Plant Type

Ground cover, Perennial

 

Height Range

Under 1'

 

Flower Color

Pink, Violet

 

Flower Season

Summer

 

Leaf Color

Light Green, Yellow Green, Yellow

 

Bark Color

n/a

 

Fruit Color

n/a

 

Fruit Season

n/a

Sun

Full

 

Water

Low

 

Growth Rate

Slow

 

Soil Type

Sandy, Clay, Loam, Rocky, Unparticular

 

Soil Condition

Average, Rich, Poor, Well-drained, Dry

 

Soil pH

Neutral, Basic

 

Adverse Factors

n/a

Design Styles

English Cottage, Formal, Mediterranean, Ranch, Spanish

 

Accenting Features

Unusual Foliage

 

Seasonal Interest

Spring, Summer, Fall

 

Location Uses

Entry, Perennial Border, Shrub Border, Foundation, Parking Strip, Patio, Walkways

 

Special Uses

Cut Flowers, Mass Planting, Small Spaces

 

Attracts Wildlife

Butterflies

Another S. byzantina cultivar, 'Primrose Heron' is noted for its unusual foliage color. Dense rosettes of woolly, tongue-shaped leaves emerge chartreuse in spring, mature to silvery-green in summer and reacquire a yellowish-green cast in autumn. This cultivar is grown primarily for its thick, soft, velvety, yellowish-green leaves which typically form a rapidly spreading mat approximately 6 to 8 inches tall and 12 to 18 inches wide. Erect spikes of tiny, purplish-pink flowers appear in summer rising above the foliage to about 12 inches tall. If planted in too much shade, the yellow coloring will be less pronounced. Use as a groundcover or edging plant in sunny borders, along paths, or in parkstrips.

Grow in average, dry to medium, well-drained soil in full sun. Drought tolerant. Will tolerate some light afternoon shade, too much shade, however, may impede leaf drying and promote the onset of disease and general mushiness. Avoid overhead watering. Pick off damaged leaves in the early spring, before new growth emerges. Divide in spring or fall. Spreads by creeping stems that root as they go along the ground and can be aggressive in rich soils or in sites that are over-watered.