Decorative shrubs for alpine hills. Flowers for an alpine hill: names and photos, which ones are best to choose. Some tips regarding plant placement

The main component of a rock garden is vegetation. If the plants are successfully selected for alpine slide, no more decor is needed. And to do this, you need to determine three things: 1) what shrubs, herbs and flowers are used for the alpine hill; 2) growth conditions of various crops; 3) their compatibility.

Principles of plant selection

Traditionally, rock gardens were planted with alpine perennials. They have the most suitable characteristics:

low-growing plants;
ground cover;
compact;
not too demanding on soil composition;
drought-resistant;
wind resistant;
winter-hardy.

These alpine hill plants are the main crops today. Their advantages:

does not need to be planted annually;
form dense clumps, leaving no room for weeds. Weeding is required less often than annual crops;
With timely feeding and removal of faded heads, most plants can bloom again in the fall.

Perennials for alpine hills are propagated by seeds, cuttings, and dividing bushes.

Creeping plants and flowers (most of them are perennial) have similar advantages. They reproduce by tendrils, shoots, and superficial roots. But they have a disadvantage - aggressive growth, they kill other crops.

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 have one more advantage: 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 any additional effort from the owners.

IN middle lane In addition to alpine species, some forest and steppe crops are used.

What plants are suitable for the slide:

short coniferous shrubs and trees (, thuja, etc.). Conifers zone an object in the summer, and in winter serve as its only decoration;
deciduous shrubs. Evergreens are mainly suitable - they do not shed leaves that will have to be removed;
ground cover (creeping) occupy most of the hill;
herbaceous crops for alpine hills are perennial, preferably mountainous;
bulbous. They are planted together with ground cover. You should not allocate a separate sector for them, because after flowering the stems die and bald spots form in this place.

The process of arranging an alpine slide gives boundless scope for imagination. But there are a number of rules that must be followed to ensure 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 light: in direct sun - light-loving, if the alpine hill is in the shade - shade-loving;
All plants, including very low-growing and recently planted ones, should have the required amount of sun. The composition should be selected so that crops with high growth rates do not overwhelm the others;
choose plants that will require the same care;
all crops are low-growing, flowers are not large;
flowering times vary so that the hill is elegant all season long;
not too demanding on the composition of the soil (after all, they will have to grow on stones);
the elements of the composition must be harmoniously combined.

If you prefer an alpine hill, you can limit the floristic component to conifers only. And not in large quantities: traditional rockery is Japanese garden stones, vegetation is not welcome there at all. So an alpine hill made of conifers is an excellent option for ascetics and lazy people.

Important: When selecting plants, take into account the characteristics of the soil and chemical composition stones. Some types of stones tend to leach or deoxidize the soil. This should not damage the vegetation.

Types and textures

Let's name the most popular plants for rock gardens.

Perennial:

edelweiss (aka mountaineer) grows on rocky mountain soil, light-loving. Propagated by seeds and seedlings;
young (stone rose). There are many types, differing in the shape and color of the rosette. Some varieties change color depending on the season;
alyssum (or alyssum). Drought-resistant, light-loving, with a sweetish odor. Inflorescences of small golden flowers. It blooms in May, the color lasts for more than a month and a half. The plant may bloom again in the fall;
armeria seaside. Drought-resistant, sensitive to waterlogging. Globular inflorescences, like those of decorative onions. Blooms all season;
Echinacea. Photophilous, demanding on soil. Flowering time is July-August. Bright large flowers;
three types of carnations: grass, alpine, pinnate. They grow in clumps and bloom lushly. The grass blooms first, the rest - in the second ten days of June;
Arenaria purpurea. Unpretentious, drought-resistant. Stem up to 15 centimeters long. It blooms all summer with small star-shaped flowers;
periwinkle. Grows in any light, blooms all season. The flowers are small blue;
Balkan geranium. Bushes 20-25 cm, grows in any light and humidity. The carved leaves turn red or yellow in autumn;
Rhodiola Sun-loving, loves moist (without waterlogging) nutritious soil. Blooms all summer;
soddy pike (meadow pike). Inflorescence in the form of a panicle. Grows in spring and autumn;
soldanella (snow bell). It is whimsical, loves moist 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:

dimorphotheca emarginata. Drought-resistant, cold-resistant. It blooms magnificently and for a long time. Large inflorescences of yellow and orange flowers;
Lagurus (haretail) is a cereal ornamental plant. Sun-loving, loves abundant watering, reacts painfully to dryness;
Brachycoma iberisolifolia. Light-loving and heat-loving plant. You can water only when there is no rain for a long time. The soil should be dried but nutritious;
. The flower is unpretentious, light-loving and heat-loving. Many varieties. Blooms from early summer until frost.

Ground cover:

. There are annual and perennial. Moisture-loving, prefers sun or slight shade. It blooms all summer, propagates by rosettes (they are removed after the plant has flowered). Aggressive (easily displaces neighbors);
arabis. Honey plant, strong aroma. It blooms in May-June, after flowering it also looks good due to the decorative leaves. In the sun, the color is more luxuriant; 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. The leaves overwinter. Small flowers appear in May. Blooms for up to 1.5 months. If the shoots are then trimmed, it will bloom again 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. Flowers are star-shaped, pinkish-lilac;
stachys woolly (“sheep ears”);
Schmidt's wormwood;
thyme (creeping thyme);
host;
sedum evers;
ayuga (creeping tenacious);
atcena loaf.

Bulbous:

Colchicums;
scillas;
snowdrops;
crocuses;
muscari;
Kaufman tulips;
birdwatcher.

sage;
monkey grass;
heather (sparrow buckwheat);
crow's foot;
rosemary;
Liatris spicata;
fescue;
red petiolate cuff;
lagurus (haretail);
viviparous sheep;
maned barley;
Fescue Gauthier.

