5/6.Alpine and rock garden plants Flashcards
1
Q
Draba aizoides
Spring flowering
A
Details:
- Mat-forming perennial with small, dark green leaves
- Bright yellow flowers in late spring
2
Q
Gentiana acaulis
Spring flowering
A
Details:
- Evergreen mat-forming perennial
- Solitary, deep blue trumpet-shaped flowers spotted green inside
3
Q
Phlox douglasii ‘Crackerjack’
Spring flowering
A
Details:
- A compact evergreen perennial, forming a mat of dark green, awl-shaped leaves
- Magenta-red flowers are borne singly or in pairs from late spring
4
Q
Euryops acraeus
Summer flowering
A
Details:
- Dense dome-shaped, dwarf evergreen shrub
- Bears many deep yellow daisy flowers
5
Q
Thymus serphyllum ‘Pink Chintz
Summer flowering
A
Details:
- An evergreen sub-shrub with grey-green, aromatic leaves forming a mat of finely hairy, trailing stems
- In summer, it produces whorls of flesh-pink flowers
- Very attractive to bees
Suggested Uses:
-Use in a rock garden or plant in crevices in paving
6
Q
What are Alpine plants
A
- Traditional alpine plants grow above the tree line at high altitudes
- Need to be able to survive harsh conditions
- Can be deciduous , evergreen or herbaceous
- Alpines live on slopes
7
Q
Key characteristics of Alpine plants
(Some or all of the following)
A
- Hardy and adaptable
- Creeping/Cushion forming to survive string wind/ snow
- Small leaves or hairy leaves to cut down water loss
- Silvery leaves to help reflect light
- Often grown in poor, thin soil, lacking nutrient and organic content
- Can not withstand constant wetness and need good drainage
- Compact with few over 15cm
8
Q
What are ‘Rock garden’ plants
A
- Low growing plants
- Small in size
- Includes dwarf tree’s and shrubs
- All need good drainage
9
Q
Material choices for a rock garden
A
- Should be on a generous scale
- Use salvaged/ second hand stone where possible
- *Sandstone (most popular)**
- Natural ‘strata’ clearly visible
- *Slate**
- Can be useful in smaller areas
- *Tufa**
- Light weight (due to air pockets)
- Porous lime rock
- *Limestone**
- Do not use newly quarried limestone for conservation reasons
- Do not take from limestone pavements or walls
- *GRP**
- Lightweight
- May need extra work to help blend into surroundings
- *Hypertufa**
- Artificial, made from coir, sharp sand and cement
- Molded into ‘natural’ shapes
10
Q
How to construct a rock garden
A
- *Site**
- Needs a naturally open site
- Good drainage needed
- A sunny aspect (south) will be needed for most plants but some may need shaded pockets (north)
- Weed free
- Sloping
- Free from overhanging trees
- *Construction**
- Dig 30cm
- Add 15cm hardcore/ stones for drainage
- Top with inverted turf
- Add top soil/grit
- *Rocks**
- Place large ‘key stones’ first
- A few large rocks look better than many smaller ones
- Use a range of sizes
- Bed 1/3rd into soil and build up soil around
- Add mid sized stones irregularly
- Ensure ‘Strata’ is in same direction on all stones
- *Planting**
- Use Alpine/ rock plants
- After 1-2 weeks of bedding in time
- Dig planting hole with trowel - allow space for gravel to sit under the plant
- Soak plants well before planting
- Water in / top dress with stones
- Large quantities of grit needed for drainage
11
Q
Maintenance of Rock garden
A
- Weed - Remove all weeds as soon as they appear
- Water - Water, if the soil becomes very dry during a period of drought
- Feed - Top dressing may need to be renewed, A slow release fertiliser, such as Osmocote, may be applied alongside top dressing
- Support - Use netting or other deterrents to protect newly planted alpines, Periodically re-firm any plants that may have worked lose, In winter protect small bulbs from winter wet with a cloche
- Pest/disease - Remove any dead, damaged or diseased plant material
- Prune - Regularly remove all dead flowers and leaves
12
Q
Growing alpines and rock plants in containers
A
- Containers provide the opportunity to grow alpines in a small garden
- Old stone sinks and troughs make very good containers
- Avoid the use of plastic containers as these are not porous
- It is important that the container has drainage holes in the bottom
- An open position with sun for at least part of the day, is ideal for most plants
- Raise sinks and troughs off the ground, up to a height of about 45cm
13
Q
Uses for Aquatic plants
A
- Enliven a pond - help to link with garden
- Can help to maintain clean water
- Create a habitat for wildlife
- Adapted for different areas on the pond
- Consider native or exotic
- Check depth/spread
- Should cover ⅓ to ½ of the pond surface
14
Q
Deep water plants
A
- 30-90cm
- Leaves help to reduce algae - reduce light
Nymphaea ‘Gladstoniana’ - white flowers with prominent yellow stamens
15
Q
Floating plants
A
- Helps to prevent build up of algae
- Provide shelter for pond life
- Absorb nutrients through fine suspended root hairs
Azolla filiculoides - tiny, free floating fern-like plant that turns purplish- red in autumn
16
Q
Marginal plants
A
- Grown at pool edge with roots in 30cm of water
- Pond/pool may require a shelf to support or natural sloping side
- Help to soften edges and break up outline
- May provide shelter for wildlife
Ranunculus lingua ‘Grandiflora’ - heartshaped leaves and yellow, buttercup-shaped flowers
17
Q
Bog plants
A
- Thrive in water logged soil
- Planted directly into soil rich with organic matter
Mimulus cardinalis - Scarlet tubular flowers
