Common Name: Raoulia
Genus: Raoulia
Species: australis
Skill Level: Expert
Exposure: Full sun, Partial shade
Hardiness: Hardy
Soil type: Well-drained/light
Height: 1cm
Spread: 30cm
Time to divide plants: March to May
This fascinating ground-cover plant from New Zealand is great for rock features or alpine containers. The mat of tiny overlapping silvery scales resembles lichen creeping over the ground, especially when the flowers appear as a sheen of tiny sulphur-yellow dots round the edges of the plant. Raoulia needs extremely well-drained gritty soil, but not totally dry, with protection from excess winter cold and wet. To be on the safe side, detach small rooted portions from the edge of the parent plant in mid-summer and pot in gritty compost in a cool shady spot, and keep in a cold greenhouse in winter to use as replacements if necessary.
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