The Versatility of Rock Gardens

They also can be as big or as small as you want. If garden space is not available, rock gardens can also be made in pots or troughs. The plants which can be grown in a rock garden are almost innumerable.

CREATING A ROCK GARDEN

Traditionally, rock gardens imitated native landscapes that grow in natural stone outcroppings, such as those found in an alpine meadow. Contemporary rock gardens are less strict about plant selection, focusing instead on the rocks, plants, and boulders in a naturalistic garden style.

Rock gardens, also known as a rockery, often include low growing perennials or shrubs with a mounding habit. These plants effectively resist wind and snow at high elevation. That said, there is great diversity in rock garden plants—not only with regard to shape, but also bloom time and color. Many alpine or high altitude plants will do well in a rockery.

An open, south or southwest facing slope with plenty of sun is an ideal site for a rock garden.

When planting a rock garden, be sure to amend your soil to ensure good drainage. Blend 1/3 compost, 1/3 native soil, and 1/3 pumice to create a loose, well draining mix.

Deep watering is essential during the first year, especially on hot days. When the garden reaches its second year, water when temperatures are above 75°F. In the third year and beyond, watering should be unnecessary. At that point, the plants should be established with a deep root system—rendering them drought tolerant

Remember, if your design includes mounds or hilling, these areas will dry out faster!

Most rock garden plants don’t need fertilizer. Over the years, the best thing to do is to refresh the soil around the plants with a top dressing of compost.

The most successful gardens are comprised of plants that are naturally suited or adaptable to soil, situation, and climate conditions. Native plants are an excellent place to start.

If you pick mostly evergreen, drought tolerant plants, you will have little or no maintenance other than weeding. Covering the soil with 1-2” of gravel or crushed stone will dramatically reduce the need to weed.

Here’s a short list of plants to get you started:

Acaena: A fast growing, dense evergreen groundcover. Full sun to partial shade.
Ajuga: A groundcover with blue flower spikes in the spring. Deer resistant. Full sun to full shade.
Aquilegia flabella & alpina: Produces a variety of two tone flowers that bloom spring through summer. Full sun to partial shade.
Aster alpinus: Forms a compact mound with white blooms in May and June. Full sun to partial shade.
Aubrieta: A vigorous, mat forming groundcover that flowers in early spring. Full sun to partial shade.
Aurinia: Produces clusters of gold flowers in spring. Evergreen. Full sun to partial shade.
Bellis perennis: Produces daisy-like flowers in red, pink, or white. Full sun to partial shade.
Campanula carpatica: Produces blue or white, bell-shaped flowers through early summer. Full sun to partial shade.
Daphne ‘Lawrence Crocker’: Purple flowers bloom from spring to fall. Evergreen. Full sun to partial shade.
Delosperma: An evergreen, succulent groundcover that flowers from late spring to summer. Full sun.
Dianthus: Produces mid-summer blooms in various colors. Deer resistant. Full sun.
Erigeron: Clump forming with daisy-like flowers from spring to summer. Full sun to partial shade.
Erodium: A low growing, compact plant which flowers from April through October. Full sun.
Festuca: Produces durable, clumping mounds of blue, spiky foliage. Full sun.
Gentiana acaulis: Produces a mat of glossy leaves with blue trumpet flowers in summer. Full sun.
Geum: An evergreen with tall, brightly colored flowers. Full sun to partial shade.
Gypsophila repens: Produces abundant clusters of pink or white flowers from spring into summer. Full sun.
Herniaria: Tiny, bright green, trailing foliage turns reddish in the fall. Full sun to partial shade.
Iberis: Mounding or trailing with white flowers in spring. Full sun.
Lewisia: Semi-succulent plants that bloom white to pink (or gold) from spring to early summer. Full sun to partial shade.
Lithodora: An evergreen, trailing groundcover with blue, star-shaped flowers in early spring. Full sun.
Papaver alpinum & nudicaule: Readily reseeds white, yellow, or peach flowers in midsummer. Full sun.
Parahebe catarractae: Produces small, summer blooming, saucer-shaped flowers with pointed petals. Full sun.
Potentilla: A clumping, evergreen with clusters of flowers in early summer. Full sun.
Pulsatilla: Produces bell or cup-shaped flowers in late spring that mature to feathery seed heads. Full sun.
Saxifraga: A cushion forming evergreen with small, spring time flowers. Full sun to partial shade.
Sedum: There are many types of these succulents, from short groundcover to upright. Full sun.
Scleranthus: Forms a low growing green mat. Full sun to partial shade.
Sempervivum: A great, low growing succulent for rock walls that needs little soil. Full sun.
Thymus: Has a mounding, spreading habit with aromatic leaves and small flowers. Full sun to partial shade.
Veronica repens: A groundcover with small, blue or white, star-shaped flowers. Full sun to partial shade.