4.1-4.3 Alpines Flashcards
Define alpine and rock plants
Alpines occur in mountainous regions above the tree line. They are found in a variety of habitats (high alpine rock faces - scree slopes - alpine meadows
Rock plants adapted to lower altitude habitats - tundra, coastal and Mediterranean hillsides
Rock plants are suitable for growing alongside true alpines in rock gardens and similar features eg scree slopes, dry stone walls, sinks, meadows
Both range from herb perennials, bulbs, dwarf shrubs
Generally: compact, low growing, small succulent, hairy or leather leaves and may have extensive root systems
Alpines for Spring and Summer display
Spring:
Pulsatilla vulgaris
Aubrieta deltoidea
Armeria maritima
Gentiana verna
Iberis sempervirens
Summer:
Helianthemum ‘Amy Baring’
Lithodora diffusa ‘Heavenly blue
Lewisia cotyledon
Primula auricula
Phlox subulata
Sedum spathulifolium ‘Cape Blanco’
Name
Pulsatilla vulgaris
A perennial to 20cm, forming a clump of finely dissected basal leaves, silky when young. Silky buds open to light purple, cup-shaped flowers which mature to develop a star shape. As the flowers develop, ferny foliage starts to appear at the base of the stems. After flowering silky, fruiting heads appear. Deciduous
H 20cm S 20cm
Spring flowering
Name
Aubrieta deltoidea
A mat forming semi evergreen perennial of slender stems with small leaves and short racemes of 4 petalled flowers in shades of pink and purple
H 10-222cm S 30-60cm
Spring flowering
Name
Primula auricula
An evergreen perennial with rosettes of obovate, pale green leaves. Fragrant, bright yellow flowers 1.5-2.5cm in width are carried in umbels on stems to 20cm in height
Spring flowering
Name
Phlox subulata ‘Amazing Grace’
Semi evergreen perennial with fine, needle-like green leaves and from mid to late spring, a profusion of flowers
H 15cm S 50cm
Spring
Name
Gentiana verna
A diminutive evergreen perennial slowly forming a mat of narrowly ovate leaves, with solitary, erect, deep sky-blue flowers with white throats
H 10cm S 10cm
Late spring and early summer
Name
Armeria maritima
A mat-forming evergreen perennial with dense, needle like leaves. Clusters of spherical pink flowers are borne above foliage to 15cm in late spring and summer
H 30-50 cm S 30-50
Spring/early summer
Name
Helianthemum ‘Amy Baring’
A low-growing evergreen shrub forming spreading mats to 12cm high, with narrow elliptic leaves. Flowers single, deep yellow with an orange centre, borne in racemes from late spring
Spring/Summer
Name
Lithodora diffusa ‘Heavenly Blue’
A prostrate evergreen shrub forming a wide mat up to 15cm in height, with small, hairy leaves and abundant, vivid deep blue flowers 12mm in width
H 15m S 60cm
Spring/summer
Name
Lewisia cotyledon
A rosette-forming evergreen perennial with fleshy, strap-shaped leaves. Abundant, funnel-shaped purplish-pink, orange, yellow or white flowers 1.5-2.5cm in width are borne in open sprays on stems to 20cm
Spring/summer
H 30cm S 30cm
Name
Sempervivum tectorum
A vigorous mat-forming evergreen perennial with clusters of fleshy rosettes to 10cm in width, the leaves blue-green suffused with reddish-purple. Starry purplish flowers are borne in flat cymes on stems to 20cm in height
H 10cm S 15-60cm
Name
Sedum spathulifolium ‘Cape Blanco’
an evergreen perennial forming a wide mat to 10cm in height, with thick, purple-tinged grey-green leaves, the inner ones white-bloomed. Starry yellow flowers 15mm width are carried in small terminal clusters
H 10cm S 60cm
Summer
Site requirements
open and sunny (no overhanging trees)
south/west facing
free draining, good aeration, water retentive
low fertility
low humidity
free of weeds and p & d
naturally sloping
accessible for viewing and maintenance
suitable pH
Top dressing - limestone/sandstone/granite chippings, grit or gravel 2-10mm
Routine maintenance
Weeding - thin bladed trowel
Feeding - don’t need nutrient-rich soil - b f and b at 40g/m2 annually
Top dressing - keep gravel/grit topped up (a foil and weed suppressant) Avoid limestone chippings with ericaceous plants and match gravel with rock used
Watering - essential for newly planted areas, but once established only in late spring/summer when conditions are particularly dry.
Trimming - annual trim to keep compact and control vigour/spread - after flowering or at start of growing season, deadhead and remove DDD, cut just above a node, or near the base of previous season’s growth
Division - in the same way as border perennials - best done in autumn, unless plant flowers very early in spring (divide after flowering)
p&d - aphids and slugs
Wet winters can result in fungal infections - cover delicate plants with perspex to keep them dry
