What plants to plant on an alpine hill and rockeries. What flowers to plant on an alpine hill with seeds Plants suitable for an alpine hill
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According to the canon, both alpine slides and flat rockeries should be decorated with plants of exclusively alpine origin. However, in central Russia, they are, firstly, not so easy to find, and secondly, to grow.
Therefore, today we will talk about which plants and flowers are as close as possible to the "Alpines" in terms of decorativeness and drought and frost resistance, as well as how to choose plants for an alpine slide and rockery so that the composition is harmonious and remains beautiful all season.
10 principles for choosing plants for a rock garden
Principle 1. You need to decide on the types of plants at the design stage of a rocky garden
It is best to work out the composition options on checkered paper / graph paper at a scale of, say, 1:50 or 1:25. Or at least draw an approximate scheme for planting plants and stones, taking into account the size of their growth (see the example below).
1 - Mountain pine, 2 - Creeping thyme, 3 - Canadian phlox, 4 - Evers stonecrop, 5 - Gray fescue, 6 - Rocky alissum, 7 - Angustifolia lavender, 8 - Stonecrop, 9 - Fragrant rue, 10 - Steller's wormwood. Note: the scheme of the alpine slide is shown without taking into account the flowering time of plants
Principle 2. The composition of an alpine slide or rockery is made up of at least 5 groups of plants
Group 1. Conifers
Mandatory elements of any alpine slide or rockery, because due to them the composition remains beautiful all year round, they give the rocky garden texture and mountain flavor. The main condition is that only miniature conifers with a slow growth rate are suitable.
Popular plants: Dwarf spruce, mountain pine, creeping species of juniper, arborvitae, cypress.
Alpine hill with conifers near the firewood shed 
Tip: Conifers on an alpine hill and in rockeries look good right next to the stones.
They also need to be short.
Popular plants: Cotoneaster horizontal, iberis, dryad, cinquefoil, barberry, ceratostigma, spirea.
Tip: Deciduous shrubs in an alpine hill / rockery are not very desirable, as they are required to clear the garden of fallen leaves.
Group 3. Herbaceous perennials
Perennials greatly simplify the care of a rocky garden, and therefore you cannot do without them, although most of the representatives fade by mid-summer.
Popular plants: Carnations, Carpathian bellflower, rocky beetroot, saxifrage, gravel, armeria, multicolor spurge, small-leaved hostas, bergenia, irises.
Group 4. Ground cover plants
Ground cover flowers are the backbone of the rock garden flora as they remain ornamental from early spring to late fall, are very unpretentious, grow rapidly and suppress the spread of weeds.
Popular plants: stonecrops, phloxes, jaskolka, alyssum, soapwort, cistus and many others.
Phlox subulate 
Group 5. Bulbous
Thanks to them, the alpine slide / rockery blooms from early spring.
Popular plants: Snowdrops, blueberries, chionodoxes, late tulips, pushkinia, chickweed, autumn crocuses and autumn crocuses.
Tip: Since after flowering, most bulbs completely disappear, they are not given a special place, but planted along with ground cover.
Principle 3. The composition of an alpine slide or rockery is made up in such a way that any flowering plants are constantly present in it
In a rocky garden, withering foliage is especially noticeable and it is not always possible to hide it behind the "neighbors". Therefore, to create an alpine slide or rockery, it is advisable to choose those plants that will bloom all summer or will retain the beauty of the leaves after flowering.
In this sense, it is very good to include annuals in the composition, which, although contrary to the rules, compensates for the lack of flowers after the bulbs and perennials have faded. The main thing is to choose creeping low-growing varieties with small flowers. For example, it can be: alissum, tricolor violet, lobelia or erigeron Karvinsky.
Free alpine slide with petunias in the first row However, if your dacha has a lot of mixborders and flower beds, then a modest coniferous alpine hill or rockery from mid-summer, on the contrary, can successfully set off a riot of colors and look fresh.
Principle 4. The basis of the flora of an alpine slide or rockery is ground cover plants
In order for an alpine hill or rockery to be picturesque and colorful, their flora should consist of 60-70% of ground cover plants. The rest can be allocated to other plants.
Principle 5. The flora of the alpine hill / rockery should not be too diverse
From a large number of assorted flowers and leaves, the composition can become too colorful and artificial, the stones will be lost against such a background, and in fact they should be the main focus of any alpine slide or rockery. Moreover, if we take into account that most of the rocky garden is occupied by ground covers (ideally, about 1 square meter of area should be allocated for 1 species), then there will be very little space left for the rest of the plants. So, for example, for an alpine slide with an area of 10 sq. 6-8 meters of plant species will be enough.
Plants in a rocky garden should not interfere with each other and obscure their surroundings. Principle 6. All plants, including conifers, should be undersized
For flowers and shrubs, the optimal height is up to 60 cm (during flowering). It is better to use conifers only those that grow up to 1.5 meters and grow very slowly (say, 3 cm per year).
The height of all plants should be commensurate with the stones. Creeping plant species should be selected for small and low stones, and tall and lush conifers, shrubs and perennials can be planted next to large boulders and boulders.
By the way, with the help of plants, you can visually increase the height of an alpine hill or rockery on a slope by planting conifers on top or, conversely, balance the elevation by planting tall plants at its foot.
