I first saw a Lewisia in flower after a friend showed me photos of hers. They were displayed in a collection of terracotta pots, and the flowers were blooming plentifully in the sun. She kindly gave me a couple of offsets from these plants, and I’ve been in love with them ever since.
Lewisias are low-growing perennials that form rosettes of fleshy leaves. The flowers stand up on long stems and can be held singly or in clusters. The colour range is wide and includes shades of pink, red, mauve, white, cream, pale orange and yellow. One of mine has darker stripes on the petals.
Lewisias are tough plants, as long as the soil and the crowns don’t stay wet. They originate in the dry mountain areas of western North America. They can stay potted, as mine are, or planted in rocky crevices in walls or rockeries, where the flowers can feature against the rocks. Make sure they are in a location where excess rain can easily drain away. They like a sunny position.
When planting, ensure the crown of the plant is just above soil level. In pots, you can achieve this by using small stones as mulch on the surface of the soil to keep the leaves away from any moisture. Early spring and autumn are the best times for planting. They mostly flower in spring and early summer, though I’ve had spot flowering throughout the winter.
If you want to propagate Lewisias, the easiest way is to cut offsets from the base of the plant and treat them as cuttings. Keep them in moist sandy soil until roots grow. You can then pot them individually. You can also grow them from seed sown in winter as the seeds need the cold to germinate.
Lewisias are both dry and frost tolerant once they are established. They are hardy and can survive minus temperatures. Cut the spent flower stems to stimulate further flushes and feed the plants with a slow-release fertiliser during spring. The pretty colours of the flowers will reward you.