The Plant Finder's Encyclopedia
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Helianthemum nummularium - Common sun rose, Rock roseThis is a low growing plant with a loosely sprawling habit that is smothered in yellow flowers during spring. The blooms are simple, small and rounded. The foliage is green with slender leaves. Cut the plant back hard after flowering to induce a second flush in the autumn. In the wild it is found in open, dry or rocky places, usually on alkaline soil, and it is pollinated by bees and other insects. It is used effectively in a rock garden, when hanging over a wall or spreading across paving. The plant is widespread across Britain and Europe and there are many colourful cultivars. It stands around 30cm (12in) in height and it can spread to 1m (3ft) if left to its own devices. |
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Aubrieta 'Belisha Beacon' - Aubretia, Rock roseThis variety looks really good when in full flower, with magenta red flowers and grey green foliage that complements them beautifully. It's great in spring, especially on a rockery or hanging over a wall. After flowering it needs a good trim to ensure that it doesn't straggle. The foliage of this variety, soft and pleasing, makes it a particularly good foil for plants that flower later in the season such as thymes, and which you might use to carpet bare or rocky places. |
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Cistus × argenteus 'Peggy Sammons' also known as Cistus 'Peggy Sammons' - Rock rose, Sun roseThis pretty sun rose is generally considered to be quite hardy. This makes a spreading shrub with grey-green leaves which complement the delightful bright rose pink flowers. These have a somewhat crumpled appearance that gives the flower a look of innocence that is quite appealing. Cherish this with a warm site where it will receive plenty of sunshine. |
| 3 photos |
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Cistus salviifolius - Rock roseThis is a low growing shrub which spreads itself widely. It has grey-green leaves, rather downy and sage-like in appearance, and hairy on their underside. There are large white flowers with yellow spots at their base that appear in the spring and which come from attractive red sepals which are a feature before the flowers open. This is a plant of the Greek hillsides where its flowers illuminate the scrubby lands. It is quite a hardy form and looks elegant when in full flower. |
| 2 photos |
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Cistus × aguilarii - Rock rose, Sun roseThis stunning sun rose has a vigorous habit and very large, rounded, snowy white flowers which are gold at the centre. The flowers are borne amongst broadly linear, dark green leaves that have wavy ripply edges. They are handsome to the eye and quite gummy to the touch. The flowerbuds are rose pink and sit, plump and rounded as berries, making a desirable hors d'oeuvres before the main show. This is generally considered to be quite a hardy cistus though it does not like a windy site. |
| 5 photos |
Searching the Encyclopedia
There are two methods for searching the database: by Plant Search for all or part of a plant name or by using the A-Z of Plants. Both methods have advantages for different types of search.
Plant Search
Type all or part of a plant's common or scientific name. You can also paste in a name copied from elsewhere. You don't have to use capitals or complete words. Plant Finder's Encyclopedia assumes you are looking for words beginning with what you type so don't add a 'wild card' asterisk. This search looks through the alternative names (synonyms) as well. So clem finds all the clematis and daff all the daffodils in the encyclopaedia. Use the drop down box to limit the search to Latin or common names and check the 'match anywhere in name' box if you want to find a string inside a name.
Remember, you may get a few 'extras' with your selection: William will find a number of plants with 'William' as part of the variety name plus a number of Camellia x williamsii and some sweet williams.
A-Z of Plants
Click a letter in the A-Z register to see a list of generic names (eg. Acer, Geranium, Rhododendron, etc) and frequently used common names (eg daylily, heather, pink). Click a name to see a list of varieties represented in the encyclopedia. Click a variety name to see the entry for this plant. The big advantage of this method is no typing is required.
See plant details
When you have a list, and you want to see more information about a plant, click the plant name or the thumbnail image to see details. Where there is more than one image for a plant, run the mouse over the thumbnails to change the main image. The thumbnails are arranged in date order and photo location details appear above each main image.
Image licensing
Use of the Plant Finder's Encyclopedia is free, but the text or images are copyright and may not be reused without permission. If you would like to reproduce images, check the 'add' box under images, click the 'add selected images to pick list' button and use the Pick list screen to send your list to us for an estimate.
© 2003-2010 Plant Press Ltd and Susan A Tindall - These texts and images are copyright and may not be reproduced in any form without prior written permission.
For an inexpensive licence and a high resolution copy of these or other images on this site, contact Plant Press.
For technical support please email: john@plantpress.com or phone 01273 476151 during working hours.
We have used the alternative spellings 'Encyclopedia' (originally US) and 'Encyclopaedia'. Encyclopedia and encyclopaedia are used interchangeably so that searchers from all parts will be able to find us.
A-Z of Plants
Other content
- Dictionary of Common Names
- The Free Online Dictionary Listing over 30,000 Plant Name Pairs. Botanical and common plant names.
- Gardening with Wildlife
- The New online version of Gardening with Wildlife in Mind from Natural England