Coniferous trees and shrubs:

dwarf spruce. Unpretentious, drought-resistant. Christmas trees grow up to 60 centimeters and grow slowly. The crown shape is pyramidal. Can be shaped by cutting. Colors range from blue (seaside spruce) to deep green (Canadian spruce);
. There are many types, some creeping and standard. The color of the needles is green, yellow-green. Juniper is light-loving and grows well on stones;
mountain dwarf pine Pug. The crown is spherical in shape and grows up to half a meter in ten years. The color of the needles is greenish-blue. Unpretentious;
thuja The crown is dense, spherical or cone-shaped. Can be shaped by cutting. The needles are light green and may turn red under the sun. Unpretentious, drought-resistant, cold-resistant.

Evergreen deciduous shrubs:

cotoneaster horizontal. The small, dense foliage is green all year round and turns purple in the fall. In May, small pink flowers appear. The fruits ripen in autumn and remain until spring;
Iberis evergreen. The height of the bush is up to half a meter, it branches strongly, the foliage is dense. Pleasant smell. It blooms for two months, the flowers are white, appearing in May. The preferred soil is rocky or sandy. Photophilous, sensitive to waterlogging. It is necessary to water during drought;
barberry evergreen. Height up to half a meter. Blooms in May. Light-loving, undemanding to soil. In severe frosts, it needs shelter;
fan maple, euonymus, spirea.

Advice: If you want your slide not only to be pleasing to the eye, but also to bring benefits, do not neglect medicinal plants– thyme, sage, rhodiola, chamomile, etc.

Selection by flowering time

If an important part of your composition is flowers for an alpine hill, you need to choose them so that flowering continues 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, lumbago);
spring flower;
crocuses;
alpine violet;
scylla;
Adonis;
Pushkinia;
Corydalis.

What flowers bloom in late spring:

Iberis (pepper plant);
dark bell;
Carpathian bell;
dicentra capulata;
aubrieta;
gypsophila;
catchment (aquilegia, orlik);
subulate phlox;
Gutchinzia alpine.

Summer flowers for rock garden:

Indian strawberry;
gentian;
clove grass;
saxifrage;
alpine forget-me-not;
sunflower (helianthemum);
splint.

Plants that bloom in autumn:

dwarf chrysanthemums;
autumn colchicum;
Chinese;
alpine aster.

Features of landing

Since moisture-loving (for example, tropical) plants are not found on alpine hills, overwetting 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 (against weeds);
pour a drainage layer: 10 cm of crushed stone and 10 cm of sand.

The stones themselves are placed at intervals, which are covered with earth - otherwise the plants will have nowhere to take root. Once the stonework has settled, plants can be planted. When placing, the following rules are observed:

Large shrubs should not be planted near small stones;
distribute crops so that they do not overlap each other sunlight;
large areas of stone must remain open, otherwise it is not a rock garden;
do not place plants with different growth rates nearby;
on the northern and eastern slopes they plant shade-tolerant plants for an alpine slide;
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-tolerant (juvenile, saxifrage, ornamental grasses, different types mosses);
higher up on the alpine hill you can plant less demanding plants (phlox, primrose, lumbago);
top – light-loving, drought-resistant: iberis, creeping thyme, alyssum, edelweiss.

The boundaries between the tiers are stones or rows of tall plants.

A mixture of perennials “Alpine slide” can be purchased at a specialty store. The ready-made decorative mixture “Alpine slide” has already been selected according to the principle of species compatibility.

You will collect some plants close to home - in a field, in a forest. Planting should be done in accordance with the recommendations for each specific species.

Part of the composition can be planted with moss. How to grow it:

Collect moss from the forest and clear the rhizomes from the soil. It should be taken from a tree if your composition contains wooden fragments. In order for moss to grow on rocks, you need to collect it from the rocks.
Pour two glasses of kefir into a jar.
Grind the moss and pour the glass into the same jar.
Mix.
Apply the solution with a brush to the rock garden stones.

The 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, important nuances many. If in doubt, it is advisable to consult with professionals. You need to draw up floral compositions and study the characteristics of different species very carefully - then your slide will delight you for many years.

Selecting plants for an alpine hill is not as easy as it seems. Typically, these are low, small-leaved varieties with beautiful flowers or decorative leaves. You can grow valuable specimens yourself from seeds, because finding them on sale is quite difficult.

The best choice for an alpine hill would be low-growing perennial and annual plants, whose homeland is the highlands.

They are undemanding to soil quality, resistant to lack of moisture, winds and frosts.

The following plants are suitable for an alpine hill:

dwarf conifers;
young-like breaker with pink flowers;
silky breaker with white flowers;
bellflower with miniature snow-white flowers similar to lilies of the valley;
Houstonia with bright blue star flowers;
globularia, a miniature flower similar to cornflowers;
Alpine carnation, pink;
creeping edryanthus, blue;
delosperma twisted, with bright yellow flowers;
pterophyte rotundifolia;
gentian Koch with potefon flowers;
veronica;
small petal blooming with small white daisies;
Alpine semolina;
snow edelweiss;
Shamiso bell;
alpine mertensia;
Levisia cotyledon, delicate flowers of cream, hot pink, white;
primrose hill;
Carnea breaker;
Chorispora Brunhe;
Carpathian bell.

When choosing plants, you should consider where the rock garden is located - in the shade or in the sun. Shade-tolerant crops are suitable for a shaded area; sun-loving crops are planted in a well-lit area.

In addition to similar requirements for growing conditions, flowers for an alpine hill must be combined in color and height. The growth rate of the inhabitants of the rock garden should be slow, otherwise it will soon become like an ordinary flower bed.

Annual plants for rock gardens

Annuals can be planted every year in a new place, changing the design of the rock garden. They decorate the hill with their bright blooms, adding variety and filling the air with aroma.

Ageratum - flowers that look like small chrysanthemums of various colors, bloom very luxuriantly from mid-June until frost. It is a heat-loving plant, so it is grown as an annual.
Aster is an unpretentious flower. Low-growing varieties are suitable for alpine hills. It easily propagates by self-sowing, so faded inflorescences need to be cut off.
Bartonia is an annual with yellow flowers about 5 cm in diameter. It blooms from mid-summer to September. The flowers have a pleasant aroma, close in cloudy weather, and are photophilous.
Delosperma profusely flowering is a ground cover with pinkish-lilac star-shaped flowers. A heat-loving plant that grows well in full sun and likes frequent watering.
Chinese carnations are perennial flowers that are grown as annuals in central Russia. There are varieties with different colors of inflorescences.

