Alpines and rock garden plants

Question 1

Dianthus alpinus

Answer 1

Summer display

Mat-forming evergreen hardy perennial with dark green foliage

Solitary, pale-spotted, deep pink to cerise flowers 4cm wide, on stalks 2-10cm tall in summer; tends to be short-lived

Rock garden, gravel garden, cottage/informal garden

h < 10cm, s < 10 cm

well-drained, neutral to alkaline soil in full sun.

Question 2

Iberis sempervirens

Answer 2

Spring interest

Spreading evergreen sub-shrub to 30cm in height, with narrow, dark green leaves.

Flowers pure white, in dense heads to 4cm in width, at first flattish, later becoming rounded, from late spring

Coastal, rock garden, gravel garden, will overhand edge of planter/wall, cottage/informal garden

h 0.1 - 0.5 m, s 0.1 - 0.5m

Grows well in poor soils in full sun.

Question 3

Pulsatilla vulgaris

Answer 3

Spring display

perennial to 20cm, forming a clump of finely dissected basal leaves, silky when young.

Flowers in spring 5-9cm in width, erect or nodding, violet, followed by silky fruiting heads

Gravel garden, rock garden, patio/container plant

h 20cm, s 20cm

Grow in very well-drained soil in full sun

Question 4

Sedum acre

Answer 4

Summer display

mat-forming, hairless, succulent perennial with small, ovoid, fleshy leaves close to the stems.

Flowers are five-petalled, yellow and star shaped. They bloom from May to July. Bees enjoy its nectar

Dry stone wall, wildflower meadow, wildlife garden, rock garden, coastal

h < 10cm, s 0.1 - 0.5m

May grow on a wide range of soils and be invasive. As it’s drought tolerant this plant naturally occurs on well-draining such as dunes, grassland, cracks on walls in full sun

Question 5

Leontopodium alpinum (edelweiss)

Answer 5

Spring display

Low-growing perennial with narrow, grey-green leaves

Heads of yellowish-white flowers, surrounded by white, woolly bracts, in spring or early summer

Suitable for rock garden, raised bed, or alpine house.

h 0.1 - 0.5m, s 0 - 0.1m

Grow in well-drained soil in a sheltered position in full sun. Protect from winter wet

Question 6

Helianthemum nummularium (common rock rose)

Answer 6

Summer display

low, spreading evergreen shrub with tiny, oval leaves

Sulphur yellow flowers produced from late spring to early autumn

Wildlife garden, wildflower meadow, gravel garden, rock garden. banks and slopes

h 0.1 - 0.5 m, s 0.1 - 0.5 m

Prefers alkaline to neutral, moist but well-drained soil in full sun, but will tolerate acid soil and dry conditions. Survives well amongst short grass

Question 7

State what is meant by:

• true alpines
• rock garden plants

Answer 7

True alpines

• found in mountainous regions i.e. high altitude
• adapted to environmental conditions e.g. low temperatures, dry to drought moisture levels, higher levels of UV light and truncated growing season

Rock garden plants
- smaller shrubs and perennials that have shorter height and habit -> well suited to rock gardens

Question 8

Cerastium tomentosum (snow-in-summer)

Answer 8

Spring interest

Vigorous mat-forming perennial to 15cm in height, with narrow, white-hairy leaves

Star-shaped white flowers 2cm across, with notched petals, in late spring and summer

Suitable for hot, dry bank or gravel gardens. Ground cover

h 0.1 - 0.5 m. s 1 - 1.5m

Well drained soil in full sun

Question 9

Aubrieta ‘Ida’

Answer 9

Spring interest.

Evergreen perennial producing a mat of small, grey-green leaves

Masses of pinky-purple flowers in mid- to late spring

Ideal plant for dry areas such as chalky slopes and on walls, will trail over walls

h < 10cm, s 0.1 - 0.5m

well-drained soil in full sun, can tolerate partial shade.

Question 10

Pratia pedunculata (blue star creeper)

Answer 10

Summer interest

Vigorous evergreen perennial to 2cm tall, quickly forming a wide mat of tiny rounded leaves

short-stalked star-shaped pale blue flowers in summer

Rock garden, ground cover, patio/container plant. will grow in cracks between rocks or slabs

h < 10cm, s 1 - 1.5m

fertile, loamy, moist to well-drained soil in partial or deep shade

Question 11

Saxifraga primuloides

Answer 11

Summer display

mat-forming evergreen perennial with rosettes of spoon-shaped dark green, scalloped leaves and erect stems to 20cm tall

panicles of starry white flowers, spotted with red, in summer

Ground cover, planted between stone stepping stones or stairs, rock garden

h 0.1 - 0.5 m, s 0.1 - 0.5 m

Easy to grow in any type of soil or situation but ideal for deep or partial shade

Question 12

Alpine plants for container

Answer 12

• Armeria juniperifolia
• Draba aizoides
• Pulsatilla vulgaris
• Raoulia hookeri
• Saxifraga paniculata
• Sempervivum arachnoideum