Alpines and Miniature Plants for Rock Gardens
Alpines and rockery plants cover a wide range of perennials and sub-shrubs that are small in size, compact or low growing. Most require good drainage, full sun and protection from winter wet.
The following section lists a selection of alpines and dwarf plants that can be grown in rock gardens in Great Britain (England/Scotland/Ireland).
Anacyclus
Mount Atlas Daisy
Anagallis
Pimpernel
Arenaria
Sandwort
Alyssum saxatile
Alyssum
Arabis
White Rock cress
Armeria maritima
Thrift, Sea pink
Aubrieta
Rock cress
Campanula carpatica
Serbian bellflower
Cerastium
Snow in summer
Globularia
Globe daisy
Helianthemum
Rock rose
Hepatica
Liverleaf
Iberis sempervirens
Candytuft
Lithodora
Purple gromwell
Leontopodium
Edelweiss
Lewisia
Siskiyou
Omphalodes
Navelwort
Oxalis
Pink sorrel
Phuopsis
Caucasian crosswort
Polygala
Milkwort
Saponaria
Soapwort
Saxifraga
Rockfoil
Sedum
Stonecrop
Sempervivum
Houseleek
Despite their compact size and delicate appearance many true alpines
are extremely hardy and thrive well in the garden if given the correct
growing conditions. Not all the plants listed here are true alpines,
many are basically miniature versions of standard herbaceous plants, which can be also grown with good success in the border.
Most domestic rockeries in the UK are not true rock gardens in the natural sense but are generally raised areas, slopes and screes, that have been artificially engineered to provide good drainage. Rocks are often added to improve the structure and aesthetic appearance. These features help to recreate the natural conditions where these plants are found in the wild, helping to shown off them off to their best advantage.