Long-flowering beautiful annuals also include: snapdragon, purslane, nolana, brachycoma, dimorphotheca, marigolds.

What to plant on an alpine hill of perennial plants

On sale you can find perennial flowers for rock gardens; most often they will have to be grown from seeds. There are unique varieties and various hybrids in the collections of breeders. Thanks to the efforts of flower growers, the initially sparse vegetation of the Alps has changed beyond recognition.

Azorella three-forked is a ground cover plant with glossy bright green leaves reminiscent of spruce. In summer it blooms with yellow spherical inflorescences, forms a continuous dense carpet, flows around the rock garden stones and follows all the unevenness of the soil.
Aquilegia is a beautiful flower of various colors, the corolla of which consists of two rows of petals. Shade-tolerant and unpretentious plant. Low-growing varieties are chosen for rock gardens; they go well with other flowers in the flowerbed.
Bergenia - grows well in rocky rock gardens, it has leaves with original patterns and pink flowers. Withstands shady places without losing shape and decorativeness.
Galanthus - primroses. Another name is snowdrops, in nature these flowers are listed in the Red Book, the only chance to admire them is to plant them in your rock garden.
Globularia dwarf. Blooms blue in late spring or early summer spherical flowers. Requires calcium-rich soil with good drainage.

Also popular are: rock alyssum, aubrieta, tomentosa, phlox, bryozoan subulate, lungwort, sedum, young, rezukha, filamentous yucca, tulips, crocuses, hyacinths.

Plants for rock gardens that bloom all summer

In the composition of plants in a rocky flowerbed, those that bloom all summer always look advantageous.

Among the annual low-growing flowers you can choose:

nemophila;
ageratum;
petunia;
Iberis annual;
night violet;
marigold;
purslane.

No less beautiful are the perennial flowers that bloom at the beginning of summer and bloom until the cold weather:

phlox subulate;
daisies;
ever-blooming begonia.

Carnation, delosperma twisted, speedwell, and ageratum are also distinguished by long flowering.

Layout of stones and plants

The shape of the alpine slide can be different. The placement of stones and plants on it will depend on the chosen project.

The basis of a high alpine slide is the number of floors. The height of the upper tier is made no more than 50 cm from the ground surface. If the hill is higher, perennial plants may freeze in winter.

Device stages:

Pour a large amount of sand and gravel. If the soil is soft, more crushed stones are added. The high sand base is made in the shape of a trapezoid.
Accent stones are placed, the largest and heaviest. They should look natural, as if they had always been in the place where they were placed.
Then the remaining, smaller stones are placed. They must match in color and be the same in structure.
After the upper tier of the alpine slide, the lower one is laid, making a couple of large stones the accents of the composition.
When the flowerbed is geometrically correctly built, select a little sand from each tier and add fertile soil.
Plants are planted.

It is not advisable to fertilize plants growing on an alpine hill - they grow greatly and lose their dwarf appearance.
To build a rock garden in the form of a rock, a steep structure is created, consisting mainly of boulders. The largest stones are placed at the bottom, then medium-sized ones and at the top - the smallest ones. For such rock gardens, ferns, crassulas, bells, junipers and dwarf conifers are suitable.
Mountain slopes are constructed mainly from small stones. Large boulders are used as accents and boundaries of the structure. You can plant dwarf trees and shrubs on an alpine hill with a well-developed root system to strengthen the soil. Creeping ground cover plants are also used.
A rock garden in the form of a mountain valley is made in the form of a flat structure using stones of various sizes and shapes. They are placed in creative disorder, but so that the stones match in color and look natural. The plants used are mountain herbs, low-growing conifers, bright and beautiful flowers. Groundcovers serve as a background.

Creation of an alpine slide - exciting process, which requires not only imagination, but also attentiveness. Even one incorrectly selected plant can ruin the whole impression, disrupting the harmony between other inhabitants rocky garden. Therefore we need to do right choice from an extensive list of plants suitable for composing an alpine hill composition.

To make the alpine slide look attractive throughout the season, you should select a place for planting plants, taking into account their flowering time and the principle of tiering:

The top of the hill. It is more open to sunlight than the tiers below; therefore, it is rational to plant plants here that love sunlight and do not need a lot of moisture.
Middle tier– a place for plants that do well in partial shade. The soil moisture here is average, so the middle of the alpine hill can be called universal: there are ideal conditions for milking most flowers, which gives ample opportunities for choice.
The foot of the slide– a logical conclusion to the landscape composition. The plants planted here should be combined with the rest of the rock garden and choose those that love moisture and tolerate shade. After all, most of the sun's rays will reach the neighbors above.

To provide continuous flowering from early spring to late autumn, you should select flowering plants according to the principle of turnover. Evergreen shrubs and dwarf trees will look great in winter, peeking out from under the snow.

Creating an alpine slide is a fascinating process that requires not only imagination, but also attentiveness

Schemes for plant placement in rock gardens

Before you start creating an alpine slide, you need to create a graphic diagram. It will reflect the general idea of the composition, help new ideas emerge and even before planting, find possible errors.

First of all, stones are designated. The largest ones should be at the base, and the rest should create a gentle slope so that there is room for soil and plant roots. You can experiment by coming up with terraces, sharp cliffs, a pond and other interesting solutions.

Here are a couple of example circuits:

Spicy hill, on which are located: oregano will occupy the top, heather, hyssop, monarda and medicinal will feel good on the middle tier, and basil, bright nasturtium and fragrant thyme will sit at the very base.
Coniferous slide: thuja planted at the top looks great surrounded creeping juniper middle tier (you can use different types) and weeping cypress. The rock garden is completed by dwarf spruces or, the soil under which is disguised by a carpet of saxifrage.

Each site owner has the opportunity to create a unique landscape slide design. After drawing up the diagram, you can begin laying stones and soil, and then planting plants.

Gallery: plants for alpine hills (25 photos)

What plants are suitable for alpine slides (video)

Names and descriptions of perennial flowers for alpine hills

Perennials form the basis of the alpine slide. Therefore, their choice must be approached responsibly: the appearance of the composition depends on which plants are chosen. You can add new colors and accents every year by planting annuals.

