Levisia – an underrated but exceptionally decorative plant perfect for balconies and terraces
If you dream of a balcony that will attract attention with a blaze of colours all summer long, and at the same time you don’t want to spend a lot of time every day watering and caring for plants, it’s worth getting to know **Lewisia**.
It is a plant of extraordinary beauty and amazing durability that can successfully compete with popular geraniums or surfinias, and often even surpasses them, especially when it comes to resistance to heat and light frosts.
What is Levisia and what does it look like?
Levisia (Lewisia) is a perennial plant belonging to the Montiaceae family. Its natural habitat is the mountainous, rocky areas of North America.
The conditions in which it occurs in nature have taught it to survive in difficult circumstances – so it is not only charming, but also exceptionally resistant.
Although it comes from the mountains, it does not have the austere character typical of many rock plants – on the contrary, its appearance is elegant and delicate.
It forms low, compact rosettes of fleshy, arched leaves of juicy green. The real decoration, however, are the flowers — raised on thin shoots above the leaves, they resemble small stars or miniature daylilies in shape.
They come in many colours: from snowy white, through warm yellow and salmon, to pink, orange and their combinations. The petals are often decorated with subtle stripes or shading, which give them a unique charm.
Lewisia varieties – a variety of colours and forms
The most famous variety is **Lewisia cotyledon**, which is loved by many gardeners for its abundant and long-lasting flowering.
**‘Elise’** is particularly popular – a variety that can bloom as early as April and continues to bloom for many months. Its flowers present a whole range of shades and are great for growing in pots.
In turn, the **‘Sunset Strain’** variety captivates with its pastel palette of colours and exceptional abundance of flowers. For lovers of botanical plants, **Lewisia rediviva** will be an interesting proposition – a variety with single, but large and spectacular flowers.
