Cheddar pink vs Rock rose

Cheddar pink and Rock rose are often considered for the same spot in the garden (ground cover, flowers, pollinator friendly, container). The data below shows where they differ: size, hardiness, care, toxicity and price.

Cheddar pink

Dianthus gratianopolitanus 20 cm × 45 cm after 10 years

It forms a dense, blue-grey, grassy cushion with clove-scented, mostly pink flowers above it in late spring. It belongs in rock gardens, on walls,…

Ground cover

Full sun

from about PLN 8.80

Rock rose

Helianthemum × hybridum 25 cm × 60 cm after 10 years

Hybrid rock roses are low, spreading evergreen subshrubs with grey-green or silvery foliage that cover themselves from late May to midsummer in white,…

Ground cover

Full sun

from about PLN 8.80

Key differences

Rock rose grows larger: 25 cm × 60 cm after ten years, against 20 cm × 45 cm for Cheddar pink.

Which one to choose?

Cheddar pink is the better choice if space is tight.

Watch out for

Cheddar pink

It has no serious pests or diseases. The main danger is crown rot: in heavy, wet soil, especially in damp winters, it dies out quickly, so plant it in loose, gritty, preferably limy soil and do not overwater. The centre of an old cushion can go bare; shear it lightly after flowering or divide it.

Rock rose

Its worst enemy is winter wet: in poorly drained soil the plant rots easily. In Central Europe hard frost without snow cover can scorch the evergreen foliage, and a cover of conifer branches helps. Without trimming the centre opens up and goes bare. It has hardly any pests or diseases.

The data side by side

Feature	Cheddar pink	Rock rose
Group	Ground cover	Ground cover
Size after 10 years	20 cm × 45 cm	25 cm × 60 cm
Ultimate size	15–30 cm × 30–60 cm	10–30 cm × 30–90 cm
Growth rate	Medium (uncertain)	Medium (uncertain)
Light	Full sun	Full sun
Soil	Average garden soil, Sandy, Calcareous	Average garden soil, Sandy, Calcareous
Hardiness	down to -34 °C (USDA 4, RHS H7)	down to -29 °C (USDA 4, RHS H7)
Heat tolerance	High	Medium (uncertain)
Foliage	Evergreen (uncertain)	Evergreen
Flowering	May–June, pink, red, white	May–July, white, yellow, orange, red, pink
Water need	Low	Low
Drought tolerance	High	High
Maintenance	Low	Low
Planting distance	30 cm	40 cm
For dogs	Mildly toxic	no data
For cats	Mildly toxic	no data
For children	Mildly toxic (uncertain)	no data
Typical price	approx. PLN 11	approx. PLN 8.80

Prices are rounded, indicative values. Toxicity data is for information only. If your pet or child has eaten a plant, contact a vet or a doctor. Data updated: October 17, 2026

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