Cistanthe Species, Rock Purslane

Planted it in a mixture of sand and gravel. Made in thru 20 degrees @ night, and 55 inches of rain here. Needs good drainage. Took off in...Read More the Spring. Give it room to spread, don't try to cramp it. Supplier said it was hardy to 15 degrees.

I also live in Central Texas and had pretty much the same experience....twice. The first time I purchased a gorgeous hanging basket and ...Read Morehung it over my porch. I blamed the wind when all of the blossoms eventually turned brown and fell off. The second attempt was the following Spring. I purchased several plants and put them in a sunny flowerbed with pretty much the same result. We were in the middle of a drought both years. Maybe I will try again this year; third time's a charm!

Does this plant bloom over a long period of time, or rebloom throughout the Spring-Summer-Fall? I bought one, in full bloom and it was gl...Read Moreorious. The next time I looked it had not one bloom on it, although it still had all the plant parts, so no likely it was bitten off by something..just all the petals were gone. Was hoping someone would report back, or tell me to wait for it to rebloom? If so will it reset blooms this season (it is mid May in Central Texas now).

Thank you for any information!

I got a Calandrinia (aka Cistanthe) cutting from a friend. It rooted easily and I planted it in my succulent bed. After a few months it...Read More was galloping in all directions and threatening to take over the entire large bed. I tore the whole thing out and stuck a few stems into two half-barrel planters, where it has flourished. The lush gray-green foliage drapes beautifully over and down the sides of the pots, and the dainty purple cistus-like flowers on vertical stems form a floating mass above. I throw a bucket of water over them from time to time in the summer, and cut back the stems that are aiming to root themselves in the soil around the half-barrels, but that's pretty much all the care it needs. I root several cuttings a year to give away. We're about 15 miles from the coast in Southern California, and in these conditions I highly recommend this plant for large containers, or for groundcover in beds where it can be confined.

This plant has been heavily used in San Francisco but after two years of spectacular growth and flowering, the plants are dying out quite...Read More dramatically throughout much of the city. It was listed as disease and pest free but something is going on and it doesn't seem to matter whether it was planted near the coast or in a sunny area. The leaves turn a yellow to pinkish color then die, the plant then succumbs quickly. The majority are planted in open areas, little to no water, good air circulation, full sun, great drainage (sandy soils mostly.) Any suggestions?

Central Phoenix -- I have variable luck with Calandrinia spectabilis. But it is so lovely I don't mind growing it as an annual. It is e...Read Moreasily rooted from cuttings. I often lose it to summer heat but it survives winter, including this winter's freeze of 26F. I grow it in partial shade, and it seems to want more sun, but a plant I tried in half day sun did not survive.

I love this plant. So beautiful and whimsical with its continuous magenta blooms. The rosettes at the base doubled in number from sprin...Read Moreg to summer. My only problem has been the deer. They did not bother the plants until late August and they ate them down to the stems. Luckily, leaves are forming along the stem, but I will definitely find a safer place - away from the deer, or plant lavender in front as a deterrent.

This plant is wonderful - carefree and quick to multiply. I believe it is the same plant identified elsewhere as Calandrinia spectabilis.

What a nice addition to any garden - the magenta pink poppy-ish flowers float over a thick carpet of bluegreen echeveria-like foliage dow...Read Moren below.
A word of warning - when Calandrinia is happy - it simply explodes in growth! A plant with one rosette can grow to a clump with 30+ rosettes, 2 to 3 feet in diameter in a single spring and summer...
Growth can be curbed by limiting water, but it responds well to pruning also and you can root the cuttings and give to friends and family - spread the joy.

This is a fantastic plant. It is easily propagated from cuttings. My one cutting stuck in a big planter last fall became the photo uplo...Read Moreaded here by July. It gets West sun and have only watered it once all summer (but it's been a cool summer in Culver City, CA).

For people who live in dry, cool climates like coastal California, this plant is a real winner. I can't see why it isn't planted more oft...Read Moreen! The succulent blue-green foliage is very attractive at all times, and the purple-magenta flowers seem to float above the plant for months on end. Don't deadhead! Each stem keeps producing flowers for many weeks. Calandrinias need cool summers and excellent drainage, lots of sun and little water. This site recommends spacing 12 inches apart but my plants quickly grew to 2-3 feet wide. Pruned branch tips root easily in moist sand.

This Chilean Native species grows as well in sandy soils at the coastal areas (where it blooms almost year-round) as inlads, at the foot ...Read Moreof the Andes Mountains or in the Atacama Desert after the rare occurance of rainfall (where it blooms during Spring), always in full sun positions. Adecuate for xeriscaping. Good drainage is a must.

The fleshy leaves from an attractive basal rosette, with 50/60 cm long flower stems. Flowers can reach a diameter of up to 6 cm.

This plant can be propagated either from seeds or from separating rootballs.

Sow outdoors is Autumn on a mix of equal parts of river sand and regular garden soil. cover this mixture with a thin layer of pure sand, scatter your seeds and cover the thinly with more sand. Plants grown from seeds can take up to 3 years to bloom.

Separate rootballs and leave them in light shade for a few days, until a 'callus' has formed where it was separated from the rest of the plant. Only then they are ready to be planted. The new plants will bloom a year later.