Baby sun rose is an evergreen ground cover with an abundance of cheerful red flowers. Here’s everything you need to know about planting and caring for this delightful, shade-loving South African native.
Baby sun rose (Mesembryanthemum cordifolium) is as charming as its name implies. The fleshy, bright green, heart-shaped leaves sparkle in the sun. Cheerful bright pink or red aster-like flowers bloom almost all year long.
This ground cover also goes by the apt name “hearts and flowers.”
While not ideal for every spot in the desert garden, it definitely has its niche. Unlike most plants that grow in the desert, baby sun rose prefers part or dappled shade and a moderate amount of water, especially during summer months.
This makes it a great choice to plant under trees or on the north side of a building. It forms a dense mat that suppresses weed growth.
Its flowers attract bees, butterflies, and occasionally hummingbirds when planted in containers or hanging baskets.
Despite its soft, fleshy leaves, it’s not a favorite of deer or rabbits, and is considered to be javelina resistant.
Why I Like This Plant
- Thrives in desert shade
- Cheerful flowers spring through fall
- Grows fast
- Forms a weed-smothering mat
- Low water use, low maintenance
Things to Watch Out For
The average lifespan of baby sun rose is only 2 to 3 years, however, it’s easy to propagate new plants from cuttings.
It’s not suitable for areas that get foot traffic. These tender plants are easily crushed or broken.
For a plant that looks delicate, it’s shocking to learn that in some conditions it can be invasive. (More on that later.)
Be sure to read the nursery label before buying this plant, since some cultivars are hardier than others.
Optimal Growing Conditions
If you’re thinking of adding baby sun rose to your garden, you need to find a suitable place that will keep your plant healthy and looking good… while minimizing maintenance for you.
Here are the key factors to keep in mind.
Temperature
Baby sun rose should be grown in USDA Hardiness Zones 9 – 11. It tolerates desert heat and is cold-hardy down to around 25℉.
Most plants sold in nurseries are the ‘Red Apple’ hybrid. It can survive temperatures up to 115°F, but is not frost-hardy.
Sun Exposure
Baby sun rose performs best in part shade. Consider planting under a tree or on the north side of a garden wall or building. It does well when grown in a north-facing planter.
Size and Growth Rate
Baby sun rose is a fast-growing, but small ground cover. It only reaches 6 inches tall and spreads to 2 to 3 feet across. However, it easily roots when its stems come in contact with moist soil, creating large mats.
It makes an excellent container plant that can cascade several feet.
Soil
Baby sun rose prefers well-draining sandy or loamy soils of neutral pH. This means rocky, alkaline desert soil is not ideal. So if you plan to grow this in the ground, you’ll get the best results if you amend your soil.
Baby Sun Rose:
The Essentials
| Common Names | Baby sun rose, heart and flowers |
| Scientific Name | Mesembryanthemum cordifolium |
| Origin | South Africa |
| Plant Type | Semi-evergreen ground cover |
| USDA Zones | Zones 9 – 11 |
| Cold Hardiness | To 25℉ |
| Flower Color | Red, pink |
| Flower Season | Spring, summer, fall |
| Mature Size | 6″ high x 3’ wide |
| Growth Rate | Fast |
| Sun Tolerance | Part shade |
| Water Needs | Low to moderate |
| Pests & Diseases | Root rot if overwatered |
| Garden Friendly | Non-toxic, no thorns |
| Wildlife | May attract butterflies, hummingbirds, bees Critter resistant |
How to Plant
The rule of thumb when planting any ground cover in the desert is to dig a hole twice as wide as the root ball but no deeper. For best results, amend the soil with compost or a commercial soil mix since baby sun rose prefers moist, neutral soil.
Top with organic mulch rather than gravel, which helps to retain moisture, increase soil fertility, and reduce alkalinity. This will also allow your plant to grow new roots where it touches the ground, so that it can create a wide expanse.