Armeria seaside

A compact plant whose bushes form fluffy green cushions of narrow leaves. Above them rise numerous inflorescences (about 10), which look like lilac balls. Externally, armeria looks like a decorative onion. Hardy plant does not respond well to high soil moisture. Therefore, Armeria will feel good at the top of the hill or on the slope of the middle tier.

Dicentra is exceptional

This plant is popularly called “broken heart” for the original shape of the flowers. Typically, dicentras are a large bush, but the Exceptional one does not exceed 25 cm in height. It goes well with conifers and creeping plants, so it will be an excellent highlight of the rock garden. The green-gray foliage of the exceptional dicentra is similar to the leaves of a fern, and flowers in the form of separated halves of a heart can be white or pink.

Dicentra is exceptional

Gypsophila

The plant belongs to the carnation family. It has an erect or creeping stem with a small number of small lanceolate-shaped leaves, crowned with panicle inflorescences with small white (rarely pink) flowers.

Bulbous flowers

These are crocuses, daffodils, snowdrops and scillas. They appear immediately after the delicate cover disappears, enlivening the landscape like spring. For variety, you can plant varietal Greig tulips with beautifully shaped flowers reaching 30 cm in height, and Kaufman tulips.

Gypsophila

Rejuvenated

Stone rose, as the young one is also called, is distinguished by its excellent endurance. At the same time, the plant is very beautiful: its fleshy, angular leaves are collected in rosettes. They can be very miniature or reach 10 cm in diameter. The color of the leaves varies from gray-green to burgundy. The stone rose is suitable for decorating the slopes of an alpine hill. The young ones growing in the cracks between the boulders look impressive.

Primrose

Primrose (popular name for primrose) is a perennial herbaceous plant. Its advantages: earlier start of flowering, variety of shapes and colors of flowers, pleasant smell. Primrose is low-growing (height 10–30 cm); when planted alone, it forms a small bush with leathery leaves and bright inflorescences that attract bees. If you plant primroses close to each other, you will get a variegated carpet.

Edelweiss

The plant is also popularly called mountaineer. Loves the sun and wildlife grows on well-lit sides of mountains. Therefore, it will deservedly take the central place on the hill - its top. In summer, edelweiss will surprise you with its beautiful star-shaped flowers.

How to make an alpine slide with your own hands (video)

Creeping and ground cover plants for alpine hills

Ground cover plants are an integral component of the alpine landscape on the site. They decorate the soil and make the slopes of the hill truly alive.

For example this:

Antennary(). It is a low-growing plant, the flower stalks of which do not rise above 15 cm. It has small leaves with a silver tint and pubescence, creating a dense carpet on the ground up to 5 cm thick. The basket-like inflorescences are white, so the cat's paw cannot be called a bright plant that attracts the eye. But it is very hardy!
Periwinkle. Forms an evergreen mat, blooming from May to September with delicate blue flowers scattered among the leathery small leaves. Suitable for growing in full sun and on a shady slope: the plant is unpretentious to light.
Alpine bispermum A low plant that forms a decorative turf, which does not exceed a height of 3 cm. In May and June, inflorescences up to 15 cm appear on it, which are brushes with numerous white flowers.
Saxifrage. One of the most popular ground cover plants. Their flowering time occurs in mid-summer, and the color varies among different species: from snow-white to dark burgundy. It loves light, so it needs to be planted on the western or southern slope of an alpine hill or closer to its top.
Aubrieta. Covers the ground with a lush carpet. It blooms profusely throughout spring, and during this period it is covered with pink and purple flowers. Loves sun and loamy soils, although it grows well in any soil.
Subulate phlox. A plant 15–17 cm high, named for its narrow leaves with pointed ends. The shoots are densely covered with numerous pink, white or lilac inflorescences. Flowering begins in May-June and continues into early September.

Several types of ground cover plants coexist on one hill if they are in harmony with each other. Given their flowering time, you can ensure that the soil is covered with a colorful carpet from spring to autumn.

Ground cover plants are an integral component of the alpine landscape on the site

Shrubs for alpine slides

It is not recommended to use deciduous shrubs in landscaping alpine hills, because their leaves, stuck in the cracks between the stones, are difficult to remove, and the composition will look untidy. It is better to opt for small evergreen bushes.

For example, the branches of which grow parallel to the ground. They are decorated with small leathery leaves, which become purple in color with the onset of autumn. After flowering, small red berries appear, remaining on the branches all winter and giving the cotoneaster a special charm.

An interesting solution would be to use boxwood barberry. Its bush grows no higher than 50 cm and has a spreading crown of numerous branches. A very unpretentious plant that tolerates frost and drought well. It loves light, but even when grown in the shade it retains its decorative properties.

When landscaping alpine hills, it is better to opt for small evergreen bushes

Dwarf plants for rock garden

An alpine hill is a repetition of a mountain landscape in miniature, so for naturalness you need to use small plants. Large bushes will take up half of the composition and distract attention from the other inhabitants of the rocky garden.

Dwarf varieties of herbaceous plants can be used(for example, annual marigolds or alpine aster). It is advisable that their height does not exceed 30 cm. And, of course, dwarf conifers are regulars in rock gardens: spruce, pine, etc. Thanks to them, the slide really looks like a smaller copy of the alpine relief.

Conifers for alpine hills

To create an alpine landscape, low-growing species and varieties of coniferous plants are used:

Dwarf spruces, whose height does not exceed 60 cm. They lend themselves well to shaping and require almost no maintenance. Crown shape different varieties may be spreading or pyramidal.
Juniper. Species whose branches grow parallel to the ground look impressive. The needles of the plant often have a yellow tint, and the branches are decorated with small cones. Juniper can be seen in the wild on mountain slopes, so it is undemanding to soil and grows well on rocks.
Thuja- a shrub or tree of a pyramidal shape, less often it is pruned in the shape of a ball.
Mountain pine variety "Pug" It grows very slowly and by 10 years of its life it has a crown with a diameter of up to 50 cm, which allows the tree to be planted on an alpine hill. The green needles have a pleasant blue tint.
Cypress: its decorative dwarf varieties will effectively decorate the slope of a rock garden. You can choose a bush with golden, silver or traditional dark green needles. And the Filifera cypress has hanging branches that look like a coniferous cascade.