Principle 7. Plants in rock gardens / rockeries should be unpretentious
To take care of the rock garden to a minimum, avoid actively growing ground cover and deciduous shrubs, and also plant more perennials and conifers.
Separately, we will talk about ground cover. Some of their species grow so quickly and actively that in one or two seasons they can hide most of the garden under their carpet, including large stones. Correcting the situation will not be easy. Therefore, when planting such plants, for example, sapling, phlox or stonecrop, firstly, be prepared to periodically cut off the excess, and secondly, take preventive measures - protect the plant with border tape or plant it in a wide container to prevent the spread of unwanted rhizomes. And, of course, do not use fertilizers.
Principle 8. Consider the impact of stones on the soil
Plants that prefer slightly alkaline soil should not be planted near granite and basalt. And next to limestone, on the contrary, you can not plant plants that need acidic soil.
Principle 9. An important factor in plant selection is the duration of illumination of a rocky garden during the day
Here are the lists of plants for a semi-shady and sunny rocky garden.
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Badan and styloid phlox in a shady rockery Principle 10. The flora of a rocky garden should match the style of the site
If the house and the plot are decorated in a traditional style, then the plants for rockeries and rock gardens should be selected in a variety of colors, with a lot of flowers and in a multi-color range.
But for modern dachas and country houses, monochrome or contrasting compositions with a large number of mosses, conifers, evergreen shrubs and perennials, bulbous and even succulents are best suited.
13 average rating: 4,38 out of 5)
The main component of the rock garden is vegetation. If the plants for the alpine slide are well chosen, no more decor is needed. And for this it is necessary to determine three things: 1) what shrubs, herbs and flowers are used for the alpine slide; 2) conditions for the growth of various crops; 3) their compatibility.
Plant selection principles
Traditionally, rock gardens were planted with alpine perennials. They have the best features:
- plants are undersized;
- ground cover;
- compact;
- not too demanding on the composition of the soil;
- drought-resistant;
- wind resistant;
- winter-hardy.
These plants for the alpine slide are the main crops now. Their advantages:
- does not need to be planted annually;
- form dense curtains, leaving no room for weeds. Weeding is required less often than annual crops;
- with timely top dressing and removal of faded heads, most plants can bloom again in the fall.
Perennials for alpine slides are propagated by seeds, cuttings, dividing bushes.
Creeping plants and flowers (most of them perennials) have similar advantages. Propagated by mustache, shoots, superficial roots. But they have a minus - aggressive growth, other crops are clogged.
The disadvantage of most perennials is that they do not bloom in the first year after planting. Therefore, now many owners combine them with annual crops. Annuals for have one more plus: you can sow different ones every year, the design will change from season to season. A number of annuals have a long flowering period, thanks to which the rock garden looks elegant from spring to autumn without additional efforts from the owners.
In the middle lane, in addition to high-mountain species, some forest and steppe cultures are used.
What plants are suitable for a slide:
- undersized coniferous shrubs and trees (, thuja, etc.). Conifers zone the object in summer, and in winter they serve as its only decoration;
- deciduous shrubs. Mostly evergreens are suitable - they do not shed leaves that will have to be harvested;
- ground cover (creeping) occupy most of the hill;
- herbaceous crops for the alpine slide are perennial, preferably mountainous;
- bulbous. They are planted along with ground covers. You should not allocate a separate sector for them, because after flowering the stems die and a bald spot forms in this place.
The process of arranging an alpine slide gives boundless scope for imagination. But there are a number of rules that you need to follow so that your creation lasts a long time and looks good all the time:
- plants for an alpine hill should be selected taking into account the illumination: in direct sun - photophilous, if an alpine hill in the shade - shade-loving;
- All plants should have the required amount of sun, including very undersized and recently planted ones. The composition should be selected so that high-growth crops do not clog the rest;
- choose plants that require the same care;
- all cultures are undersized, flowers are medium-sized;
- flowering time is different so that the slide is elegant all season;
- not too high demands on the composition of the soil (after all, they have to grow on stones);
- elements of the composition should be harmoniously combined.
If you prefer alpine slide, you can limit the floristic component to conifers alone. And in a small amount: traditional rockery is a Japanese rock garden, vegetation is generally not welcome there. So an alpine hill of conifers is a great option for ascetics and lazy people.
Important: When selecting plants, consider the characteristics of the soil and the chemical composition of the stones. Some types of stones tend to leach or deoxidize the soil. This should not damage the vegetation cover.
Types and invoices
Let's name the most popular plants for rock garden.
Perennial:
- edelweiss (otherwise mountaineer) grows on rocky mountain ground, photophilous. Propagated by seeds and seedlings;
- young (stone rose). There are many types that differ in the shape and color of the outlet. Some varieties change color depending on the season;
- alyssum (or beetroot). Drought-resistant, photophilous, with a sweet smell. Inflorescences of small golden flowers. It blooms in May, the color lasts more than a month and a half. In autumn, the plant may bloom again;
- maritime armeria. Drought-resistant, sensitive to waterlogging. Globular inflorescences, like an ornamental onion. Blooms all season;
- echinacea. Photophilous, demanding on the soil. Flowering time - July-August. Bright large flowers;
- three types of carnations: grass, alpine, pinnate. They grow in clusters, flowering is lush. The grass blooms first, the rest - in the second decade of June;
- crimson arenaria. Non-capricious, drought-resistant. Stem up to 15 centimeters long. It blooms all summer with small flowers in the form of stars;
- periwinkle. Grows in any light, blooms all season. Flowers small blue;
- Balkan geranium. Bushes 20-25 cm, grows in any light and humidity. Carved leaves turn red or yellow in autumn;
- rhodiola. Sun-loving, loves damp (without waterlogging) nutritious soil. Blooms all summer;
- soddy pike (meadow). Inflorescence in the form of a panicle. Grows in spring and autumn;
- soldanella (snow bell). Whimsical, loves volgly soil without waterlogging. Propagated by dividing the bush. Color - white or blue;
- whorled asparagus (asparagus). There are spherical varieties. Small white flowers, red berries.
