Lewisia

( lew - ISS - ee - uh )

At-A-Glance Information

These perennial flowering plants need full sun to light shade and regular to moderate water. Well-formed, handsome flowers cover these low-growing plants, which are commonly known as Cliff Maids. Their root systems and foliage have developed to be drought-tolerant and plants appreciate a covering of gravel around their crowns. These succulent perennials are used in container plantings, rock gardens, in mixed beds, and in borders. They can also be grown in crevice gardens, retaining walls, or troughs.

Lewisia Species and Varietals

The genus Lewisia is a member of the plant family Montiaceae and includes 19 species and several varietals. Lewisias are closely related to Calandrinia, Claytonia, Cistanthe, and Purslane. The genus is named for American explorer Meriwether Lewis, who first encountered the species back in 1806. The best growing zones for Lewisia are USDA hardiness zones 3-8 or Sunset growing zones 1-7 and 14-17, though this will vary somewhat depending on the species. For more information, see the descriptions below. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.

Lewisia brachycalyx (Short-Sepal Bitter-Root, Shortsepal Lewisia, Short-Sepaled Lewisia)
This species, native to the southwestern United States and Baja California, Mexico. It prefers to grow in moist habitats, like meadows, and produces a basal rosette of thick, fleshy foliage. Flower stems are short, and support inflorescences of shiny white to pink flowers. Hardy down to 14 degrees Fahrenheit. These plants go dormant after flowering in summertime, and are popular garden ornamentals.

Lewisia columbiana (Columbian Lewisia, Columbia Lewisia , Columbia Bitterroot, Cliff Maiden)
This Lewisia species, native to Oregon and Washington, produces pink and white flowers from rosettes of narrow green, fleshy leaves. It forms a thick underground taproot, and flowers often have dark pink veining. Individual plants reach up to 6-12 inches tall when in bloom and rosettes reach 2 to 4 inches across.

Lewisia cotyledon (Cliff Maids, Siskiyou Lewisia)
Native to Northern California and southern Oregon, this species grows to a foot tall and 10 inches wide. Leaves are fleshy and green, and stems hold showy clusters of flowers in pink or white that are often striped with rose or red. Flowers appear from spring through early summertime. Outer growth can be pruned to encourage a more tidy habit.

'Alba - White'
Pure white flowers and deep green leaves.

'Dark Cloud'
With purple-red flowers.

'Elise'
Heat-tolerant plants with a range of flower colors.

'Little Plum'
Blooms into summer.

'Rainbow'
Pink, orange, yellow, and white flowers from spring to summer.

'Sunset'
Strain with multiple flower colors in sunset hues.

Lewisia disepala (Yosemite Lewisia, Yosemite Bitterroot)
These petite perennial flowering plants produce a basal rosette of many small fleshy leaves. Flowering stems are so short that the flowers sit directly on top of the mound of foliage. Each flower has 5-8 pale to bright pink petals and protruding stamens, and blooms in summertime.

Lewisia kelloggii (Kellogg's Lewisia, Kellogg's Bitterroot)
This species is native to the Sierra Nevadas in California, and is a small perennial flowering plant with a short taproot. It produces a basal rosette of thick, leathery foliage and short flowering stalks. Blooms are pearly white to pink and leaves are light green. Individual plants reach up to just 2.5 inches tall when in bloom

Lewisia leeana (Quill-Leaf Lewisia, Many-Flowered Lewisia, Lee's Bitterroot, Quill-Leaved Lewisia)
This species is native to California and Oregon, and grows amongst mountain ranges on sloped areas. These perennials form narrow, woody taproots and a basal rosette of fleshy leaves. Stems support white, pink, or purplish flowers. Individual plants in this species reach up to 8-10 inches tall when in bloom. The species is named for Lambert Wilmer Lee, who first collected the species south of the Oregon border in California in 1876.

Lewisia longipetala (Petalled Lewisia, Truckee Lewisia, Bitterroot)
This species is endemic to the Sierra Nevadas in California, where it grows around Lake Tahoe. These flowers prefer alpine wet habitats, and thrives in snow. These perennials form a slender taproot and a basal rosette of thin, fleshy leaves. There are many hybrids of this plant that are perfect for garden settings. Flowers range in color from white to light pink to magenta and purple.

Lewisia nevadensis (Nevada Lewisia, Nevada Bitterroot)
This species is native to most of the western United States and grows in moist mountainous habitats. These perennials produce fingerlike to threadlike foliage; leaves can reach up to 5 inches long. Flowers are white to pale pink, and have many stamens. These plants are sometimes grown as ornamentals in alpine and rock gardens.

Lewisia rediviva (Bitterroot, Sand Rose, Oregon Bitter Root)
This species is native to the Western Mountain Ranges of the United States and reaches 2 inches tall and 4 inches wide. It is the state flower of Montana, and has fleshy roots and strappy leaves that will die back for the most part before flowers bloom. Blooms in springtime, with one flower per stem in rosy pink or white. Drainage needs to be excellent for this species to thrive.

Lewisia sacajaweana (Sacajawea's Bitterroot)
This species of Lewisia is endemic to Idaho, where it grows mostly in the Boise National Forest. It produces flowers shortly after the snow melts in springtime every year. The species honors Sacagawea, the Native American guide to Lewis and Clark.

Lewisia tweedyi (Tweedy's Lewisia, Tweedy's Bitterroot, Mountain Rose)
This species grows well in USDA hardiness zones 4-9 or Sunset growing zones A2, A3, 1-7 and 14-17 and is native to Washington's mountain ranges. It reaches 8 inches tall and a foot wide, and has large salmon-pink flowers that bloom 1-3 per stem. Leaves are evergreen and fleshy. These plants suffer in wet conditions, and cannot take much moisture.

Caring for Lewisia

Lewisia can be started outside in the garden in late fall or early wintertime. This early planting time will allow seeds to undergo a natural cold-stratification process. Seedlings will sprout in the springtime. Plant Lewisia in a space in the landscape that will receive between 6 and 8 hours of direct sun each day. In warmer climates, ensure that your Lewisia gets some late afternoon shade when temperatures are the warmest. They should be planted in soil that is very well-draining; these plants naturally grow in rocky alpine areas. Ensure that soil has a pH of between 6.0 and 7.0 (slightly acidic to neutral).

These are drought-tolerant plants that typically grow in relatively arid environments with not a lot of leaf litter, and they do not need to be mulched. Water new plantings regularly as they establish a strong root system. At maturity, these plants require little water; as a general rule of thumb, water whenever the top two to three inches of soil feels dry to the touch. In summer, when plants are dormant, lessen watering to once every two weeks or so. Fertilizing is not necessary. Prune to remove spent flowering stems once flowers fade, especially if you do not want plants to freely re-seed. If you are looking to collect seeds for propagation, make sure to leave some flowering heads on your plant. Lewisia plants have a life span of 12 to 20 or more years in the landscape if they are cared for properly.

Propagation

Lewisia plants can be prapagated via seed, offset, or cutting. If you would like to ensure that you will end up with a clone of your parent plant, choose the cutting or offset method. If you would like to experiment and see what plant you can grow from seed, just keep in mind that it will not necessarily be the same as the parent plant. To propagate your Lewisia, follow the instructions below:

Propagating Lewisia by Seed
To propagate via seed, gather the following materials: a bag, a pot (or planting tray), soil that is one part compost, two parts sand with a little limestone added in, and a spray bottle with water. Follow these directions to propagate your Lewisia by seed:

In late summer, leave some of flowers on your existing plant and allow them to come to seed. Remove the seed pod cluster after it has dried, turned brown and some of the seed pods have begun to open and release their contents. Harvest the seeds from the seed pods and place them in a bag. This plant can self-sow if the conditions are right, but to ensure a new plant from seed, it is best to sow indoors in wintertime. Store your harvested seeds in a cool, dark place until you are ready to use them.
Prepare your pots or seed trays with your potting mix and water to ensure drainage is occurring. Plant more seeds than you want new plants, as not all seeds will germinate. Place your seeds on top of the soil and cover with more potting mix. Water. Place your seed pots or trays in an indoor area that stays around 60 degrees Fahrenheit and receives bright indirect light, or place them in a greenhouse.
The seeds will take about 15 days to germinate. After the danger of frost has passed in your area, you can transplant your new Lewisia outside in its garden location. Alternatively, Lewisia seeds can be direct-sown in the garden in fall.

Propagating Lewisia by Cutting
The best time to take cuttings from an existing plant is in spring or summer. To propagate by cutting, you'll need clean, sharpened garden shears, potting mix, a pot, rooting hormone and a pencil. Once you've gathered your materials, follow these instructions:

Choose an Lewisia plant to propagate. It should be a healthy plant, with new growth and should get some water the night before you take your cutting. Pick a healthy stem tip that has about three or four buds on it and make a 6-inch cutting. Cut quickly and evenly to take the healthiest cutting possible.
Add potting medium to your pot, and give it some water, ensuring that it has good drainage. Make a hole with your pencil in the medium, about two inches down. Dip your cutting in rooting hormone and place it in the hole. Fill in soil around it. Pat down just enough so the cutting stands up by itself. Give it some water.
Keep the soil around your plant somewhat moist as it grows, and ensure that it is in a place that gets bright indirect light and stays at a temperature of between 50-60 degrees Fahrenheit. Once the danger of frost has passed the next spring, you can transplant your cutting to its final home outdoors.

Propagating Lewisia by Offset

Locate a plant that has a few offsets around it. Ensure the plant has had a good watering the night before, as this will increase the chances of success.
Using a sharp knife or hori hori knife, cut the offset from the parent plant, and place it to the side. Repeat this with as many offsets as you would like, if more are available. Lay the cuttings out for a few days so that they can heal a bit.
Plant your offsets in individual pots filled with potting medium. A good potting soil for Lewisia is a cactus or succulent potting mix. Water your newly planted Yucca and keep the soil moist while it gets established.
Store the pot in a shaded spot that gets lots of indirect light. Offsets may need to be supported to stay up while their root systems form. Provide with regular waterings, and roots should form in about four weeks.