Umbilicus rupestris
wall pennywort
Western and southern Europe, Mediterranean
Overview
Umbilicus rupestris is a perennial succulent herb of the stonecrop family, growing 4-16 inches (10-40 cm) tall from a small rounded tuber. The fleshy, rounded leaves are 0.8-2.5 inches (2-6 cm) across, peltate, with the stalk joined at the center of the underside, creating a navel-like dimple that gives the plant its common names. From late spring through summer a slender flowering spike rises and carries many pendent, tubular flowers 0.3-0.4 inch (8-10 mm) long in greenish-cream to pale pink, hanging along the upper stem. The leaves appear in autumn and winter, are at their fullest in spring, and often wither by the time the plant flowers in summer. The tuber lets it survive dry summer dormancy. It grows in shaded rock crevices, old walls, and banks, rooting into thin pockets of soil. It tolerates drought and poor, stony ground but needs the moisture and shade of crevices and fails in open, sunny, exposed sites.
Native Range
Native to western and southern Europe and the Mediterranean region, from the British Isles and France south to Iberia, Italy, and North Africa. It grows on shaded walls, rock outcrops, and banks, often in mild, damp coastal and western areas.Suggested Uses
Grown in rock gardens, crevice plantings, shaded walls, and containers, set 6-10 inches (15-25 cm) apart. It naturalizes in damp stonework and on shaded banks where little else roots.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height4" - 1'4"
Width/Spread4" - 8"
Reaches mature size in approximately 2 years
Bloom Information
Detailed Descriptions
Foliage Description
greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Tolerates up to 4 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
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Grows in part to full shade on free-draining, gritty soil and in rock or wall crevices, at a pH of 5.5-7.5. It needs moisture in winter and spring but tolerates dry summer dormancy, when the tuber rests. Hot, open, sunny sites and heavy, wet soil cause it to fail. It is grown from seed or offsets sown into crevices and self-sows where conditions suit. Once rooted in a shaded crevice it needs little care or water. Rich soil and deep shade with poor air movement encourage rot.Pruning
No pruning is needed. Spent flowering spikes can be removed after seed set to tidy the plant or to limit self-sowing. Withered leaves can be cleared during summer dormancy.Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 1 gallons