Saponaria ocymoides

Saponaria ocymoides is a vigorous, vibrant and award-winning groundcover plant which offers carpet of semi-evergreen foliage which may be retained all year in milder parts of the UK or during milder winters. By contrast this colourful plant is not keen on hot and humid summers so needs a considered planting spot to thrive in our changing climate. Once established, plants will scramble and spread over rocks, walls and raised beds in a delightful way, trailing up to 30cm where opportunity arises. If planted in a rock garden or between paving, then Saponaria ocymoides will beneficially suppress those pesky weeds too. Masses of pink, 5-petalled flowers are produced from June through to August notching colour up to another level. Recognised by the RHS as an outstanding performer with the Award of Garden Merit. Native to the rocky, mountainous slopes of southwestern and central Europe, Saponaria ocymoides is a hardy, semi-evergreen perennial which likes a fertile, well-drained soil in full sun and reaches a height of around 8cm with a spread of 45cm.