Plant information taken from the Plants For A Future - Species Database. Copyright (c) 1997-2003.
WEB search engine by Rich Morris - Home Page- Contact Info
Blagdon Cross, Ashwater, Beaworthy, Devon, EX21 5DF, UK.
Website: www.pfaf.org Phone: 0845 458 4719/_44(0) 1208 872963

This page (UK) http://www.comp.leeds.ac.uk/cgi-bin/pfaf/arr_html?Helianthemum+nummularium
This page (US) http://www.ibiblio.org/pfaf/cgi-bin/arr_html?Helianthemum+nummularium

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