Annuals:
- notched dimorphotheca. Drought-resistant, cold-resistant. Blooms luxuriantly and for a long time. Large inflorescences of yellow and orange flowers;
- lagurus (haretail) is a cereal ornamental plant. Sun-loving, loves abundant watering, painfully reacts to dryness;
- brachycoma iberisoloist. Light-loving and heat-loving plant. You can water only when there is no rain for a long time. The soil is suitable dried, but nutritious;
- . The flower is unpretentious, photophilous and thermophilic. Many varieties. Blooms from early summer to frost.
Ground covers:
- . There are annuals and perennials. Moisture-loving, prefers sun or light shade. It blooms all summer, propagated by rosettes (they are removed after the plant has faded). Aggressive (easily crowds out neighbors);
- arabis. Honey plant, strong aroma. It blooms in May-June, after flowering it also looks good due to decorative leaves. In the sun, the color is more magnificent, in shaded conditions, the growth of the root system is stronger. Grows aggressively;
- obrieta. Perennial with abundant flowering. Forms a carpet up to 30 centimeters high, up to a meter wide. Leaves overwinter. Small flowers appear in May. Blooms up to 1.5 months. If then the shoots are cut off, it will re-bloom in the fall;
- delosperma profusely flowering. Annual flower. Sun-loving, loves hot weather and abundant watering. The preferred soil is poor, but with good drainage. Star-shaped flowers, pinkish lilac;
- woolly stakhis ("sheep's ears");
- wormwood Schmidt;
- thyme (creeping thyme);
- host;
- evers stonecrop;
- ayuga (creeping tenacious);
- acena buhan.
Bulbous:
- colchicums;
- blueberries;
- snowdrops;
- crocuses;
- muscari;
- tulips Kaufman;
- birdman.
- sage;
- monkey grass;
- heather (sparrow buckwheat);
- goose foot;
- rosemary;
- spikelet liatris;
- fescue;
- red cuff;
- lagurus (haretail);
- live-bearing sheep;
- maned barley;
- fescue Gauthier.
Coniferous trees and shrubs:
- dwarf firs. Unpretentious, drought-resistant. Christmas trees grow up to 60 centimeters, grow slowly. The shape of the crown is pyramidal. Can be shaped with a haircut. Colors - from blue (seaside spruce) to deep green (Canadian);
- . There are many species, there are creeping and standard ones. The color of the needles is green, yellow-green. Juniper is photophilous, grows well on stones;
- mountain dwarf pine Pug. The shape of the crown is spherical, in ten years it grows to half a meter. The color of the needles is greenish-blue. unpretentious;
- thuja. The crown is dense, spherical or cone-shaped. Can be shaped with a haircut. The needles are light green, under the sun it can turn red. Unpretentious, drought-resistant, cold-resistant.
Evergreen deciduous shrubs:
- cotoneaster horizontal. Small dense foliage is green all year round, turning crimson in autumn. In May, flowers appear, small pink. The fruits ripen in autumn and persist until spring;
- iberis evergreen. The height of the bush is up to half a meter, it branches strongly, the foliage is dense. Nice smell. It blooms for two months, the flowers are white, appear in May. The preferred soil is rocky or sandy. Photophilous, sensitive to waterlogging. It is necessary to water in a drought;
- barberry evergreen. Height up to half a meter. Blooms in May. Light-loving, undemanding to the soil. In severe frosts, it needs shelter;
- fan maple, euonymus, spirea.
Tip: If you want your slide not only to please the eye, but also to benefit, do not neglect medicinal plants - thyme, sage, rhodiola, chamomile, etc.
Choice by flowering time
If an important part of your composition is flowers for an alpine slide, you need to choose them so that they continue to bloom throughout the season.
Seeds of crops for early spring are planted in autumn:
- snowdrop;
- dwarf tulips;
- dwarf daffodils;
- primrose (stemless primrose);
- mouse hyacinth;
- sleep-grass (anemone, backache);
- spring;
- crocuses;
- alpine violet;
- scylla;
- Adonis;
- pushkinia;
- corydalis.
What flowers bloom in late spring:
- iberis (pepper);
- dark bell;
- Carpathian bell;
- dicentra clobuchkova;
- shaving;
- gypsophila;
- catchment area (aquilegia, orlik);
- subulate phlox;
- Gutchinsia alpine.
Summer flowers for rock garden:
- Indian strawberry;
- gentian;
- clove grass;
- saxifrage;
- alpine forget-me-not;
- sunflower (helianthemum);
- yaskolka.
Plants that bloom in autumn:
- dwarf chrysanthemums;
- autumn colchicum;
- Chinese;
- alpine aster.
