Mossy Rockfoil "Purple Robe"

Multi Buy

Size Guide
3.5
3.5" Perennial
3 or more $6.00 ea
Regularly: $6.99 ea

Mossy Rockfoil "Purple Robe"

Scott's Nursery Ltd.

$6.99
Title

Bring the enchanting elegance of a misty alpine mountainside straight to your garden! This premium ground cover creates an extraordinarily dense, touchably soft cushion of bright, emerald-green foliage that mimics the lush look of woodland moss. In mid-to-late spring, this rich green carpet explodes with visual drama as hundreds of slender, wiry stems rise above the foliage. Each stem proudly bears a cluster of upward-facing, jewel-toned, cup-shaped flowers in a striking shade of deep carmine-red and reddish-purple, accented by a tiny, glowing white eye at the center. It creates a breathtaking, saturated blanket of spring colour that instantly draws the eye.
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Plant Details

Mature Size:

8" H x 12" W

Zone:

4-9

Watering:

Medium

Type:

Evergreen Perennial

Growth Rate:

Moderate

Light:

Part Sun/Part Shade

Plant Profile

Common Names:

Purple Robe Rockfoil, Mossy Saxifrage, Moss Rockfoil, Arendsii Hybrid Rockfoil

Scientific Name:

Saxifraga x arendsii 'Purple Robe'

Type:

Filler / Ornamental Evergreen Groundcover

Growth Details:

Mature Size: 15–25 cm Height (with flowers) x 25–30 cm Spread (approx. 6–10" H x 10–12" W).

Growth Habit: Low, cushion-to-mound forming mat.

Form: Ground-hugging, compact tufts of finely textured, crinkly leaves.

Growth Rate: Medium growth rate.

Flowering: Profuse, star-shaped, cupped blossoms held on upright, wiry stems.

Flowering Time: Mid-spring to early summer.

Flower Colour: Deep carmine-red to reddish-purple with pale centers.

Environmental Needs:

Exposure: Partial shade to cool full sun. (Requires protection from intense, scorching afternoon summer heat).

Soil Preferences: Rich, humusy, gritty, or sandy soils that stay cool and moist.

Soil Tolerance: Tolerates neutral to slightly alkaline pH levels and urban air pollution, but has zero tolerance for heavy clay or baked, dry earth.

Watering: Moderate and consistent; requires stable moisture levels, particularly during spring and peak summer.

Container Role: A superb "Filler" that forms a dense, plush mound, or a short "Spiller" that beautifully hugs the rims of stone troughs and patio pots.

Special Features:

Deer resistant, rabbit resistant, frost-hardy, urban pollution tolerant, and largely pest free.
Care Guide

Ornamental & Landscape Value

Seasonal Interest:

Bloom Information: Highly showy, vibrant red-purple blossoms that rise above the emerald canopy for several weeks in spring.

Fall/Winter Colour: The flower stems fade out by mid-summer, but the moss-like green foliage remains emerald-green and fully evergreen through autumn and winter.

Garden Value:

An unparalleled choice for filling tight crevices in rock gardens, softening the edges of stone retaining walls, or lining shaded woodland pathways. It provides exquisite year-round texture and makes a fantastic underplanting for taller, shade-loving shrubs.

Wildlife & Human Value:

Wildlife Value: The abundant spring cup-blossoms provide an early-season food source for native bees, hoverflies, and butterflies.

Human Value: Offers a low-growing, non-invasive texture solution for architectural stone paths, alpine troughs, and shade container displays.

Planting & Care Guide

Planting Considerations:

Best Time To Plant: Early spring or early autumn when temperatures are cool and mild.

Spacing: Space individual plants 10 inches (25 cm) apart to encourage them to grow together into a seamless carpet.

Location Tips: Select a site protected from harsh, drying winds and searing sun. Perfect for north- or east-facing sloped rockeries.

Companion Plants: Pairs exquisitely with other shade and rock-loving varieties like Hosta 'Blue Mouse Ears', Astilbe, Heuchera (Coral Bells), and dwarf ferns.

Care:

Plant in a sheltered spot that provides cool morning sun and refreshing afternoon shade. Maintain evenly moist, humus-rich soil, ensuring the roots never completely dry out or sit in stagnant water. Apply a well-balanced, mild organic fertilizer once in early spring to fuel the upcoming flower explosion.

Tolerances:

Deer, rabbits, frost, and shady garden conditions.

Tips For Success:

Core Maintenance: After the summer bloom fades, lightly sprinkle a thin layer of fine sandy grit into the center of the plant crown. This holds essential moisture and prevents the center of the old mat from drying out or dying back.

Pruning: Snip off faded flower stalks down to the cushion base to maintain a neat appearance.

Winter Protection: In regions with harsh, dry winters lacking snow cover, protect the evergreen foliage from winter burn using a light covering of evergreen boughs.
Fruit Profile