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Helianthemum nummularium 'Fire Dragon'

fire dragon sun rose

Species native to Europe and western Asia across British Isles, central Europe, Mediterranean basin, and Caucasus on calcareous grasslands, rocky hillsides, and chalk downs; 'Fire Dragon' cultivar is a garden selection for vivid orange-scarlet flower color

Attracts Pollinators Attracts Butterflies Deer Resistant Drought Tolerant Container Friendly

SunFull Sun

WaterVery Low · drought-tolerant

HardinessZones 5–8

Overview

Helianthemum nummularium 'Fire Dragon' is a sun rose in the rockrose family (Cistaceae) reaching 6–10 inches (15–25 cm) tall and spreading 18–24 inches (45–60 cm) wide in a low evergreen mat. Vivid orange-scarlet to copper-orange crinkled-paper-textured flowers 1 inch (2.5 cm) across with a yellow center boss of stamens appear in profusion from May through July. The orange-scarlet color runs the warmest in the Helianthemum spp. color range — hotter than the carmine-red of 'Ben Hope' and more orange than the cerise of 'Cerise Queen' — and the cultivar name 'Fire Dragon' references this intense flame-like orange. Each individual flower lasts one day, but rapid bud succession maintains a continuous display over weeks across the bloom window. Small gray-green narrow evergreen leaves form the dense low mat. Like all sun roses, the flowers open in sunshine and close on overcast days; a sustained cloudy period reduces the apparent floral display even when many buds are mature on the plant. Lean sharply drained alkaline soil in full sun is essential. In wet heavy or fertile conditions, the mat opens and the plant declines within 1–2 seasons. Shearing after the main bloom keeps the mat dense and may produce a lighter second flush in late August or early September. Deer avoid the foliage. Not known to be toxic to pets or humans.

Native Range

The species Helianthemum nummularium is native to Europe and western Asia, occurring across the British Isles, central Europe, the Mediterranean basin, and the Caucasus on calcareous grasslands, rocky hillsides, and chalk downs at low to moderate elevations. The 'Fire Dragon' cultivar is a garden selection for the vivid orange-scarlet flower color.

Suggested Uses

Used in rock gardens, along walls, at the front of dry borders, and in containers of 3 gallons (11 liters) or more. The hot orange-scarlet color creates a warm color anchor among blue and silver companions such as Nepeta spp. (catmint), Lavandula spp. (lavender), and Stachys byzantina (lamb's ear). The evergreen mat adds year-round structure to dry-garden plantings between the spring bloom flushes of other rock-garden perennials. Cool-summer regions produce the most persistent populations; hot humid summer climates shorten the cultivar's lifespan to 2–3 years.

How to Identify

Habit is low spreading evergreen mat at 6–10 inches (15–25 cm) tall and 18–24 inches (45–60 cm) wide. Foliage is small gray-green narrow evergreen leaves on woody stems. Flowers are vivid orange-scarlet to copper-orange single crinkled-paper 1 inch across with a yellow stamen center; flowers open in sunshine and close on overcast days. Compared with Helianthemum nummularium 'Ben Hope' (carmine-red sun rose), flower color runs orange-scarlet warmer rather than carmine-red cooler; compared with Helianthemum nummularium 'Cerise Queen' (cerise double sun rose), flowers run single with a visible yellow stamen center rather than double-petaled obscuring the stamens, and color runs orange-scarlet rather than cerise pink-red; compared with the rockrose genus Cistus spp. (the larger shrubby cistuses), plant size runs 6–10 inches mat-forming rather than 24–48 inches shrub-forming, and the flowers run smaller at 1 inch versus 1.5–3 inches. The combination of low evergreen mat, vivid orange-scarlet single flowers with yellow stamen centers, and the sun-tracking flower opening behavior identifies the cultivar in rock garden plantings.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height6" - 10"

Width/Spread1'6" - 2'

Reaches mature size in approximately 2 years

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~6 weeks

Spring Summer

Flowering from May through July across approximately 6 weeks. Individual flowers last one day; continuous succession of new buds maintains the display across the bloom window. Shearing immediately after the main bloom may produce a lighter second flush in late August or early September. The flower-opening behavior is light-sensitive — flowers open in direct sunshine and close on overcast days, so the apparent display depends on weather conditions during the bloom window.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

Vivid orange-scarlet to copper-orange with a yellow stamen center; single crinkled-paper-textured 1 inch across

Foliage Description

Gray-green; small narrow evergreen leaves on woody stems

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun

Requires 6-12 hours of direct sunlight daily

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range6.5 - 8.0(Alkaline)

357912

Soil Types

loam sand rocky

Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Very Low

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

1-2 years

Drought Tolerance

Drought tolerant when established

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Plant in full sun with at least 6 hours of direct light. Lean sharply drained neutral to alkaline soil at pH 6.5–8.0. No fertilization — rich conditions promote loose floppy growth and shorten plant lifespan. Water sparingly; drought-tolerant once established. Shear by one-third immediately after the main bloom in July or early August to keep the mat dense and to encourage rebloom; without this annual shearing, the center opens within 1–2 years and the plant declines. The species runs unsuited to wet heavy or acidic soil; in such positions, raised beds with grit-amended soil run the practical workaround.

Pruning

Shear the entire plant by one-third immediately after the main bloom in July or early August. Without annual post-bloom shearing, the mat opens at the center and the plant declines within 1–2 years. No other seasonal pruning is needed.

Pruning Schedule

summer