Landing features
Since moisture-loving (for example, tropical) plants are not found on alpine slides, waterlogging of the flower bed should be avoided. Quality is a must. It is also important to protect the sown seeds and roots from rodents (moles, shrews), and the entire building from weeds. To do this, before laying the stones, three mandatory steps are performed:
- lay a metal mesh on the bottom (from rodents);
- geotextile fabric (from weeds);
- pour a drainage layer: 10 cm of crushed stone and 10 sand.
The stones themselves are laid at intervals, which are covered with earth - otherwise the plants will have nowhere to take root. After the masonry has settled, plants can be planted. When placing the following rules are observed:
- large shrubs are not planted near small stones;
- distribute crops so that they do not overlap each other with sunlight;
- large areas of stone must remain open, otherwise it is not a rock garden;
- do not place nearby plants with different growth rates;
- shade-tolerant plants are planted on the northern and eastern slopes for an alpine hill;
- in the south, west and at the top - light-loving and drought-resistant;
- slow-growing conifers for alpine hills (juniper, etc.) are planted near large stones, far from each other, at the base of the masonry.
Layout - tiered:
- at the foot - moisture-loving and shade-resistant (young, saxifrage, ornamental grasses, different types of mosses);
- higher, you can plant less whimsical plants (phloxes, primroses, backaches) on an alpine hill;
- top - light-loving drought-resistant: iberis, creeping thyme, alissum, edelweiss.
The boundaries between the tiers are stones or rows of tall plants.
A mixture of perennials "alpine slide" can be purchased at a specialized store. Ready-made decorative mixture "alpine slide" has already been selected according to the principle of species compatibility.
You will collect some plants near the house - in the field, in the forest. Landing should be carried out in accordance with the recommendations for each specific species.
Part of the composition can be planted with moss. How to grow it:
- Collect moss in the forest, clear the rhizomes from the ground. It should be taken from a tree if there are wooden fragments in your composition. In order for moss to grow on stones, you need to collect it from the stones.
- Pour two cups of kefir into a jar.
- Grind the moss, pour the glass into the same jar.
- Mix.
- Apply the solution with a brush on the rock garden stones.
Moss will take root within a month and a half. During this period, it needs to be watered and fed with mineral fertilizers.
Conclusion
As you can see, there are many important nuances. If in doubt, it is advisable to consult with professionals. You need to carefully compose floral compositions, study the characteristics of different species - then your slide will delight you for many years.
A rocky garden decorated with a flower garden is a fairly common element of many garden plots. The decorative appeal and ease of care of the rock garden caused such a popularity of this element of landscape design. Rock plants for an alpine slide always visually enliven a stone composition, but at the same time retain the effect of a natural mountain landscape.
Basic rules for plant selection
It is not difficult to create a stone composition that will become a spectacular decoration of a suburban area. To do this, when selecting plants for the "rocky garden", you must adhere to the following recommendations:
- When creating a composition, preference should be given to compact and undersized forms of plants that correspond to the proportional size of the slide itself.
- The choice of plants is carried out taking into account their resistance to local conditions: features of the soil, climate.
- When choosing a place for rooting, it is important to take into account the relationship of the plant to sunlight: sunny areas - for light-loving representatives of the plant world, shaded - for shade-tolerant ones.
- The intensity of growth and tillering of individual species is an important point, the lack of which can lead to the death of the "neighbors" of a rapidly growing plant.
- When creating compositions, it is important to take into account the characteristics of each of the plant inhabitants of the rock garden in order to avoid "unfavorable neighborhood". For example: very attractive and unpretentious in the care of the yaskolka, rezuha and obrietta have a bad effect on their "neighbors".
- It is desirable to plant a plant taking into account their “community of interests”: they should be combined with each other not only in appearance, but in the similarity of growing conditions, growth and development rates, as well as the flowering rhythm.
Material on choosing suitable stones for an alpine slide will also be useful:
When choosing perennial flowers for landscaping an alpine hill, one should focus not only on the location of the rock garden on the site, but also on the general style of the composition
The most effective combination is given by combinations of herbaceous perennials with shrub and tree forms, decorated with variegated rugs of beautifully flowering creeping species and juicy green touches of evergreen and ornamental deciduous species.
Examples of ornamental varieties
Ideal plants for a "rocky garden" are slow-growing woody and low-growing plants. Coniferous for the alpine slide allow you to provide a high decorative effect of the composition throughout the year.
In miniature stone compositions, creeping and dwarf forms of coniferous crops look great: miniature Canadian spruce "Conica", black pine "Nana", scaly juniper "Blue Carpet", western thuja "Danica"
Combining conifers with different crown shapes and needle colors in one composition, you can significantly enhance the picturesque effect.
Among the deciduous shrubs for the alpine slide, the clear favorites are the decorative forms of barberry, cotoneaster, chaenomeles, spirea
A bright decoration of the peak can be a perennial carnation and Iberis evergreen
A fluffy carpet of Iberis will cover the peak with snow-white flowers in May-June, cushion-like carnation bushes will delight with abundant flowering and a pleasant aroma throughout the summer
The sun-loving edelweiss growing on the slopes of impregnable mountains can become the main decoration of the rock garden, and the lush purple rugs of creeping thyme will attract many bees and butterflies with the honey aroma of flowers
The middle tier of the stone composition
Plants that prefer sunny areas, but at the same time easily tolerate light shading, can decorate the middle part of a rocky hill. At the middle level, higher soil moisture. This makes it possible to expand the range of plants for decoration by moisture-loving beauties.