When to Plant
The best time to plant baby sun rose is in the fall. This gives it three seasons to grow roots and get established before the following summer.
The second best time is in spring, the earlier the better. This still it time to get established before the intense heat of June arrives.
How to Care for Baby Sun Rose
Whether you’ve recently planted baby sun rose or have existing plants in your yard, here’s how to take care of them to keep them healthy and looking their best.
How to Water
Once you’ve got your baby rose in the ground, watering is your most immediate concern. The University of Arizona recommends watering newly planted ground covers every 2 to 3 days for the first 2 to 4 weeks.
Since it’s not a desert plant, it might need more water than other plants in your yard. Water every 10 to 14 days in the spring, fall, and winter, and every 2 to 5 days in the summer.
How much water you should give your plant with each watering depends on the diameter of your plant and will change as it grows. You can use this chart as a guide.
| 1 foot diameter | .5 gallons |
| 2 feet diameter | 2 gallons |
| 3 feet diameter | 3.5 gallons |
If you’re growing baby sun rose in a pot, be sure to let it dry out completely between waterings to avoid root rot.
Should You Fertilize?
Most desert plants don’t need fertilizing, but since ground covers are often planted near other plants, they have to compete for nutrients. To ensure maximum growth and blooms, lightly fertilize it two to three times between spring and fall. This is especially important for container plants.
Pruning & Propagation
Baby sun rose is a soft, easily managed ground cover. You can easily trim with small snippers to manage its shape and size.
You can take those newly trimmed pieces and stick them in soil — they’ll easily root for free new plants.
Is Baby Sun Rose Invasive?
I was pretty surprised to learn that such a delicate-looking plant that is so well-behaved in my garden could be invasive, but it can be, especially the ‘Red Apple’ variety.
It has escaped cultivation and naturalized in coastal southern California and the Mediterranean.
While it’s not going to escape into the desert, please be mindful if you grow it near water. According to the California Invasive Plant Council:
When watered, ‘Red Apple’ overwhelms all neighboring vegetation, climbing over anything in its path. It has been used in landscaping adjacent to riparian areas within the urban interface, so it can easily spread into and dominate more natural riparian and wetland areas.
Baby Sun Rose Cultivars
There are two main cultivars of baby sun rose that you will come across when plant shopping.
The first, I’ve already mentioned — baby sun rose ‘Red Apple’ (Mesembryanthemum or Aptenia x ‘Red Apple’). This is the most commonly sold form and it’s likely that if you buy a baby rose, it will be a ‘Red Apple’. This vigorous plant’s flowers are more red than pink.
Another cultivar is variegated baby sun rose (Mesembryanthemum or Aptenia cordifolia ‘Variegata’). Its leaves are edged with irregular cream-colored margins.
Don’t Confuse Baby Sun Rose With…
Baby sun rose shares many similar traits with portulaca or moss roses. They all have small, fleshy leaves and bright charming flowers, and grow well in pots.
However, baby sun rose is a perennial, while moss roses (Portulaca grandiflora) and ornamental purslanes (Portulaca oleracea) are usually grown as annuals in the desert southwest.
Plant Lover Facts
Baby sun rose’s current scientific name is Mesembryanthemum cordifolium, but its previous name, Aptenia cordifolia, is the one that is most often used, even by the nursery trade.
It’s native to South Africa but has naturalized in every inhabited continent except Asia. In North America, it has escaped cultivation in northwestern Mexico, California, and Oregon.
Baby sun rose ‘Red Apple’ is a cross between the parent plant (Mesembryanthemum cordifolium) and yellow sun rose (Mesembryanthemum haeckelianum), another South African native.
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Author Bio
Deane Alban is the creator of Southwest Gardener. She is a science writer with a bachelor’s degree in botany from the University of South Florida. Gardening is her lifelong passion. She’s been gardening in Tucson for over 15 years.
Photo Credits
Forest & Kim Starr, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Jacilluch, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Mokkie, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons