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Herbaceous Perennial

Honckenya peploides

sea sandwort

Spreading succulent perennial about 20cm tall and 1m wide. Forms mounds of yellowish-green pointed leaves in pairs close behind each other along the creeping stems and 5-petalled, white flowers with yellow green sepals to 8mm across are produced singly above the leaves, from late spring to late summer, followed by yellow-green seed capsules that ripen from midsummer to early autumn

Other common names

sea pimpernel
sea sandwort
see moresea purslane

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Ultimate height

0.1–0.5 metres

Time to ultimate height

2–5 years

Ultimate spread

1–1.5 metres

Chalk

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Well–drained

pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun

Aspect

South–facing or West–facing

Exposure

Exposed or Sheltered

Drought resistance

Yes

Hardiness
Hardiness ratings
All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

Botanical details

Family: Caryophyllaceae
Native to GB / Ireland: Yes
Foliage: Evergreen
Habit: Spreading branched
Name status: Correct

How to grow

Cultivation

Grow in any well-drained, light, sandy soil in full sun. Ideal for coastal locations, said to help stabilise sand dunes

Propagation

Propagate by seed, softwood cuttings (stem-tip) and layering

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Coastal
Gravel garden
Ground cover

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

Generally disease-free

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