Alpine plant ident. Flashcards
Aubrieta ‘Red Carpet’
Decorative merit - Spring flowers
Ultimate height 0.1 Ultimate spread 0.1–0.5m
Site requirements - Full sun, well drained soil.
Hardy = H6
Pruning - Cut back after flowering to maintain compactness
Pests - Can get aphids and flea beetle
Diseases - May be infected by white blister
Gentiana acaulis
Decorative merit - Spring flowers
Ultimate height 0.1 Ultimate spread 0.1–0.5m
Site requirements - Full sun or p.shade, well drained soil.
Hardy = H5
Pruning - none
Pests - Can get slugs, snail, and aphids.
Diseases - Root rot
Helianthemum ‘Wisley Pink’
Decorative merit - Spring flowers
Ultimate height 0.1-0.5 Ultimate spread 0.1–0.5m
Site requirements - Full sun, well drained soil.
Hardy = H4
Pruning - after flowering
Pests - none
Diseases - none
Iberis sempervirens
Decorative merit - Spring flowers
Ultimate height 0.1-0.5 Ultimate spread 0.1–0.5m
Site requirements - Full sun, well drained soil.
Hardy = H5
Pruning - after flowering
Pests - slugs snails and caterpillars
Diseases - none
Pulsatilla vulgaris
Decorative merit - Spring flowers
Ultimate height 0.1-0.5 Ultimate spread 0.1–0.5m
Site requirements - Full sun, well drained soil.
Hardy = H5
Pruning - none
Pests - slugs
Diseases - none
Sempervivum arachnoideum
Decorative merit - Summer flowers
Ultimate height 0.1-0.5 Ultimate spread 0.1–0.5m
Site requirements - Full sun, well drained soil.
Hardy = H7
Pruning - none
Pests - vine weevil
Diseases - rust
Campanula carpatica
Decorative merit - Summer flowers
Ultimate height 0.1-0.5 Ultimate spread 0.1–0.5m
Site requirements - Full sun or p.shade, moist well drained to well drained soil.
Hardy = H5
Pruning - none
Pests - slugs
Diseases - rust
Dianthus alpinus
Decorative merit - Summer flowers
Ultimate height 0.1m Ultimate spread 0.1–0.5m
Site requirements - Full sun, well drained soil.
Hardy = H6
Pruning - dead head
Pests - slugs
Diseases - Fusarium wilt
Saxifraga ‘Splendens’
Decorative merit - Summer flowers
Ultimate height 0.1m Ultimate spread 0.1–0.5m
Site requirements - P.shade, well drained soil.
Hardy = H6
Pruning - none
Pests - slugs, aphids, vine weevil
Diseases - none
Sedum acre
Decorative merit - Summer flowers
Ultimate height 0.1m Ultimate spread 0.1–0.5m
Site requirements - full sun, moist well drained to well drained soil.
Hardy = H7
Pruning - none
Pests - none
Diseases - none
Definition of a rockery perennial
A dwarf herbaceous perennial suitable for growing in a rock garden’.
Plants commonly included in a rockery planting scheme may be from the following:
1) True Alpines.
2) Low-growing herbaceous plants.
3) Slow-growing ground cover plants inc. conifers.
4) Dwarf shrubs.
5) Dwarf bulbs.
Types of Container
Usually, a natural material like stone, earthenware, wood:
Troughs. Sinks, often coated with a natural-looking substance e.g . hypertufa.
Containers made of hypertufa.
Hollowed out logs / trunks.
Hypertufa is a mixture of sifted peat substitute (1-2 parts) with 1 part cement and 1 part coarse sand. This is spread on to the surface of a glazed sink previously painted with a bonding agent. It is applied at about 1-2cm thick. A stiffer mix (using 3 parts sand) sandwiching wire mesh is used in a mould to make containers of pure hypertufa. The surface is roughened with a wire brush and liquid manure applied to encourage mosses etc.)
Growing Media
For most alpines, a standard potting mix can be used plus a third as much again of stone chippings of 6-9mm diameter.
To fill a container, cover the drainage holes with crocks to stop them blocking up. Pour in about one quarter of the depth with chippings / gravel. Cover this with a layer of fibrous peat-substitute and finish with the compost mix.
Position and bed in pieces of rock or tufa as the container is filled to simulate a small scale rock garden. Water thoroughly, allow to drain then plant up.
For small acid-loving plants a mixture of 4 parts lime-free leaf mould, peat substitute, composted bark or bracken litter with one part coarse sand.
Maintenance of Rockeries and Containers
Weeding
Little weeding should be required in containers where weed seed-free compost would have been used. Because of the slow-growing nature of alpine plants it is important that no competition is allowed and weeding is prompt.
Feeding
This should not be required for several years especially if nutrients were included in the original planting mixture.
If required in older plantings, a slow release general fertiliser could be worked into the surface of the beds in spring, whilst with containers the surface of the compost could be removed and replaced with a top-dressing of fresh compost and a further covering of grit.
Top-dressing
This can apply to the renewing of grit etc. especially in situations like a slope where the covering could move.
It is particularly important to ensure good coverage in the autumn to minimise the effect of heavy rains on the soil / compost surface and provide extra drainage around the foliage.
Watering
Watering is probably only required 2 or 3 times in a normal summer, in the open. Alpine plants can root quite deeply. However, containers should be watered more frequently. This allows for careful placement around plants that are sensitive to having wet foliage.
Trimming and Pruning
3 D’s on dwarf shrubs. Removal of dead flowers and leaves is necessary to keep plants healthy and some like Helianthemum, Aubretia, Arabis etc. would benefit from a hard cutting back (about half) to keep compact and promote new growth to flower next year.
Winter Protection
Some plants require protection from cold and wet combined, and this can be via panes of glass propped over the plants (often they are in containers). Cold frames or alpine houses could be used.
Pests and Diseases
Most alpines are problem-free however if fed too much soft growth can attract aphids. Some plants are vulnerable to slugs and snails but the grit and drier conditions tend to discourage them.
Ants occasionally form nests under cushion-forming plants and fungal diseases can be a problem where ventilation is poor and / or the foliage gets too wet.