Alpine hill is a flower garden that personifies the harmonious unity of living and inanimate nature. As in the real Alps, here a variety of plants and flowers make their way through the harsh boulders towards the sun. In order to achieve the same natural harmony and, at the same time, the full development of plants, you should be very careful in their selection. We will help you choose plants for your alpine hill; photos and names will make them recognizable to you.

In order for the alpine slide to be a success, it is very important not to make a mistake in choosing plants and planting them correctly. Of course, a lot will depend on your taste and imagination, but there are some general rules for selecting plants for an alpine hill that are very important to follow.

Types of plants for alpine slides

An alpine hill is a complex flower garden, and it is created for many years, so the basis of the composition should be perennial plants. Their choice is so wide that you can overdo it with excess and diversity of flowers, violating the concept of a rock garden. To do this, do not be lazy to draw a diagram indicating the flowering dates of the plants you have chosen. Work on this once, and you will avoid mistakes and get a decent flower arrangement.

Perennials

They form the basis of the rock garden. It is impossible to list everything. When choosing perennial flowers, do not forget that large varietal species (for example, gladioli, dahlias) will look out of place in a mountain landscape. Give preference to small, delicate ones that are associated with wild nature.
Of course, true mountain plants are suitable for a rock garden: Armeria, blooming in rock crevices, Erinus alpinus and others.

Thrift
Erinus alpine

Near large stones you can plant gorse (Genista tincioria), cereals and ferns. For example, Asplenium, Polypodium, Cystopteris and Ceterach officinarum. Cereals - fescue (Festuca), evergreen oat (Helictotrichon sempervirens), feather grass (Stipa). You can use some types of wormwood (Artemisia), as they have very decorative and spicy-aromatic leaves of various shades. Decorative moss Dicranum and Hypnum moss will add naturalness to the rocky landscape.

Gorse
Decorative moss Dicranum

Plants such as alpine aster (Aster alpinus) and bush aster (Aster dumosus), medicinal hyssop (Hyssopus officinalis), low-growing bells (Campanula), yarrow (Achillea), dicentra (Dicentra), flax (Linum), aquilegia would be appropriate. (Aquilegia) decorative varieties onion (Allium), angustifolia lavender (Lavandula officinalis), gentian (Gentiana), carnations (Dianthus), small petals (Erigeron), violets (Viola), oregano (Origanum vulgare), forget-me-nots (Myosotis), St. John's wort (Hypericum) and many other.

Hyssop officinalis
Flax
Carnation

And, of course, the “highlight” of your composition will truly be alpine flower- edelweiss (Leontopodium). Its grayish-white felt baskets do not shine with bright beauty, but planted in groups, they create an extraordinary natural flavor of the mountainous area.

Edelweiss

Annuals

Annual flowers for alpine hills, like a lifesaver, will help you fill emerging voids (bald spots) and cover fading bulbous ones. For example, large-flowered purslane (Portulaca grandiflora), mesembryanthemum (Mesembryanthemum), marigolds (Tagetes), gazania (Gazania), eschscholzia (Eschscholzia), ornamental grass (Lagurus ovatus) and others.

Mesembryanthemum
Ornamental grass haretail

Small-bulbous

Well, what would a flower bed be without bulbous flowers! Bulbous plants for an alpine hill should be chosen that are low-growing and medium-sized.
Muscari (Muscari), crocuses (Crocus), colchicum (Colchicum), scilla (Scilla), snowdrops (Galanthus), chionodoxa (Chionodoxa), iridodictiums (Iridodictyum), and ornithogalum are appropriate there. Of the tulips (Tulip), you should focus on botanical species such as Kaufmann tulips.

Kaufman tulips

All these bulbous flowers are delicate and beautiful, but they short term decorativeness, this must be taken into account when determining their place in the rock garden.

Ground cover

Very important plants for alpine hills are ground cover. After all, they are the ones who decorate the stones and slopes. We will recommend some, from which you can choose the ones that suit your color scheme and flowering time.
Allisum (Alyssum) - blooms in late spring, silvery, slightly pubescent leaves combine beautifully with yellow and white flowers.

Iberis - there are annual and perennial species. Forms beautiful “pillows” and fills the space well under tall perennials. Flowering time varies depending on the variety.

Arabis (Arabis) - there are many species of annual and perennial, all of them have a creeping stem. There are species with decorative leaves.

Saxifraga (Saxifraga) - leaves and peduncles collected in a rosette form a dense small “cushion” from which a flowering carpet can be formed.

Saxifrage

Aubrieta - forms mats densely strewn with flowers. Leaves with leaves in winter. Flowering is very long. The color of the flowers depends on the variety.

Woodruff (Asperula) is a mountain flower, perfect for a rock garden. It can be annual or perennial. Grows well in rock cracks.

Veronica (Veronica) - its mountain ground cover species will decorate an alpine hill.

Thyme (Thymus) - all its types are simply gorgeous plants for a rock garden. It has many advantages; it forms thick, fragrant mats with an abundance of small flowers.

Bryozoan subulate (Sagina subulat) - forms green “pillows” similar to moss. Blooms profusely with small flowers all summer.

Bryozoan awl-shaped

Soapwort (Saponaria) - has species for planting in rock crevices, as well as ground cover. Flowers can be white or soft pink.

Phlox subulata - forms beautiful flowering carpets and adds charm to rough stone blocks.

Tenacious plant (Ajuga) - this pretty plant grows well on rocky slopes, however, it can grow very large.

White sedum (Sedum album) will delight you with a white mat of fragrant small flowers.

Rejuvenated (Sempervivum) - various types This plant is very beautiful in group plantings against the backdrop of stone boulders.

Rejuvenated

Conifers

Dwarf and creeping coniferous plants are simply irreplaceable for an alpine hill. After all, they are the ones who will help preserve the decorative appearance of your rock garden. winter time year. Various wonderful shades of green pine needles will create an inimitable effect. In addition, all these species grow very slowly and will not disturb the harmony of the flower garden.

