Am I Taking Good Care Of My Rockrose Shrub?

Did you planted your rockrose shrub in full sun?

Did you planted your rockrose in well-drained soil?

Did you planted your rockrose somewhere where it can be protected from cold winds and heavy frosts?

Did you water your rockrose weekly during the first growing season?

Do you water your established rockrose regularly?

Do you feed your rockrose regularly?

Do you prune your rockrose lightly to keep it compact and healthy?

Do you keep your rockrose free of pests and diseases?

Plant rockrose shrubs in a location that receives full sun for several hours a day. They will not survive in shady locations.

Rockrose plants grow well in poor quality soils as long as they are well-draining. When choosing a location for your rockrose, try to choose a spot with deep soil so that the rockrose can establish deep and spreading roots. Rocky and sandy environments are fine for rockrose plants.

While rockrose can tolerate heat and high temperatures, they do not do well in cold climates and cannot survive heavy frost. They should be planted in areas that are protected from cold winds and heavy frost as these conditions can damage the plant, impacting the following growing season.

During the first growing season rockrose plants should be watered weekly to help them mature and establish healthy roots. When watering your rockrose be sure to provide a deep, thorough watering that drenches the entire root ball to encourage strong growth.

Rockrose is a drought-tolerant plant that, when established, does not require watering outside of regular rainfall.

Rockrose plants do not require regular fertilizing, except during the first growing season to help them get established. Fertilize once in the early spring with general-purpose, slow-release fertilizer to kick start growth. After they are established they never need fertilizing.

Rockrose plants have a dense, bushy growth habit and require occasional pruning to keep them compact and healthy. They cannot tolerate heavy pruning so maintenance should be kept to a minimum where possible. Rockrose plants should be lightly pruned after they have finished flowering to help preserve the buds for next year’s bloom.

Good job! You are taking good care of your rockrose shrub.

Rockrose shrubs are susceptible to several fungal diseases like botrytis blight, powdery mildew, and verticillium wilt. Prevent botrytis and mildew diseases by ensuring good air circulation around your plant, and always make sure that the soil is disease-free before planting to reduce the chance of verticillium infection. Small insects like aphids may attack rockrose. Deal with them with a strong stream of water, or in severe infestations with insecticidal soap.