In the days of May, the awl-shaped phlox will sparkle with a lush color of pink, blue and snow-white shades. A spectacular background for phlox can be woolly chistets with pleasant to the touch silvery pubescent leaves.
Noble silvery shades also have three-vein anafalis and Schmidt's wormwood.
Aubriette is a versatile plant for landscaping, because in addition to its gorgeous flowering in the summer months, it has decorative foliage, the richness of color and attractiveness of which lasts throughout the year.
At the end of May, the cultural beauty Aubriette will take over the flowering baton, delighting the eye with lush streams of pale pink, rich raspberry and dark purple flowers.
Well suited for the middle tier and unpretentious in the care of the semi-shrub sunflower monetized. In the sunny areas of the tier, you can place all kinds of stonecrops, which form into pretty cushion-like bushes, decorated in the summer months with miniature flower stars.
If you choose among the names of flowers for an alpine hill that feel comfortable in our latitudes, then the slopes of the hill can be decorated with all kinds of bulbous, diverse, dense bushes, delicate alpine aster, primrose primroses, beautiful autumn flowering colchicum.
The foot of the rock garden
At the foot, plants are planted that like to grow on rich, moisture-saturated soil and are not afraid of shading.
Color accents at the foot of the composition can be arranged using compact saxifrage bushes and spike-shaped lyatris flowers
The lower tier is also reserved for the placement of tree and shrub plants. Often, group plantings of miniature dwarf conifers, rhododendrons are placed on this part of the hill.
Choosing plants for an alpine slide is an exciting and painstaking task. Of course, you can use ready-made schemes, which are published in abundance in gardening magazines or on the Internet, but it is much more interesting to study and understand the features of growing future rock garden residents yourself. After all, who, besides you, knows what kind of microclimate is in your area, or what kind of soil you can actually provide to your plants. Alpine Hill is not a flowerbed with annuals, which can be easily transferred or radically change the composition of flowers on it. A rock garden is a rather complex object in garden design, its life is designed for more than one season, so you need to approach the process of selecting an assortment for it in a balanced and competent manner. Otherwise, all kinds of alterations and death of plants cannot be avoided.
Ideal plants for an alpine hill are considered to be low-growing and slow-growing woody plants (, cinquefoil, various conifers) and ground cover or cushion forms of herbaceous perennials that form picturesque rugs and curtains among stones. It can be both flowering species and decorative foliage.
Woody and relatively tall herbaceous plants are planted first, placing them either in the background of the hill or at its base. Such plants look most harmoniously next to large boulders, try to avoid possible symmetry when planting. Low perennials, forming picturesque curtains, are planted both at the base and closer to the top of the hill, visually separating them with taller forms of plants and stones.
Since the assortment of plants for an alpine slide usually includes slow-growing species, at the first stage the appearance of many bald spots between plants is inevitable, at first you can fill empty places with annuals that give a minimum of self-seeding. These include large-flowered purslane, undersized marigolds, gazania, graceful gypsophila, sea lobularia, erinus lobelia - all these letniki are sun-loving and drought-resistant plants, so they will easily “fit into the team”.
When planting any varieties and species nearby, it is necessary to take into account the “community of interests” - they must be combined with each other not only in appearance (height, texture, color of flowers and leaves), but also coincide in the rhythm of flowering, development and growth rates, similarity of conditions for cultivation.
The top of the Alpine hill
The upper tiers of the Alpine slide as a rule, more than others are open to sunlight, but moisture lingers there less than in other parts of it. Therefore, only sun-loving and drought-resistant plant species are planted there.
A real decoration of the top of the hill can be iberis evergreen(Iberis sempervirens), its most beautiful variety ‘Weisser Zwerg’ is one of the shortest representatives of its species - no more than 8-10 cm in height, white curtains of iberis, blooming in May-June, will envelop the peak like a snow cover.
Iberis evergreen
If you can get fresh seeds (they germinate better) lumbago ordinary(Pulsatilla vulgaris), then do it, because it will give your alpine slide a special charm and even some mystery. The plant has a silvery pubescence, and large purple flowers usually appear in April. However, today in the flower market you can find both red and white flowers, and there are even terry varieties. The backache should be planted immediately in a permanent place, since it is very sick during transplantation and may even die.
In addition to the lumbago and the cleaner, there are many more pretty "Alpines" of noble silvery shades, such as fluffy tender wormwood schmidt(Artemisia schmidtiana) or three-veined anafalis
Wormwood Schmidt
Anafalis three-veined
Bright rich colors will add to the rock garden aster alpine(Aster alpinus), blooming with large daisies of different shades. And grace and elegance do not hold (Armeria maritima), which forms dense curtains of narrow leaves, from which long thin peduncles with pink balls of inflorescences appear in June.
Western and eastern slopes of the Alpine hill receive not so much sun as the southern middle and upper tiers. Here, the landing pockets are filled with soddy-gravelly earth with a fair amount of humus.
A wide variety of varieties are geuchera (Heuchera) which ones to plant depends on your personal preferences and the overall color scheme. After all, it is the leaves of the most bizarre colors that are the main decoration of the geyhera, and its modest flowers only complement the gloss of an already spectacular appearance.