Mountain pine Mors

There is a wide variety of dwarf species in mountain pine (Pinus mugo). Most often they have a shape approaching spherical. Let's note the most popular varieties. Very miniature “Mors” and “Winter gold”, these pines at ten years of age have a height of about 50 cm and a crown width of 1 m; they are also both very unpretentious and feel great in a rock garden. "Mors" has greenish-blue needles, and "Winter gold" is bright green in summer, and in winter it changes color and becomes golden yellow.

Slightly taller (reaching 2 m) are the spherical variety “Gnom” with shiny dark green needles and the spreading shrub “Mughus”.

Canadian spruce Conica

Also even more low-growing species The spruce makes me happy. Most often, Norway spruce (Picea abies) is represented by the following dwarf varieties - spherical “Little Gem” (up to 50 cm), bush “Nidiformis” (up to 1 m) and narrow-conical “Will’s Zwerg” (up to 1.2 m). U , Although it grows up to 3 m, it happens extremely slowly. Well, everyone knows about the Canadian spruce (Picea glauca) such a dwarf variety as “Conica”, this Christmas tree has a beautiful dense pyramidal crown, but it is often affected by spider mites and is prone to early spring burns. Recently, “Konika” has appeared in many decorative forms, such as “Globe Laurin”, “Alberta”, “Gnom”.

Loved by many western thuja(Thuja occidentalis) may also offer low-growing plants for rock gardens. An unusually original and stable variety “Teddy” is a dense dark green ball (30x40 cm). The unpretentious "Globosa" (up to 1 m) requires pruning, but its scaly needles beautifully change color, going from all shades of green to brown. The “fluffy” ball “Golden Globe” (up to 80 cm) is beautiful, the needles of which inside the bush are always green, and the outer shade changes from golden yellow to copper in winter. It is worth noting such varieties as “Little Dorrit”, “Rheingold”, “Danica”, “Globosa Compacta”, “Hoseri”.

An alpine hill would not be complete without juniper. The most popular and unpretentious appearance- Cossack juniper (Juniperus sabina). Suitable varieties for decorating an alpine hill include the fragrant creeping “Blue Danube”, the bush variety “Erecta” that resembles a narrow fountain (up to 2 m), the dense blue-green carpet forms the “Rockery Gem”, and the variegated creeping “Variegata” is very decorative due to creamy inclusions in the color of the needles. In the horizontal or prostrate juniper (Juniperus horizontalis), we note the variety “Andorra Compact” (40x100 cm), its flat ash-green “cushion” acquires a slightly purple tint with the onset of cold weather; gray-blue " Blue Chip"(30x150 cm) very suitable for urban environments; the “Wiltoni” variety spreads across the ground and forms a thick, lush silver-blue carpet, and the “Lime Glow” bushes (40x150cm) are distinguished by their bright yellow color.

Juniper Lime Glow

Among the rarer plants for alpine hills, one can note the dwarf single-color fir (Abies concolor Compacta), the weeping dwarf form of European larch (Larix decidua Repens), varieties of dwarf cedar (Pinus pumila) “Glauca”, “Nana”, “Dwarf Blue”, dwarf varieties of cypress trees (Chamaecyparis), bush yew (Taxus baccata Repandens). The world of dwarf coniferous plants is very diverse, so we focused on only a few of them.

Shrubs

Relatively large plants for alpine hills are represented by ornamental shrubs. The main problem associated with this type of plant is the fall of leaves in autumn, which creates difficulties in caring for the flower garden. Therefore, it is advisable to choose evergreen varieties.
Barberries (Berberis) have very decorative foliage and berries, the boxleaf (Buxifolia) variety has the winter-hardy variety “Nana”, and the evergreen variety (Gagnepainii lanceifolia) has the variety “Klugowski”.

Evergreen barberry

Cotoneaster (Cotoneaster) is also the owner beautiful foliage, has many ornamental species and varieties (shrubs and creeping ones), including semi-evergreens - Dammer (C. Dammerii) and multi-flowered (C. Multiflorus).

Common heather (Calluna vulgaris) - a low-growing evergreen shrub that will adequately decorate your rock garden. There are about 50 varieties, among which you can choose the ones that suit your needs appearance, and by flowering time. For example, pink “Tib”, white “Velvet Fascination”, salmon “J.H.Hamilton”, purple “Dark Beauty”, red “Mazurka”, purple “Marllen” will bloom one after another, and some varieties also have decorative leaves (“ Amilto", "Jan Dehher", "Velvet Fascination"). Varieties also differ in height.

Common heather Tib

The familiar and beloved spirea (Spiraea) also has species suitable for alpine hills - birch leaf (S. betulifolia Pall), Japanese (S. Japonica), white-flowered (S. Albiflora), S. Bumalda, low (S. Humilis ), dwarf (S. Pumilionum). Unfortunately, two the latter type are rare.

Also worth noting is the bush cinquefoil (Potentilla fnuticosa). This bush grows up to 1 m, is very unpretentious, and blooms for a long time. These are creamy white “Gilford Cream”, yellow “Goldfinger”, lemon “Kobold”, pink “Pink Queen”, white “Abbotswood”, red “Red Robin”, orange “Hopley Orange” and many other different varieties.

Cinquefoil shrub Goldfinger

Also used in rock gardens, but can freeze slightly, are boxwood, Japanese chaenomelis, and mahonia subleavia.

Decoration of tiers

A special feature of such a flower garden as an alpine slide is its multi-tiered nature. Traditionally, there are three stages. Each of which offers plants specific conditions. Therefore, it is important to figure out how to properly distribute plants for a rock garden into tiers.

Mountain landscapes have always attracted people with their simple and natural beauty. Being on a mountain plateau or standing on…

Upper tier

The top is the sunniest, but at the same time the driest place in the rock garden, which is also blown by the winds. Therefore, sun-loving and drought-resistant plants should be planted in the upper part of the flower garden. Such conditions will be familiar to the summer-blooming mountain dweller edelweiss (you just need to choose the right soil for it). In the spring, Iberis will decorate the top with flowering mats, which can bloom again at the end of summer. Such conditions are suitable for carnations, which also love the sun very much and will delight you all summer. Also sun-loving are knapweed (Draba), which blooms in early summer, and cat's foot (Antennaria). Unpretentious thyme is distinguished by enviable drought resistance. Its leaves will create a nice rug throughout the warm season (lemon-scented thyme is especially decorative), and summer flowering will envelop the top of the hill with an amazing aroma.

