{"product_id":"orostachys-iwarenge-chinese-hat","title":"Orostachys iwarenge 'Chinese Hat'","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOrostachys iwarenge 'Chinese Hat'\u003c\/strong\u003e, the \u003cstrong\u003eChinese dunce cap\u003c\/strong\u003e, is one of the most characterful hardy succulents you can grow. It makes low, whorled rosettes of fleshy, powdery grey-blue leaves that spread on fine runners exactly like a succulent version of a spider plant, quickly knitting into a soft pewter carpet. In autumn each mature rosette throws up an extraordinary tall, tapering flower spike, the pagoda or dunce cap that gives the plant its name. A member of the houseleek family (Crassulaceae), it is tailor-made for troughs, walls, gravel and pots.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIt is genuinely hardy (RHS H4) and unfazed by cold; the key to success in Britain is simply keeping it on the dry side in winter, as it dislikes soggy roots far more than frost. As the cold sets in, the rosettes fold into neat, tight resting buds and sit tight until spring, when they burst back into fresh powdery growth. You can read more about these seasonal rhythms in our guide on \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/hardy-exotics-what-to-expect\"\u003ewhat to expect from hardy exotics\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eOne lovely quirk is worth understanding: Orostachys is monocarpic, which simply means each individual rosette flowers once, in its autumn finale, and then dies. Far from being a problem, this is how the plant thrives, because every rosette offsets so freely on its runners that the colony is always renewing itself. You lose a single flowered rosette and gain a ring of youngsters, so the carpet only gets better with time.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eHow and where to grow\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePosition:\u003c\/strong\u003e full sun keeps the rosettes tight, well coloured and free-flowering.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSoil:\u003c\/strong\u003e very sharp drainage is essential; a gritty, lean, free-draining mix, never rich or wet ground.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSize:\u003c\/strong\u003e low mats of rosettes a few centimetres tall, with autumn flower spikes to around 15 to 25cm.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHardiness:\u003c\/strong\u003e hardy and frost-tough; just keep it dry at the roots over winter.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis is a first-class plant for \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/drought-tolerant-plants\"\u003edry and gravel gardens\u003c\/a\u003e, tucked into wall crevices, alpine troughs and the tops of sunny raised beds. Its love of sharp drainage and bright, open sites also makes it excellent among \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/coastal-plants\"\u003ecoastal and exposed planting\u003c\/a\u003e, and it is a natural showpiece in shallow bowls and troughs of \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/plants-for-pots\"\u003eplants for pots\u003c\/a\u003e. It sits proudly within our wider range of \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/hardy-exotics\"\u003ehardy exotics\u003c\/a\u003e. Every plant we supply is nursery-grown, chosen for a healthy, well-rooted colony and packed with care to arrive in superb condition.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"GROW TROPICALS","offers":[{"title":"14cm \/ 1.5L","offer_id":58089326805375,"sku":"OROSIWA14","price":11.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0361\/9645\/0348\/files\/oreostachys.jpg?v=1785938439","url":"https:\/\/growtropicals.com\/products\/orostachys-iwarenge-chinese-hat","provider":"GrowTropicals","version":"1.0","type":"link"}