FNPS Plant Database
Crocanthemum spp.
rockrose
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Nomenclature
Common Name:
rockrose
Synonym(s):
Helianthemum spp.
Genus species:
Crocanthemum spp.
Family:
Cistaceae
Plant Specifics
Form:
flower
Size:
0.5-1.5 ft tall; clonal
Life Span:
long-lived perennial
Flower Color:
yellow
Fruit Color:
white
Phenology:
winter dormant
Noted For:
Landscaping
Recommended Uses:
Wildflower garden. Rarely grown, mostly small wildflowers. Plant near the front of the garden so that they will be seen.
Considerations:
Availability:
Propagation:
Seed. Some can be grown by dividing clumps.
Light:
Moisture Tolerance:
Always Flooded------------------------------------------------Extremely Dry
-|----|----|----|----|----|----|----
<------------------------>
Somewhat moist, no flooding ---to--- Very long very dry periods
Salt Water Flooding Tolerance:
Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water
Salt Spray/Salty Soil Tolerance:
Some tolerance to salty wind but not direct salt spray
Soil or Other Substrate:
Sand
Soil pH:
slightly acidic to neutral
Suitable to Grow In:
8A, 8B, 9A, 9B, 10A 10B
USDA zones are based on the average annual extreme minimum winter temperature.

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Ecology
Wildlife:
The primary pollinator is bees, including bumblebees, though at least for some species, flies and beetles visit some Crocanthemum species.
Native Habitats:
Mostly in open, relatively dry sites.
Natural Range in Florida:
Visit the USF Libraries Atlas of Florida Plants
Comments:
Ethnobotany:
General Comments:
Choose a species that grows naturally in your area.
Citations:
Rodriguez-Perez, J. 2005. Breeding System, Flower Visitors and Seedling Survival of Two Endangered Species of Helianthemum (Cistaceae), Annals of Botany, Volume 95, Issue 7, June 2005, Pages 1229–1236, https://doi.org/10.1093/aob/mci137 , accessed 2025
Rare Species Guide: Crocanthemum canadense. https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/rsg/profile.html?action=elementDetail&selectedElement=PDCIS02030 , accessed 2025. Minnesota Dept. of Natural Resources, St. Paul, MN.
Wunderlin, R. P., B. F. Hansen, A. R. Franck, and F. B. Essig. 2021. Atlas of Florida Plants. https://florida.plantatlas.usf.edu/ , accessed 2025. Institute for Systematic Botany, University of South Florida, Tampa.
