Lewisia 'Little Mango'

Lewisia 'Little Mango': Golden Orange Stars in the Stone Cracks

'Little Mango' brings tropical vacation energy to your rock garden without the airfare. Star-shaped golden blooms deepening to orange over a fleshy little rosette. ALL INCLUSIVE. NO SUNBURN. NO BAGGAGE FEES.

Plant Characteristics:

• Botanical Name: Lewisia longipetala hybrid 'Little Mango'
• Common Name: Cliff Maids, Lewisia
• Height: 15 cm (6 in) in flower
• Spread: 20–25 cm (8–10 in)
• Flowers: Star-shaped, golden yellow deepening to yellow-orange, held in clusters just above the leaves
• Bloom Time: Late spring to early summer (May to June), with rebloom in fall
• Foliage: Narrow, fleshy, leathery dark green leaves in a low rosette

Where to Plant: Plant it where water runs away fast: rock gardens, crevices in a dry stone wall, gravel gardens, raised beds, troughs and pots. A cluster of three or five along the edge of a sunny path makes a bright spring accent.

Companion Plants: Plant 'Little Mango' on a slope, in a wall or in gravel where water drains away fast, with drought-tough partners. Geranium sanguineum adds magenta cranesbill at 25 to 45 cm from June to August. Dianthus Rockin'™ Purple brings fringed purple clusters at 45 to 60 cm from June to September. Baptisia Decadence® 'Sparkling Sapphires' adds violet-blue spikes at 75 to 90 cm in June and July. Pennisetum Prairie Winds® 'Lemon Squeeze' arches at 90 to 105 cm with chartreuse-gold blades.

Plant Care: Plant in lean, gritty soil with excellent drainage. Mix in coarse sand or fine gravel if your soil is heavy, or grow it in a container. Keep the crown slightly above the soil line, and mulch around it with stone chips rather than bark. Water regularly until it settles, then sparingly. Wet soil around the crown leads to rot, especially in a slow spring thaw. In midsummer it may slow down and rest; let it stay dry. Remove faded flower stems to keep it neat and encourage fall flowers. No dividing is needed. Lewisias are small and stay put.

History: 'Little Mango' is part of the Little Series from Jelitto Perennial Seeds in Germany, introduced in 2012 and descended from Lewisia longipetala hybrids that handle winter wet better than many lewisias. The wild parents grow in rocky mountain sites in California and Oregon, and the genus honours explorer Meriwether Lewis.

Final Thoughts: Give it a sharp, well-drained spot and it reblooms like it booked a second week. PACK YOUR BAGS.