Getting it to bloom

Why won't my Pyrenean Rock Jasmine bloom? (and how to make it flower)

Also called Pyrenean Rock Jasmine, Pyrenean Androsace (Androsace pyrenaica).

More about pyrenean rock jasmine

About Pyrenean Rock Jasmine

Androsace pyrenaica · also called Pyrenean Rock Jasmine, Pyrenean Androsace · flowering

Androsace pyrenaica is a rare, high-alpine cushion perennial endemic to the eastern and central Pyrenees, growing in rocky limestone and silicate crevices at elevations of 1,800–3,000 m. It forms dense tufts of tiny, hairy grey-green rosettes and produces solitary white flowers with a yellow eye in spring — more restrained and challenging to flower than related species. It demands sharply drained, preferably gritty soil in full sun, and is best given winter shelter in an alpine house or a trough covered with glass; it is less forgiving of wet conditions than most Androsace. The genus is not listed on the ASPCA database; classified as mildly-toxic out of caution.

Plant type: flowering

The reasons pyrenean rock jasmine isn't blooming

Almost every non-blooming pyrenean rock jasmine traces back to one of these, roughly in order of how common they are:

Too little sun — most of these need full sun (or very bright light) to flower well; shade gives leaves, not blooms.
Too much nitrogen feed, driving lush foliage at the expense of flowers (very common with general or lawn feeds).
The plant has not been deadheaded, so it stops flowering once it sets seed.
Irregular watering — drought or waterlogging at the budding stage makes buds abort.
It is still too young or was checked by a transplant and is rebuilding before flowering.

Feeding pyrenean rock jasmine a high-nitrogen general feed and growing it in too little sun — you get a big leafy plant and almost no flowers.

The fix — how to get pyrenean rock jasmine to flower

Maximise sun. Give pyrenean rock jasmine the sunniest spot you have — for most bedding and fruiting plants, more direct light directly means more flowers.
Switch the feed. Move off high-nitrogen feeds and use a higher-potassium "bloom" or tomato-type feed as it comes into flower.
Deadhead regularly. Remove spent flowers often to keep it producing more rather than stopping to set seed.
Water consistently. Keep moisture even through budding and flowering — drought-then-flood swings make buds drop.

Light and feeding do most of the heavy lifting here. Dial in the spot with the light guide for pyrenean rock jasmine and get the feeding right with the pyrenean rock jasmine fertilising schedule — the wrong feed (too much nitrogen) is one of the most common silent reasons a healthy plant makes leaves instead of flowers.

Bloom season and what to expect

Pyrenean Rock Jasmine flowers across its growing season (mostly summer) and, kept fed and deadheaded, can bloom for many weeks or right up to frost.

Post-bloom care so it flowers again

Deadhead, keep feeding lightly, and many will rebloom; collect seed from the best plants at the end of the season if you want to grow them again.

For everything else this plant needs day to day, see the full pyrenean rock jasmine care brief and its watering schedule — a stressed, badly watered plant rarely has the energy to flower at all.

Pyrenean Rock Jasmine blooming — frequently asked questions

Why won't my pyrenean rock jasmine flower?

Pyrenean Rock Jasmine blooms on the season's growth given enough sun, warmth and the right feed — there is no cold or photoperiod trick, just good growing conditions and a bloom-leaning feed. The most common reason it is not happening: Too little sun — most of these need full sun (or very bright light) to flower well; shade gives leaves, not blooms.

How do I make pyrenean rock jasmine bloom?

Give pyrenean rock jasmine the sunniest spot you have — for most bedding and fruiting plants, more direct light directly means more flowers. Move off high-nitrogen feeds and use a higher-potassium "bloom" or tomato-type feed as it comes into flower.

When does pyrenean rock jasmine normally bloom?