Fans of struggling with difficulties can be advised to plant a picky gentian (Gentiana) with its amazing pure blue color, which, although it will add to your worries, but in the case of a "successful cooperation" will repay you with amazingly beautiful flowering. To help you settle down better on your slide, dig a large stone near its landing site - it will accumulate excess heat from the soil and at the same time retain moisture.
Carpathian bluebell (Campanula carpatica) not as capricious as gentian, but rather aggressive and can spread in different directions if given free rein. Better put it on western slope He's not very active there.
Carpathian bell
Thick carpeting gives bryozoan subulate(Sagina subulata), which bears white star-shaped flowers in June-July. Bryozoan is quite moisture-loving, so it is planted closer to the lower tier, where more moisture is retained.
Bryozoan subulate
Don't forget the primroses - primrose(Primula vulgaris), which, depending on the species and variety, can have both different colors and different flowering periods. For primrose, the northeast side will be the most suitable. And rare for autumn pink, pale lilac and purple colors will add , the mass landing of which will become a real decoration at the foot of the hill.
Primula vulgaris
Colchicum beautiful
For filling north side of the hill Ordinary garden soil, in which most flowers grow, will do. Shadow dominates here, so the choice of plants, especially flowering ones, is significantly limited.
Pozharsky's bell(Campanula poscharskyana) is very shade-tolerant, and its bluish-lilac flowers “spread” among the stones in bizarre streams.
Pozharsky's bell
Rezukha Caucasian(Arabis caucasica) and alpine(Arabis alpina) will add light on the north side with its profuse white blooms in spring. A Corydalis Haller (Corydalis halleri) blooms its light purple, white or pink flowers in May, but it is decorative at other times, as it forms pretty bluish-green thickets of lacy leaves, creating a light effect.
Corydalis Haller
The foot of the Alpine hill
The foot of the northern slope can decorate dushenia indian(Potentilla indica), which not only blooms with yellow flowers, but also adorns itself with berries that look like strawberries. Here you can plant tenacious creeping(Ajuga reptans), which is not afraid of shading and blooms profusely.
Duchenea Indian
tenacious creeping
At the base of the alpine hill plant plants that need moist, fertile soil, depending on their light preferences.
In terms of light-loving, an almost universal plant is saxifrage(Saxifraga) and its various species. Saxifrage paniculata(Saxifraga paniculata) forms graceful compact bushes in the form of silvery pads, from which white-pink flowers appear on long peduncles in June. Shaxifrage shady in autumn, after the first frosts it acquires an unusual reddish tint. A soddy saxifrage(Saxifraga umbrosa) forms dense light green clumps that are covered with a dense cloud of pink or white flowers in spring.
An important color accent at the foot of the slide can put liatris spikelet(Liatris spicata) planted on the south side. In July, when the first hairy spiky inflorescences appear, liatris undoubtedly attracts everyone's attention to the rock garden.
Liatris spikelet
Of course, this is far from a complete range of alpine plants that can be used in rock garden design, and in the future this list will be replenished. But you can take it as a basis and make your own, in addition, various woody decorative forms suitable for an alpine slide, decorative cereals, bulbs and such a large group of plants as conifers were not considered here, which means that the conversation is not over.
In our store you can purchase from private collectors and large agricultural firms. On sale there are always seeds of gentian, backache, carnations, bluebells, primroses and other interesting hump (and not only!) species, both introduced into culture long ago and taken out of their habitats and introduced to garden conditions.
Alpine slide is an element of landscape design. This unique composition, as a rule, imitates a mountain landscape: a group of stones should rise in the center, terraces with various plants are formed on the slopes of the hill.
Rock garden features
The rock garden is a simple and unique way to recreate a piece of nature on your site. If the site is completely flat, then the rock garden (also called rockery or stone garden) will give it an element of movement. In addition, rockeries are the perfect place to host exquisite alpine plants, as well as many beautiful low-growing plants that would otherwise go unnoticed.
What plants are needed?
Most garden plants that are best for rock gardens are drought tolerant, need little fertilizer, and rarely require any pruning. The only difficult task is constant weeding, but this can also be minimized by removing all perennial weeds from the intended location of the rock garden in advance. Naturally, the rest of the soil added to the stones should also be free from weeds.
When selecting plants for rockeries, it is important to keep in mind the existing conditions and choose the appropriate specimens.
For example, for rockeries located in a sunny area with quickly drying soil, choose plants that need sun and enhanced drainage. If your planting area is large enough that conditions can change—perhaps there are places where the soil retains more moisture—group your plants accordingly. Plants that bloom all summer are best planted in warm and humid climates, cacti and other succulents are more suitable for dry climates, and finally, if your site is located at a high altitude, you can consider a classic alpine garden.
What to plant?
The list of plants is very extensive. It is only necessary to take into account that stone gardens located in warm climates require some plants, and in colder climates others.
Flowers
It is best to choose low-growing, long-flowering garden plants. Fortunately, there is a huge selection of such colors.
Lavender
A natural choice for any rocky garden. Its grey-green foliage contrasts beautifully with its own flowers, as well as dark green grasses and other rock garden plants. Plants are placed at a distance of 30 to 45 cm from each other in an open sunny place with well-drained, slightly alkaline soil (pH 6.7 to 7.3). Before planting, it is necessary to add sand to the soil, which is vital, since lavender does not tolerate excessive soil moisture.
