Tunic Flower Plant Care
Petrorhagia saxifraga Link
Updated · Sources · How we source care data
Petrorhagia saxifraga, known as tunic flower or coat flower, is a small, herbaceous flowering plant in the family Caryophyllaceae. It is native to central and southern Europe, Turkey, the Caucasus, and Iran, and introduced to the United States and Canada, Great Britain, the Baltic States, Poland, and Sweden.
Every 7–14 days
Full sun to partial shade
50–75°F
40–60%
At a glance
How do you care for Tunic Flower?
Water Tunic Flower every 7–14 days, letting the top layer of soil dry out between waterings, and give it full sun to partial shade. It prefers temperatures of 50–75°F (10–24°C) and 40–60% humidity. Fertilize it every 6 months during the growing season. It is reported as toxic to pets, so keep it out of reach of pets.
Where Is the Tunic Flower Native To?
What Is the Tunic Flower?
Tunic Flower (Petrorhagia saxifraga) belongs to the Caryophyllaceae family within the Petrorhagia genus. Tunic Flower is native to central and southern Europe, Turkey, the Caucasus, and Iran, and introduced to the United States and Canada, Great Britain, the Baltic States, Poland, and Sweden. Tunic Flower is also known as Tunic Pink, Rock Pink, Saxifrage Petrorhagia.
Tunic Flower displays a low mat-forming perennial growth habit, reaching up to 0.5 ft tall with a spread of approximately 1 ft. Tunic Flower produces small pink or white flowers in clusters.
Leaf size: approximately 1 inches.
How Often Should You Water a Tunic Flower?
Petrorhagia saxifraga requires watering every 7–14 days. Allow the top layer of soil to dry between waterings to prevent root rot. Reduce watering frequency during winter when growth slows.
Watering Frequency
Every 7–14 days
Let soil partially dry between waterings
What Light Does the Tunic Flower Need?
Tunic Flower thrives in full sun to partial shade.
Light Requirement
Full sun to partial shade
What Temperature and Humidity Does the Tunic Flower Prefer?
Petrorhagia saxifraga grows best at temperatures of 50–75°F. Tunic Flower prefers humidity levels of 40–60%.
Temperature
50–75°F
Humidity
40–60%
What Soil Mix Works Best for a Tunic Flower?
Well-draining sandy soil mix with added organic matter. Good drainage is essential for Tunic Flower to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.
How Often Should You Fertilize a Tunic Flower?
Feed Tunic Flower every 6 months during the growing season (spring and summer) with a balanced fertilizer diluted to the strength on the label.
Pause feeding in autumn and winter, when growth slows, and never fertilize dry soil — water first.
Fertilizing
Every 6 months
During the growing season
The PlantoScan app can remind you when to water and when to fertilize each plant.
How Do You Repot a Tunic Flower?
Repot every 2-3 years in early spring. Choose a pot one size larger than the current container, and ensure it has drainage holes to allow excess water to escape.
How Do You Propagate a Tunic Flower?
Tunic Flower can be propagated through seeds, division of clumps. Similar propagation techniques also apply to wild pink plant care, which shares the same genus.
Is the Tunic Flower Toxic to Pets and Children?
Toxic (caution)
Reported as toxic in our plant data. Not verified by the ASPCA.
This is a general caution, not veterinary or medical advice. If your pet ate a plant, contact your vet or animal poison control.
See all plants toxic to cats and plants toxic to dogs.
What Pests and Diseases Affect the Tunic Flower?
Tunic Flower is susceptible to aphids, spider mites. Inspect the foliage regularly, especially along leaf undersides and stems. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to prevent spread.
Yellow leaves, brown tips or drooping? See common plant problems and how to fix them.
What USDA Hardiness Zone Does the Tunic Flower Need?
Tunic Flower grows outdoors in USDA Zone 12a. It survives winters down to planting zone 12a. Tunic Flower is native to central and southern Europe, Turkey, the Caucasus, and Iran, and introduced to the United States and Canada, Great Britain, the Baltic States, Poland, and Sweden. In cooler regions, grow Tunic Flower as a houseplant or bring it indoors before the first frost.
Hardiness Zone
Zone 12a
Keep exploring plants
Tunic Flower is one of many species covered in the complete plant care and identification guide, which groups plants by genus, attribute, and popularity.
It belongs to the Petrorhagia genus — compare its care with other Petrorhagia species on PlantoScan.
Petrorhagia is part of the Caryophyllaceae plant family — browse all Caryophyllaceae genera and species.
Tunic Flower thrives in bright light and direct sun — see other bright-light plants.
Related Plant Care Guides
Closely related plants with similar care requirements:
Sources
- Scientific name & taxonomy: Petrorhagia saxifraga Link, family Caryophyllaceae (first published in Handbuch 2: 235 (1831)) — World Flora Online record, IPNI name record.
- Pet toxicity: Tunic Flower is reported as toxic to pets in our plant data (not verified by the ASPCA), so treat it with caution. Checked against the ASPCA plant list; any other toxicity note on this page comes from PlantoScan's plant database.
- Hardiness zone: USDA Zone 12a, calculated from the plant's minimum temperature.
- Care values(watering, light, temperature, humidity, soil, fertilizing): PlantoScan's plant database, filtered by automatic plausibility checks — values that fail them are hidden. How we source and check plant data.
Spotted a mistake? Email info@upvision.media with the page link — we check and correct reported errors.
Identify Plants Like the
Tunic Flower Instantly
Scan any plant with your phone camera and get instant ID, care tips, water and fertilizer reminders, and health checks — all in one app.
Free
to download
iOS & Android
platforms
Light & dark
mode
100,000+
species