Iberis
Thyme

Young - by planting it in groups of different varieties, you can create a wonderful composition for the whole season. From large plants Cossack juniper will feel good on top.

Middle tier

There are different conditions here, more comfortable. Sun and partial shade are combined with moderate soil moisture. Moreover, in this tier the conditions on different sides of the slide are especially different. For example, the south side will be quite sunny, and the north side will be shady. Flowers for alpine hills in this area are very diverse. Bulbs and primroses will begin flowering in spring. The bright colors of summer will be provided by phlox subulate. More arid and sunny side Suitable for sedum, flax and aster. And the northern slope can be occupied by Arabis. Other slopes will be decorated with bluebells, armeria, wormwood, oregano, and decorative onions; it is also worth paying attention to which are not particularly complex.
Dwarf spruce and dwarf cedar will grow well in partial shade.

Lower tier

Feather grass (cereal)

The foot of the mountain smoothly transitions into the main garden. There is already enough moisture here. Plants for an alpine hill in the lower tier should be placed as moisture-loving and well-tolerant of relative shade. Leafy ones will fit perfectly here ornamental shrubs. And also some conifers, for example, western thuja, yew, cypress. Bright colors will be provided by saxifrage, gentian in combination with cereals, forest species of corydalis, and some types of cinquefoil. Buttercups and duchesne berry mats will add foothill flavor.

Plants for a slide with a pond

A special approach to the selection of plants is required if your hill is located near a pond. Plants for a rock garden of this type are selected as discussed above, but for decorating the coastal zone, only moisture-loving species are needed.

Near large stones on the shore, marsh iris (Iris pseudacorus), lobelia (Lobelia), ferns, and hosts will look great. The lovely flowers of the yellow lipweed (Mimulus), the delicate marsh forget-me-not (Myosotis palustris), the gentian speedwell (Veronica gentianoides and beccabunga), the marsh mint (Mentha aquatica), and the cuckoo flower lychnis (Lychnis flos-cuculi) tolerate strong humidity very well.

Yellow sponge
Lychnis cuckoo blossom

The coastal zone can be decorated with low-growing astilbes, buzulnik, point loosestrife, Anemone virginiana, brunnera.

Swamp whitewing (Calla palustris) grows well in shallow waters,

And the surface of the water itself will be wonderfully decorated and cleansed by Eichhornia, as well as water lilies and egg capsules.

A very interesting coniferous plant, hemlock (Tsuga canadensis), loves moist soil and shade (but not stagnant water).

Canadian hemlock

When designing a coastal zone, it is especially important to observe moderation. The main thing in this composition is the stone slide, so it is not recommended that the excessive brightness of the reservoir distract attention from it.

We looked at only some popular plants for alpine hills. From these you can plan and create a wonderful composition. And knowledge of the basic requirements for them and selection rules will help you expand the proposed list.

Alpine slide is an element landscape design. This unique composition, as a rule, imitates a mountain landscape: a group of stones should rise in the center, and terrace areas with a variety of plants should be formed on the slopes of the hill.

Features of the rock garden

A rock garden is a simple and unique way to recreate a piece of nature on your site. If the area is completely flat, then a rock garden (also called a rock garden or rock garden) will give it an element of movement. In addition, rockeries are an ideal place to display 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 suited for a rock garden are drought-tolerant, require 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 site where the rock garden is intended to be located in advance. Naturally, the rest of the soil added to the stones should also be free of weeds.

When selecting plants for rock gardens, it is important to remember existing conditions and select appropriate instances.

For example, for a rockery located in a sunny area with quickly drying soil, choose plants that need sun and increased drainage. If your planting area is large enough that conditions vary—perhaps there are areas 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; 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. You just need to take into account that stone gardens located in warm climates require certain plants, while those in colder climates require 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 rock garden. Its gray-green foliage contrasts beautifully with its own flowers, as well as the dark green grasses and other rock garden plants. Plants are spaced 30 to 45 cm apart in an open, sunny location 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; To maintain continuous flowering during the warm season, it is necessary to remove faded flowers. 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. Don't overwater it, let the soil dry out before watering. In warm and humid conditions, fungal diseases may develop and the leaves will turn brown. To minimize the likelihood of this problem occurring, cover the base of the plant with pebbles or sand to speed up evaporation. For better air circulation, keep the plant sparse.

Iris

Hardy and unpretentious, with bright colors, has been used for many years in stone gardens. By choosing from a variety of iris varieties and varieties, you can extend their flowering season from spring to early summer, sometimes with repeat blooms.

In northern climates, two main types of irises develop well: 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 the shade-tolerant Iris tectorum (Japanese iris).

Bearded irises Plant in full sun with plenty of air. Crowding or shading by other plants can negatively affect the flowering of iris and also contribute to its disease. Irises grow best in rich soil that has been amended 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. Bearded iris should be fertilized early spring. Use nitrogen fertilizer, then water the plant well. Fertilizer is repeated when the flower stem appears.

Irises should be carefully trimmed, leaving as much more green healthy leaf tissue. Don't be afraid to damage or deplete the plant; its development next year is determined by its ability to produce and store food during the current season; The more yellowed leaves go away, the better. After a real frost, all foliage must be cut off.

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. Best place for their placement - the sun. Siberian irises need constant moisture throughout the season with occasional deep watering.

Removing spent flowers stops the formation of seed pods, but the seed pods of Siberian irises are attractive in their own right. They can be left on individual plants for additional fall and winter decoration.

Pteridopterus

(Aethionemas or Persian Candytufts) is an excellent plant for a rock garden. It will grow in any soil except heavy, wet clay. These small plants with tiny blue-green leaves are extremely attractive, even if they have not yet bloomed. 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 pterygoid flowers 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 curled in one direction, which makes it very decorative. It blooms in summer with lavender-pink flowers. Other alliums include A. cyaneum with violet-blue flowers, A. moly with golden-yellow flowers and A. flavum, which blooms in lovely straw-like inflorescences in summer.