Lavender blooms almost all summer; in order to maintain continuous flowering during the warm season, faded flowers must be removed. In the spring, when the plants begin to grow, the lavender can be lightly pinched for better branching.
Remember that lavender needs good drainage. and good air circulation. Do not overwater, let the soil dry before watering. In conditions of heat and humidity, fungal diseases can develop and the leaves will turn brown. To minimize the chance of this problem, cover the base of the plant with pebbles or sand to speed evaporation. For better air circulation form the plant sparse.
Iris
Hardy and unpretentious, with bright colors, has been used in rock gardens for many years. By choosing from a variety of varieties and varieties of iris, you can extend their flowering season from spring to early summer, sometimes with repeated flowering.
Two main types of irises thrive in northern climates: bearded and Siberian. However, there are less common names that are also worth growing, such as Iris reticulata (dwarf iris), Iris pallida (sweet iris), Iris pumila (rainbow nut), Iris cristata (tufted iris) and shade-tolerant Iris tectorum (Japanese iris).
bearded irises plant in full sun with plenty of air. Crowding or shading by other plants can adversely affect iris blooms and also contribute to disease. Irises grow best in rich soil that has been supplemented with organic matter such as compost, manure or peat. Well-drained soil is important to avoid root rot of the fleshy rhizome.
The soil under bearded irises should be kept constantly moist, but only from spring until the end of flowering. After flowering, the plant goes into a dormant period, excessive watering at this time can cause rot. Fertilize bearded iris in early spring. Use a nitrogen fertilizer, then water the plant well. Fertilizer is repeated when the flower stem appears.
Irises should be trimmed carefully, leaving as much green, healthy leaf tissue as possible. Do not be afraid to damage or deplete the plant, its development in the next year is determined by the ability to produce and store food during the current season; the more yellowed leaves go, the better. After a real frost, it is necessary to cut off all the foliage.
Siberian irises come in different shades: blue, lavender, white or yellow. After flowering (late spring to early summer), the foliage remains attractive throughout the season. Siberian irises grow in much the same way as ground cover plants, crowding out weeds. The best place to place them is in the sun. Siberian irises need constant moisture throughout the season with occasional deep watering.
Removing dead flowers stops seed pod formation, but Siberian iris seed pods are attractive in their own right. They can be left on individual plants for additional fall and winter decoration.
winged stalk
(Aethionemas or Persian Candytufts) is an excellent rock garden plant. It will grow in any soil except heavy, wet clay. These small plants with tiny blue-green leaves are extremely attractive, even if they haven't bloomed yet. Aethionema caespitosa forms a dense carpet only 5 cm high; A. grandiflora is taller, up to 20 cm, with caps of beautiful pink, very fragrant flowers that remain decorative for a long time; Aethionema cordifolium is the only member of this group that reproduces by self-seeding. All winged grasses bloom from mid-spring to late summer.
Onion
Not all rock garden lovers know that some types of onions, for example, Allium senescens glaumum, can be an excellent decoration. This onion has flat, bluish leaves, as if swirling in one direction, which makes it very decorative. It blooms in summer with lavender-pink flowers. Other bulbs: A. cyaneum with purple-blue flowers, A. moly with golden yellow flowers and A. flavum which blooms in summer with charming straw-colored buds.
shrubs
For an alpine slide, mainly creeping forms of shrubs are planted.
Cotoneaster horizontal
As the name suggests, this shrub grows horizontally. The plants have small, rounded leaves that range from reddish-orange to burgundy in autumn. The flowers are light pink, after flowering they give later shiny red berries. The arrangement of the branches is such that in general the plant has the appearance of a "herringbone". It reaches a height of 90 cm, and a width of 2.5 m.
These shrubs offer a great example of a year-round ornamental plant. In the spring they bloom with light pink flowers, in the summer their glossy green leaves create an unusual pattern. But the cotoneaster is especially attractive in autumn due to foliage and berries. Red berries remain on the branches for a long time and look attractive even in winter. True, by the middle of winter, they may show signs of fading and discoloration.
Barberry
Hardy and tender shrubs, evergreen or deciduous. Some species are famous for their beautiful and fragrant flowers, others are more attractive when covered with brightly colored fruits at the end of the year.
These shrubs are able to grow in a wide range of soils, from sandy to loamy. They naturally take on a beautiful shape, they do not need regular pruning. Although some species tolerate moderate shade, best results are obtained in sunny locations. Some species create very good hedges, in particular B. Darwini, B. Stenofill, B. Thunberg, so they can also be used in the country. Dwarf forms of B. Thunberg (Box Barberryu Red Pygmy) can be planted in a flower garden
Those barberries that retain their leaves through the winter are among the most beautiful evergreen shrubs. Barberry Darwini, an upright, beautiful shrub, has small, glossy, dark evergreen leaves and orange fragrant flowers in late April and May; fruits are dark purple with a blue-gray flower. A relatively new Chilean barberry is B. linearifolia, which resembles B. Darwinia but has larger, richer flowers. There is a hybrid of B. darwinii and B. linearifolia which has orange flowers and is very showy.
