Cold hardiness & minimum temperature

Is Downy Rock Jasmine (Androsace pubescens)cold hardy? Hardiness zone & min temp

Also called Downy rock jasmine, Pubescent androsace.

More about downy rock jasmine

About Downy Rock Jasmine

Androsace pubescens · also called Downy rock jasmine, Pubescent androsace · flowering

Androsace pubescens is a tight cushion-forming alpine perennial native to rocky limestone ledges and screes in the Pyrenees and western Alps, typically at elevations above 2,000 m. It produces compact silvery-haired rosettes smothered in small white flowers with a yellow or pink eye in late spring, and demands exceptional drainage alongside cool conditions to perform well. Being one of the more demanding Androsace species, it is best grown in an alpine house or deep tufa crevice to exclude winter wet. Androsace is not listed by the ASPCA; treat as mildly toxic and keep out of reach of pets as a precaution.

Cold limit: USDA 3-6 · RHS H7 (-30 to 18°C)

Watch for — Winter cushion rot: Persistent winter rain or condensation on the rosettes causes Botrytis grey mould and rapid crown decay; overhead glass or polycarbonate protection from late autumn to early spring is the single most effective preventive measure.

What downy rock jasmine's hardiness rating actually means

Yes — downy rock jasmine is genuinely cold hardy. Rated RHS H7 and USDA 3-6, it lives outdoors all year and needs winter cold rather than protection from it. Its RHS rating of H7 means: Hardy in the severest European continental winters. On the US scale that maps to USDA 3-6 — the zones where it can be left outdoors year-round.

New to these scales? The USDA hardiness zone map explained covers how the zone numbers work, and you can find your own zone with the zone finder.

Minimum temperature — and what happens below it

Minimum survivable temperature is roughly below about −20 °C. Downy Rock Jasmine is built for winter — once established it takes hard frost and snow in its stride.

Concretely, for downy rock jasmine as it gets too cold:

It tolerates winter lows to about −20 °C once established.
Below its rated zone, the visible damage is browned or blackened top growth and, in the worst case, a killed crown or root.
First-year, newly planted, or container-grown specimens are noticeably less hardy than established garden plants — the roots are exposed.

Can downy rock jasmine go outside or overwinter — and where?

Plant it out within USDA 3-6 and it overwinters with little or no help.
It does not want to come indoors — a warm winter room actually weakens a hardy plant by denying it dormancy.
The real risks in its range are waterlogging, wind-rock on young plants, and a late hard frost on new growth — not ordinary winter cold.

Work back from your local frost dates with the frost-date calculator: the last spring frost and first autumn frost are what really decide when downy rock jasmine can be outside. US growers can check USDA zones; UK growers should use the RHS hardiness ratings, which match the H7 figure above.

Downy Rock Jasmine hardiness — frequently asked questions

Is downy rock jasmine cold hardy?

Yes — downy rock jasmine is genuinely cold hardy. Rated RHS H7 and USDA 3-6, it lives outdoors all year and needs winter cold rather than protection from it. An outdoor plant. Downy Rock Jasmine is hardy across USDA 3-6; it belongs in the ground or a frost-proof container, not on a windowsill, and many types actively need a cold winter to perform.

What is the minimum temperature downy rock jasmine can survive?

Minimum survivable temperature is roughly below about −20 °C. Downy Rock Jasmine is built for winter — once established it takes hard frost and snow in its stride.

What hardiness zone is downy rock jasmine?

Downy Rock Jasmine is rated USDA 3-6 and RHS H7 — Hardy in the severest European continental winters.

Can downy rock jasmine survive winter outside?

Plant it out within USDA 3-6 and it overwinters with little or no help. It does not want to come indoors — a warm winter room actually weakens a hardy plant by denying it dormancy. The real risks in its range are waterlogging, wind-rock on young plants, and a late hard frost on new growth — not ordinary winter cold.

What happens to downy rock jasmine below its minimum temperature?

It tolerates winter lows to about −20 °C once established. Below its rated zone, the visible damage is browned or blackened top growth and, in the worst case, a killed crown or root. First-year, newly planted, or container-grown specimens are noticeably less hardy than established garden plants — the roots are exposed.