IN THIS GUIDE

There are mint of great works to reckon for an alpine rock garden .

But when you are getting started with arise alpines , it can be great to have a list of some of the favourites that you could apply as a starting point for make your selection .

violet campanula flowers

A rock garden is a great characteristic for a garden – typically in a gay and undefendable spot .

Creating this eccentric of habitat will grant you to mature a mountain chain of relatively low - alimony plants which come from rocky and mountainous region , and make the most of areas that may have nutrient - pitiable and/or shallow dirt .

Expert Chosen Varieties

We refer with a specialist grower to find out their favourite alpines that could be suitable for ontogeny in a rock and roll garden .

“ Alpines integrate so many different varieties , ” saysHayley Willerton , Owner of The Alpine and Grass Nursery .

“ [ They ] do n’t enjoy winter wet and favour drying out before being water again .

an alpine rockery in Devon, England

“ Ventilation is also essential and as all the alpines we grow are hardy , they do not need report up in wintertime . ”

Some of Hayley ’s favourite varieties include :

Erodiumxkolbianum‘Natasha ’

flowers of Erodium x kolbianum ‘Natasha’ with interesting veined appearance

“ This is a very pretty alpine with fern - comparable , silver - light-green leaves stick out darkly veined pink flower with two maroon eyes , ” share Hayley .

“ These alpines enjoy basking in full sun . ”

Armeria maritima‘Dusseldorf Pride ’

deep pink flowers of Armeria maritima ‘Dusseldorf Pride’

“ ‘ Dusseldorf Pride ’ brook many clusters of deep pinkish prime from spring through to fall .

“ It is loved by pollinator and prosper in either full Dominicus or fond shade . ”

Silene acaulis

Silene acaulis growing from rock covered ground

“ This is a compact , slowly - growing alpine , studded with tiny pink flowers and is a true delectation , ” state Hayley .

“ This alpine always makes me smile . ”

So – if you have made an alpine rock garden , or are think about making one , here are fifteen further plants to look at :

tiny aubretia flowers with green foliage

1)Aubretia

Aubretia , also know as majestic rock cress plant or purple chickweed , is a hardy ( H6 ) mat - forming perennial .

It is evergreen and has copious , lovely little pink or purplish flower in the fountain .

It will prosper in full sun and well - run out soil that is alkaline or neutral in pH , but can also tolerate a little fond subtlety .

purple wall bellflowers

2)Campanula

There is a wide range of diminutive bellflowers , Campanula , which are utter for rock garden .

There are literally hundreds of varied option within this genus .

One type of bellflower which I would recommend for a rock-and-roll garden isCampanula portenschlagiana – wall bellflower .

small pink flowers of D. alpinus with rocks in the background

This low-down develop perennial is a great alpine flora , which is evergreen , forge heavy mats of pocket-sized rounded leaves .

They have pretty purple - profane blossom in the summertime .

H5 hardy , these are ideal for rock gardens or cheery borders where condition do n’t get too blind drunk in winter .

blue Gentiana verna in a rock garden

3)Dianthus

Alpine varieties ofDianthus , also known as ‘ Pinks ’ are also ideal for many alpine rock garden .

D. alpinusis another mat - forming perennial which stand pretty pink or cerise flowers in the summertime months .

It is H6 audacious , and will thrive in a well - drained position in full Sunday , with alkaline or inert pH.

pink flowering Geranium ‘Ballerina’ (Cinereum)

Their blossom are vibrant add-on to an alpine rockery .

4)Gentiana verna

Spring gentian is another endearing alpine for a rockery , which is another diminished evergreen mat - forming perennial .

But in spite of its minor size , it can really make a big wallop with its sensational sky - dismal flowers with white core , which bloom in late spring and early summer .

It is H5 hardy , and prefers moist but well - run out filth that is alkaline or indifferent , in full sun .

blue Lithodora diffusa draped over a wall

5)Geraniums(Alpine Varieties)

Alpine geraniums are another noteworthy group of plant to consider for an alpine rock and roll garden .

One majuscule example isG.‘Ballerina ‘ ( Cinereum Group ) , a great ground cover plant and great for wildlife.1Geranium ( Cinereum Group ) . ( n.d . ) . Royal Horticultural Society . retrieve March 9 , 2023 , fromhttps://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/194563/geranium-(cinereum-group)-ballerina/details

It is an H5 hardy herbaceous perennial which forms minor clumps of leaf and flowers with pink purple - hued flower in late springtime and summer .

a bushy shrub of Penstemon pinifolius with red flowers

The evergreen perennialG. dalmaticumis another great choice to study for your rock’n’roll garden .

6)Lithodora

Lithodora diffusais a enceinte training plant for the rock garden .

H5 hardy , it has cryptic dark-green foliage that spreads well , and recondite gentian blue-blooded flowers which bloom over a long period from May through the summer months .

It will do best in full Lord’s Day ; in acidic or neutral soil .

purple and yellow Pulsatilla vulgaris with rockery in background

7)Penstemon

Pine - leavedPenstemon , P. pinifolius , is another interesting flora to consider .

This bushy dwarf shrub is evergreen , with forgetful , needle leaves – and it gestate bright scarlet tubelike peak in the summertime months .

It will prosper in very well - drained , shelter , spots in full sunshine .

Crimson Phlox douglasii Crackerjack

Another Penstemon to consider isP. laetussubsp . roezlii , a perennial which bears purple prime from late spring to mid - summertime .

8)Pulsatilla vulgaris

Also know as pasqueflower or meadow anemone , this chunk - forming perennial wows with its large nodding violet flower , followed by silky fruiting heads .

It is H5 stalwart and will flourish in any very well - drained soil in full sun .

Though it can be punishing to establish , once it lie with in it is wonderful for an impressive alpine rock garden .

yellow flowering Primula marginata

9)Phlox

Phlox is a genus which offers a number of dissimilar mat - mould evergreen plant perennial that bring very well in sunny , well - drained rock garden .

They have small pink prime which come out from late spring .

Phlox douglasiiandP. subulataare both corking examples , which are H6 fearless and fairly springy in the right conditions .

saxifraga paniculata growing from limestone

10)Primula

For a moist but well - drained rock garden in full sun , ideally in loam , Primula auriculais another reliable choice .

This evergreen plant perennial has endearing undimmed heyday which emerge in the springiness .

H5 hardy , these are comparatively well known and popular primrose for a rock ‘n’ roll garden .

Pink flowers of Sedum causticola

Note : these are not the same as true show auriculas .

Primula marginata , P. allioniiand their many hybrids are also first-class options for an alpine tilt garden .

11)Saxifraga

Saxifraga are yet more matt - forming   perennials which are peachy for tally lush greenery to alpine space .

There are a number of examples with bloom of various unlike hue .

S.‘Silver Cushion’and S. paniculata‘Lavagreana ’ , ‘ Rosea ’ and ‘ Venetia ’   are all top options to consider .

houseleeks growing on rocky area

If you are Modern to alpine rock gardening then this genus should be one of the go - to choices .

12)Sedums

Like breakstone , Sedumsare also an obvious go - to choice , whether you are a complete tiro or a far more experient gardener of alpine plants .

Many stonecrops , with their pretty little star - shaped blossom , are idealistic for nestling among rocks in a rockery , or even planting into the top of a Lucy Stone bulwark .

S. cauticola , for example , is one such Sedum to deliberate .

creeping thyme in a rock garden

13)Sempervivums

For gratis - draining , cheery sites , succulents likeSempervivum are often a great selection .

Houseleeks , as they are sometimes call , are very easy to please alpine succulents .

There is a reason why they are so well known and widely realize – with   attractive and intricate rose window , they can grace your garden for many years as long as they do n’t have ‘ wet ft ’ and are protected from undue pelting in winter .

Veronica prostrata amongst grass

14) Thyme

Thyme is a plant that you might be more likely to debate placing in a herb garden rather than in an alpine rock garden , butThymus vulgariswill be right at house in this localization .

Well known as a culinary herb , thyme can also be a great cosmetic plant – producing little purplish flowers in addition to aromatic leave .

A creeping thyme variety will be ideal for spreading through your rock garden .

15)Veronica

Veronica prostrata , or John Rock veronica , is my terminal plectron – another of my favourites for an alpine rock garden .

This mat - forming semi - evergreen perennial thrives in well - drained locations in full sun .

It is H5 fearless and has really moderately blue flowers that bloom during the summer months .

This is another relatively light and low - maintenance plant .

Final Considerations

A rock’n’roll garden can be a big investment in rock , and in time and free energy – even where the rock-and-roll are already usable on site .

So it is important to make certain that you make the correct plant choices for your fussy stone garden .

think of that “ John Rock gardens should have a grow media that is relatively low-pitched in nutrients and organic thing and gamey in gravels , gumption and grit to meditate the habitats that alpines come from , ” consort to Master Horticulturist Colin Skelly .

“ opt the right plants means that they should thrive in the status that you have produce for them , a ‘ dwelling house from home ’ .

“ However , plant that like fertile condition will stomach , whilst drouth - large-minded non - alpines might take over your rock garden .

“ A little homework on planting goes a long way to successful planting ! ”

References