Red-fruited barberries are especially attractive in autumn and winter. B. Wilsonae - a dense shrub 90 cm high with prickly branches and small leaves; the flowers are yellow and the coral-red fruits in autumn are its main attraction. Its Stapfiana variety is also very beautiful in autumn and winter thanks to its red berries. Barberry Thunberg is especially beautiful due to the rich scarlet and orange color of the leaves in autumn. The atropurpurea cultivar has purple foliage; it is a good dwarf shrub for rockeries.
ground covers
In this capacity, different types of saxifrage (Saxifragaceae) are very popular. These are creeping perennials with round green leaves, on the reverse side the leaves are pink with white veins. S. umbrosa has tiny pink flowers on red stems, while S. stolonifera has white flowers.
Goryanka (Epimedium)
A low-growing perennial that is also often used as a ground cover in mountain gardens, it produces a mass of leathery leaves with heart-shaped leaflets. Epimedium's tiny waxy flowers range in color from shades of white and yellow to pink and red.
Hoof
(Asarum caudatum) - has heart-shaped leaves and grows well in foggy areas. Fills gardens with a scent reminiscent of ginger.
Creeping sedum (Sedum)
It is one of the most versatile, drought tolerant and easy growing perennials that can be used as ground cover. Known for their ability to spread quickly, these short plants completely drown out weeds. If they are not waterlogged, they rarely suffer from any diseases or pests. They are an ideal choice for gardens in hot and dry climates, but also work well just about anywhere - as long as they get good drainage.
Most creeping sedums prefer full sun but tolerate partial shade.
Thyme
Fragrant fast growing groundcover 5-7 cm tall with small leaves. In early summer it bears small, delicate, whitish flowers. Can grow between garden path steps. Grows in full sun and well-drained soil. It can be used to quickly fill gaps between stepped stones or rocks.
Golden Oregano (Origanum vulgare "Aureum")
Another hardy and unpretentious ground cover that retains its golden color best in cold weather. Golden oregano has tiny rounded leaves 1 to 2 cm wide. Its small lavender or purple flowers appear in early summer and last all summer. Pair it with other oregano or plant it next to lavender (Lavendula spp.), rosemary (Rosemarinus officinalis) or cylindrica (Imperata cylindrica "Red Baron") and you've got a golden carpet of various hues.
Blue star (Laurentia fluviatilis)
Native to Australia, it boasts delicate blue, star-shaped flowers that appear during spring and summer amidst small, bright green leaves. The blue star forms an attractive cover under trees and between stepped stones.
Mazus reptan (Mazus reptans)
A plant for the impatient gardener, It grows very quickly, forming a dense carpet. In spring, tiny flowers resembling shards give the effect of a miniature flower garden. Blue or white flowers with a yellow spot rise 5-7 cm above the foliage. Use this hardy perennial where its aggressive qualities are needed, such as between steps or to cover large areas.
Herbs
By the strength of the visual impact, rare plants can be compared with ornamental grasses. Don't confuse ornamental plants with lawn grasses.
Ornamental grasses are meant for growing, not for mowing, and most are not used as groundcovers.
Feather grass
Widespread in gardens and very useful in many ways. Designers use these herbs for their shape, color range, and long decorative period from early summer to mid-winter. Most feather grass varieties are perennials and all prefer full sun and are rarely found in shade in natural habitats. Steppe feather grass (Stipa) is a thin, ash-colored grass. Mexican feather grass (S. tenuissima) is a bright green tender grass growing up to 90 cm in height.
Reed Grass (Calamagrostis)
Another ornamental grass for alpine hills, which has a leaf shape similar to feathers, grows to the same height as S. tenuissima. C. acutiflora 'Karl Foerster' is distinguished by having small pink flowers at the top of the stems.
This reed grass looks like a work of art and provides a wonderful contrast with low shrubs and perennials. In addition, C. 'Karl Foerster' is one of the first herbs to start growing in the spring. Flowers during the season change color, remain on the plant until the snow. The plant sways gracefully in the gentle breeze. Mass landing C. "Karl Foerster" looks very impressive on a windy day!
Blue Oat Grass (Heliptotrichon sempervirens)
It looks like a miniature fountain with densely packed leaves that open up neatly and curve down at the tips. This grass adds a wonderful decorative element to rock gardens. Its homeland is central and southern Europe, where it is found in rocky pastures on calcareous soils. It does best in light, well-drained soil and prefers a sunny position. Helperotrichon sempervirens can be used as a single plant or as a "river" in pebble gardens. This herb looks amazing in any gray leafy scheme, among lavender, artemisia and the like. It also associates well with other ornamental grasses.
Ephedra
In rock gardens, coniferous evergreens are often used.
Mountain pine Pinus mugo
An extremely attractive dwarf plant. It should be clarified here that dwarf conifers are not necessarily small, they often just grow slowly, only a few centimeters per year. Pinus mugo has good strong branches, green shoots that gradually turn brown, and a scaly gray bark that is especially attractive in winter light or in the glow of a sunset.
This plant is of interest all year round.: both in winter, when it looks like snow dust, and on hot sunny days, when its resinous buds exude a wonderful aroma. The shape of Pinus mugo is more like a shrub than a tree. It is this feature that makes P. mugo ideal for the modern garden.
Juniper 'Mint Julep'
The juniper family offers a wide variety of hardy, low-growing evergreen shrubs for garden landscaping. It is an evergreen shrub with dense upright branches clad in spiky bright green needles. Flowers are not decorative. Blue berries are formed from spring to late winter. Valued for its glossy green foliage and original fountain shape.
