If you are looking for a colorful annual that can take a lot of heat and drought let me give you a suggestion…try Rose Moss. Some call it Moss Rose….Same plant. That plant was a favorite of my Mother’s. She loved flowers and had a dictionary of flowers in her head. She always planted rose moss in decorative containers for the front porch. The bright colors said “HELLO” to all visitors who came to her house.

Now, I follow her practice. The flower is actually from South America but was first introduced to Europeans about 300 years ago. Back then the plant was used for medicinal purposes which included uses for teeth grinding, muscle pain, and soothing gun powder burns.

The flower was also used for cooking. The leaves and flowers were eaten raw or in salads or sometimes used to thicken soups and stews. The leaves were also used to prevent scurvy. The flower was more popular back then than it is today.

There was also a magical use for rose moss. It was placed under a child’s bed to keep evil spirits at bay.

Here are some of the details about this great little flower:

• It seldom reaches a height of 4 to 8 inches

• It can make a single row of pedals or a double row. The double row makes the flower take on a “rose” pattern.

• You can start the flower from seeds or buy the flowers at shops that sell flowers.

• Bloom Time: Summer through fall

• Colors: orange, red, white, purple, rose and/or a mix of colors on a single flower.

• Spread: 6 inches.

• Light needs: Full sun.

• Soil type: well-drained sites which makes them fit for hanging baskets, pots, and rock gardens.

• Some favorite picks: Afternoon delight, Sundial series, and Sundance.

If you haven’t planted some of these beauties, you don’t know what you’re missing.

You can usually find rose moss at Wal-Mart flower outlet shops.

(Narrative and photo provided by Jena native Gale Trussell)