The rock carnation (Petrorhagia saxifraga) is not only a recommendation for rock gardens, thanks to its beautiful pink flowers it also embellishes numerous other garden concepts and is relatively easy to care for.
In addition, the nectar-rich flowers of Petrorhagia saxifraga are also a welcome source of food for beneficial insects. Bees, bumblebees and butterflies in particular like to visit the rock carnation in summer, which makes the beautiful perennial ideal for beneficial insects in the garden. The clumps of the rock carnation are somewhat reminiscent of a mixture of conifers, gypsophila and mallow. With the latter, the rock carnation combines its dreamy, plate-shaped flowers, which are slightly notched at the edge. In the middle, the petals, like those of the mallow, have conspicuous veins that contrast with the color of the flowers. This is mostly white or pink, while the radiating flower pattern usually appears dark violet.
The rock carnation, on the other hand, gets its bushy, clumpy growth from the gypsophila, which, thanks to its filigree and richly branched shoots, looks particularly airy and light. The shoot growth is often referred to as sparse or sparse, which gives the perennial a rustic to Mediterranean appearance. The plant's needle-like foliage also makes it an interesting neighbor planting for Mediterranean plants with similarly robust leaf needles, such as thyme or rosemary. But the carnation plant also comes into its own in other plant combinations.
| Rock Pink (Petrorhagia saxifraga) | |
|---|---|
| Growth: | spherical, prostrate |
| Growth: | 15 - 25 cm |
| Growth: | 30 - 50 cm |
| Special Features: | hardy, insect friendly |
| Location: | Sun |
| Floor: | dry, well drained, low humus and nutrient requirement |
Rock carnation in the garden
Also known as Saxifrage Rock Pink, Rock Pink lives up to its name. Originally native to Europe and the Middle East, it prefers to populate Jura rock and the rock band communities of mountainous regions such as the Alps orof the Mediterranean maquis. Petrorhagia saxifraga is therefore perfect for the Mediterranean or rock garden. The carnation plant also does incredibly well in the steppe garden or heath garden or the rock heath. Because their rustic appearance reliably gives barren and stony garden concepts that certain something.
The natural distribution area of the rock pink gives gravel heaps, stony ground and gravel surfaces as optimal growth grounds. Any stone structures in the garden are made for the culture of Petrorhagia saxifraga. Because of its cushion-like growth, the rock carnation embellishes bare bed and stone surfaces in particular. Specifically
✅ Stone Roofs✅ Roof Gardens
✅ Wall Crowns✅ Dry stone walls
✅ Stone stairs
✅ Stone troughsbenefit from planting with Petrorhagia saxifraga. Since the clumps of the plant only grow to a height of 30 to 50 cm and grow prostrate, they are also ideal as groundcover.
Petrorhagia saxifraga likes to thrive in dry grassland communities of the orders Sedo-Scleranthetalia and Festuco-Brometea in the wild. The rock carnation likes to thrive between classic dry grass plants like
✿ Ball herbs
✿ Stonecrop
✿ Iridescent or silver grass
✿ Fescue species✿ Scabious Knapweed
✿ Burnet
✿ and Meadow SageThe rock carnation also likes mosses and other cushion perennials such as goose cress, dwarf bellflowers or wild thyme as neighboring plants. And even sweet clover and mullein make wonderful planting partners.
» Tip: The rock carnation is an ideal starting plant for newcomers to gardening. Because it doesn't need much care and is extremely frugal when it comes to location needs, you can hardly go wrong with it.
Rock Carnation - location and planting
The main distribution area of Petrorhagia saxifraga is in the Mediterranean area and in the rocky steppes of the Caucasus. Accordingly, the rock carnation prefers sunny and dry locations. In addition, the substrate should reflect the barren and stony characteristics of the areas of origin. Well-drained, sandy-gravelly or gravelly-loamy soils with a low humus and nutrient content are therefore the best choice. The pH of the soil should be in the alkaline range between 8 and 10. A certain lime content of the soil is desirable.
➔ Planting instructions step by step
1. Step - best time
It is best to plant the rock carnation in late spring, after the ice saints.The plant loves sun and warmth, which is why it adapts particularly quickly to the location after the last late frosts. Alternatively, planting can also be carried out in early autumn, although establishing the location here could take a little longer.
2. Step - loosen floorLoosen the site substrate before planting and enrich it well with gravel. Gravel drainage to improve water drainage is also recommended. Some lime can be spent at the site to thin out acidic soil.
3. Step - Observe planting distance
Rock pink reaches a growth width of 30 to 50 cm. The planting distance should therefore be about 40 cm. Use no more than 6 to 8 plants per m². Plantings of the rock carnation in small groups of 10 each are particularly attractive.
Watering and fertilizing rock carnation
Since the rock carnation prefers dry locations, watering is rarely necessary. Natural precipitation is therefore completely sufficient in most cases. The soil should only be watered once immediately after planting.
An additional fertilization is not necessary with Petrorhagia saxifraga. On the contrary, the plant is happy about barren locations, as it loves humus and nutrient-poor soils. Only green roofs benefit from the annual release of a slow-release fertilizer for flowering plants in spring.
We recommend this organic fertilizer with natural ingredients:
Pruning and propagating rock carnations
The flowering period of rock pinks is from July to September. The plant does not need to be pruned during this time. However, you can take particularly beautiful specimens as cut flowers for the vase. Propagation can be done by sowing seeds.
➔ Propagation by self-seeding
After the flowering period in summer and early autumn, the rock carnation develops small capsule fruits. The plant likes to sow itself in the garden.
➔ Propagation by preculture
You can also collect the fruits and sow them in a controlled manner. Alternatively, seeds can be bought commercially. The pre-cultivation of Petrorhagia saxifraga seeds is then possible indoors from March. Cultivation in a pot is also recommended, whereby the germination temperature should be 15 to 20 °C. Just press the seed lightly and then water it well. Germination should then occur within 4 to 8 weeks. In May the young plants are ready to be transplanted outdoors. there isa planting distance of approx. 25 cm should be observed.
➔ Propagation by direct seeding
Since the rock carnation needs warm germination temperatures, sowing outdoors is not recommended before April. It is better to wait until after the ice saints so that late frosts do not impair germination. As with pre-breeding, sowing takes place at a maximum seeding depth of 0.5 cm. After germination, the young plants are pricked out again so that they have enough space in the garden to develop.
Winter Rock Carnation
Petrorhagia saxifraga is hardy down to -23 °C and is therefore actually extremely frost-resistant. However, it does not tolerate icy melt water, which is why the plant should be covered with brushwood or bark mulch in winter. Plants used for green roofs are protected by withered clumps and possibly some leaf cover.
Diseases and Pests
No particular signs of damage to the rock carnation are known.