Cold hardiness & minimum temperature

Is Pyrenean Rock Jasmine (Androsace pyrenaica)cold hardy? Hardiness zone & min temp

Also called Pyrenean Rock Jasmine, Pyrenean Androsace.

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.

Cold limit: USDA 5-8 · RHS H5 (-20 to 18°C)

Watch for — Fungal crown rot in wet winters: By far the most common problem; persistent rain on the cushion in cold conditions triggers rapid Botrytis or collar rot — protect with a pane of glass over the trough from October to April, or move to an alpine house.

What pyrenean rock jasmine's hardiness rating actually means

Yes — pyrenean rock jasmine is genuinely cold hardy. Rated RHS H5 and USDA 5-8, it lives outdoors all year and needs winter cold rather than protection from it. Its RHS rating of H5 means: Hardy in most of the UK and in cold winters. On the US scale that maps to USDA 5-8 — 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 about −15 to −10 °C. Pyrenean Rock Jasmine is built for winter — once established it takes hard frost and snow in its stride.

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

It tolerates winter lows to about −15 to −10 °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 pyrenean rock jasmine go outside or overwinter — and where?

Plant it out within USDA 5-8 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 pyrenean rock jasmine can be outside. US growers can check USDA zones; UK growers should use the RHS hardiness ratings, which match the H5 figure above.

Pyrenean Rock Jasmine hardiness — frequently asked questions

Is pyrenean rock jasmine cold hardy?

Yes — pyrenean rock jasmine is genuinely cold hardy. Rated RHS H5 and USDA 5-8, it lives outdoors all year and needs winter cold rather than protection from it. An outdoor plant. Pyrenean Rock Jasmine is hardy across USDA 5-8; 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 pyrenean rock jasmine can survive?

Minimum survivable temperature is roughly about −15 to −10 °C. Pyrenean Rock Jasmine is built for winter — once established it takes hard frost and snow in its stride.

What hardiness zone is pyrenean rock jasmine?

Pyrenean Rock Jasmine is rated USDA 5-8 and RHS H5 — Hardy in most of the UK and in cold winters.

Can pyrenean rock jasmine survive winter outside?

Plant it out within USDA 5-8 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 pyrenean rock jasmine below its minimum temperature?

It tolerates winter lows to about −15 to −10 °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.