Siskiyou lewisia

Sun

Full sun in cool climates; morning sun and afternoon shade where summers are hot.

Water

Water moderately during active growth, allowing the soil to dry slightly between waterings. Keep much drier in winter; persistent wetness is more dangerous than cold.

Soil

Very sharply drained, gritty soil, preferably slightly acidic to neutral. Avoid heavy clay and sites that collect winter water.

Height

0.5-1 ft (0.15-0.3 m), including flower stems

Spread

0.5-1 ft (0.15-0.3 m)

Flowers

Spring to early summer, sometimes repeating later; pink, rose, salmon, orange, yellow or white, often with contrasting stripes.

Foliage

Evergreen rosettes of thick, smooth, spoon-shaped leaves, sometimes with wavy or toothed edges.

Growth

Slow to moderate

Care needed

Medium

• Pollinators
• Low allergen

Northern hemisphere months. In Australia, shift them by six.

Difficulty

Moderate

Toughness

Needs looking after

Pick your zone, country, light and whether you have pets.

1. Planting day

   0.7 ft (0.22 m)

   full size

About 4 years to full size.

From a typical nursery size, at an average rate for this kind of plant. A rule of thumb, not a forecast.

Cats and dogs

Safe

Native to

the US

Growth rate

Slow

• Plant the crown slightly above the soil surface, preferably tilted into a slope or rock crevice so water drains away.
• Use a gritty, free-draining compost in a container with unobstructed drainage holes.
• Water the soil rather than the rosette; let excess water drain away completely.
• Apply a light, dilute balanced feed in spring; avoid heavy feeding.
• Top-dress with grit rather than moisture-retaining organic mulch, and shelter containers from prolonged winter rain.

Pruning. Cut spent flower stems back to their base after flowering, unless saving seed. Remove dead leaves carefully when dry, without damaging the crown.

Early spring

Remove dead leaves and check that grit and drainage holes are not clogged.

Spring

Plant or repot into sharply drained soil, keeping the crown above the surrounding surface.

Spring

Give a light feed as new growth and flower stems develop.

Late spring to early summer

Remove faded flower stems, or leave a few to collect seed.

Summer

Water when the root zone begins to dry and provide afternoon shade during hot spells.

Autumn

Clear fallen leaves from rosettes and move pots out of persistent rain.

Winter

Keep crowns dry and check for rot during mild, wet weather.

• Tuck into sloping rock crevices, where flowers rise above the stone and crowns shed rain.
• Plant in an alpine trough with dwarf saxifrages and houseleeks for contrasting rosette shapes.
• Use in small terracotta pots on a sheltered patio, bringing the flowers close enough to inspect.
• Place at the front of a raised gravel bed with low-growing alpine plants, away from vigorous neighbours.

Garden styles it suits: Alpine rock garden, Mountain lodge, Dry gravel garden, Small-space and Pacific Northwest woodland.

Plant it with: Houseleeks, Dwarf saxifrages, Alpine pinks, Creeping thyme and Dwarf stonecrops.

Wildlife: Flowers provide nectar and pollen for visiting bees and other insects, although this small plant offers limited habitat.

• Crown and root rot: prevent standing water, keep soil away from the crown and provide winter rain shelter; discard plants with extensively rotted crowns.
• Slugs and snails: inspect around rosettes and pots after dark, remove hiding places and use suitable slug controls if needed.
• Aphids on flower stems: wipe off small colonies or use an insecticidal soap labelled for ornamental plants, avoiding open flowers.
• Heat stress and leaf scorch: provide afternoon shade and keep pots away from heat-reflecting walls in hot climates.

Not known to be toxic to people, cats, dogs or horses. Species-specific safety information is limited, and no part should be treated as food.

• Bitterroot (Lewisia rediviva)

  Has narrow, almost cylindrical leaves that usually die back before its large pink or white flowers open; Siskiyou lewisia retains broad, flat leaf rosettes.

• Tweedy's lewisia (Lewisiopsis tweedyi)

  Usually has larger, broader, fleshy leaves and fewer, larger cream, peach or pink flowers; Siskiyou lewisia generally carries more flowers in branched clusters.

Lewisia honours the American explorer Meriwether Lewis, while Siskiyou refers to the mountain region where this plant grows.

Propagation. Sow fresh seed in gritty compost and expose it to a cool winter period; germination can be uneven. Detach offsets in spring only when they have their own roots. Seedlings from garden hybrids may differ in flower colour from their parents.

Accepted botanical name

Lewisia cotyledon

In the US and Canada

Native in the lower 48 states.

Native range

California and Oregon.

Sources: GBIF (CC BY 4.0), USDA PLANTS and Trefle (CC BY 4.0). The care and design notes are LandscapeGPT's own.