Shrubs

For alpine hills, mostly creeping forms of shrubs are planted.

Cotoneaster horizontal

As the name suggests, this shrub grows horizontally. The plants have small, rounded leaves whose fall colors range from reddish-orange to burgundy. The flowers are light pink and produce shiny red berries after flowering. The arrangement of the branches is such that the plant as a whole has a “Christmas tree” appearance. It reaches a height of 90 cm and a width of 2.5 m.

These bushes offer a wonderful example of a year-round ornamental plant. They bloom with light pink flowers in spring and their glossy green leaves create an unusual pattern in summer. But cotoneaster is especially attractive in the fall due to its foliage and berries. Red berries remain on the branches for a long time and look attractive even in winter. However, by mid-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, while others are more attractive when covered with brightly colored fruits later in the year.

These shrubs are able to grow in a wide range of soils, from sandy to loamy. They naturally accept beautiful shape, they do not need regular pruning. Although some species can tolerate moderate shade, best results are obtained in sunny locations. Some species create very good hedges, in particular B. Darwini, B. Stenophylla, 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 throughout the winter are among the most beautiful evergreen shrubs. Barberry Darwini, straight, beautiful bush, has small, shiny, dark evergreen leaves and orange fragrant flowers in late April and May; The fruits are dark purple with a blue-gray flower. A relatively new Chilean barberry is B. linearifolia, which resembles B. Darwinia, but has larger flowers with richer colors. There is a hybrid of B. darwinii and B. linearifolia, it has orange flowers and very effective.

Red-fruited barberries are especially attractive in autumn and winter. B. Wilsonae is a dense shrub 90 cm high with thorny branches and small leaves; the flowers are yellow and the coral red fruits in autumn are its main attraction. Its variety Stapfiana 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 its leaves in the fall. The cultivar atropurpurea has purple foliage; This is a good dwarf shrub for rock gardens.

Ground cover

Various species of saxifragaceae (Saxifragaceae) are very popular for this purpose. These are creeping perennials with round green leaves, with reverse side leaves are pink with white veins. The species S. umbrosa has tiny pink flowers on red stems, while the species S. stolonifera has white flowers.

Horny weed (Epimedium)

The low-growing perennial, which is also often used as a ground cover in mountain gardens, produces masses of leathery leaves with heart-shaped leaves. Epimedium's tiny waxy flowers range in color from shades of white and yellow to pink and red.

Kopyten

(Asarum caudatum) – has heart-shaped leaves and grows well in foggy areas. Fills gardens with a ginger-like aroma.

Creeping sedum (Sedum)

Is one of the most versatile, drought-resistant and easy to grow perennial plants, which can be used as ground cover. Known for their ability to spread quickly, these short plants completely suppress weeds. If they are not over-watered, they rarely suffer from any diseases or pests. They are an ideal choice for gardens in hot, dry climates, but also work well almost anywhere - as long as they receive good drainage.

Most creeping sedums prefer full sun but will tolerate partial shade.

Thyme

A fragrant, fast-growing ground cover 5-7 cm in height with small leaves. In early summer it bears small, delicate, whitish flowers. Can grow between steps garden path. Grows in full sun and well-drained soil. It can be used to quickly fill gaps between stepping 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. Combine it with other oregano or plant it next to lavender (Lavendula spp.), rosemary (Rosemarinus officinalis) or imperata cylindrica "Red Baron" for a carpet of golden colors.

Blue star (Laurentia fluviatilis)

Originating from Australia, it boasts delicate blue, star-shaped flowers that appear during spring and summer among small, bright green leaves. Blue star forms an attractive cover under trees and between stepping stones.

Mazus reptans

A plant for the impatient gardener, it grows very quickly, forming a dense carpet. In spring, tiny splinter-like flowers 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 invasive qualities are needed, such as between steps or to cover large areas.

Herbs

In terms of visual impact, rare plants can be compared to ornamental grasses. Don't be confused ornamental plants with grasses used for lawns.

Ornamental grasses are meant to be grown, not cut, and most are not used as groundcovers.

Feather grass

Widely found in gardens and very useful in many ways. Designers use these grasses for their shape, color range, and long decorative period, from early summer to mid-winter. Most varieties of feather grass are perennial, and all prefer full sun and are rarely found in shade in natural habitats. Steppe feather grass (Stipa) – thin grass ash color. Mexican feather grass (S. tenuissima) is a bright green tender grass that grows up to 90 cm in height.

Reed grass (Calamagrostis)

Another ornamental alpine grass, which has leaf shapes similar to feathers, grows to the same height as S. tenuissima. The variety C. acutiflora "Karl Foerster" is distinguished by the fact that there are 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 bushes and perennials. Additionally, C. 'Karl Foerster' is one of the first grasses to start growing in the spring. Flowers change color throughout the season and remain on the plant until the snow. The plant sways gracefully in the light breeze. A mass planting of C. 'Karl Foerster' on a windy day looks very impressive!

Blue oat grass (Heliptotrichon sempervirens)

It looks like a miniature fountain with tightly packed leaves that open neatly at the top 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 grasslands on calcareous soils. It does best in light, well-drained soil and prefers a sunny position. Helperotrichon sempervirens can be used as a stand-alone plant or as a “river” of sorts in pebble gardens. This herb looks stunning in any gray foliage scheme, among lavenders, artemisias and the like. It also associates well with other ornamental grasses.

Conifers

Coniferous evergreens are also often used in rock gardens.

Mountain pine Pinus mugo

Extremely attractive dwarf plant. Here it is necessary to clarify that dwarf coniferous trees not necessarily small, often they just grow slowly, only a few centimeters per year. Pinus mugo has good strong branches, green shoots that fade to brown, and scaly gray bark that is especially attractive in winter light or the glow of 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 selection of hardy, low-growing evergreen shrubs for garden landscaping. It is an evergreen shrub with dense, vertical branches covered in sharp, bright green needles. Flowers are not decorative. Blue berries are produced from spring to late winter. Valued for its shiny green foliage and original fountain-like shape.