Creating a rock garden is such a fun gardening activity, as you can experiment with many plants and their shape, size, texture, color, scent – you can see that you will have plenty of choices here!
The rock garden is a nice contrast to a green lawn or even grey patio, but this beauty comes with its own challenges, as many of the flowers that especially thrive in rock gardens can get picky sometimes. However, this shouldn’t stop you from creating such beautiful spots in your garden! Check the ten flowers that especially thrive in rocky conditions.
1. Rock Cress
The rock cress is an alpine plant and a herbaceous perennial that can easily be grown as part of a rock garden because it thrives in places where many other flowers don’t – hills and slopes. The rock cress prefers locations where it can get both sun and shade if the weather is hotter. It needs a slightly acidic and well-drained soil that should be watered only when dry after the plant’s establishment.
2. Catchfly
via cumbriabotany.co.uk
Native to Europe, this beautiful plant won’t give you the best bloom if you live in a place with a very hot climate, and because of that, it can be considered an annual plant only in colder zones. The catchfly can self-seed and spread if it’s planted in a moderate climate. Generally, this flower is low – maintenance, which is great for beginners, especially because it is both pest and disease-free, at least most of the time, but you better take good care of it daily to act on time.
3. Stonecrop Sedum
via maineboats.com
Planting the sedum in your garden is one of the best choices that you can make when it comes to all hardy succulents. Sedums don’t tolerate wet soil, so they really need fast-draining soil that will prevent their roots from getting rotten. They also need a full sun planting site to get at least eight hours of sunlight every day. Depending on the variety you choose, sedums can grow low and wide, and then you can use them as ground cover plants, or they can grow tall, and you can use them as container plants.
4. Baby’s Breath
via wearefound.com
Baby’s breath is one of the most gentle flowers that you can get for your garden! Being so delicate and tiny, this flower is usually used as a filler flower to fill voids in flowers and to make a great accent among green plants, no matter if it’s a garden or bouquet. Baby’s breath comes in white or pink variety, so it’s up to your taste to choose. They like full to partial sun location and rich soil – they don’t like frost and clay soil!
5. Cranesbill Geranium
via monrovia.com
Geraniums come in more colors, including pink, white, red, purple, and blue – it doesn’t matter which one you choose because they all look incredible! The best part is that some varieties can even have a light scent, which will additionally make your garden such a wonderful place. The geranium’s foliage is mostly green, but some have red, orange, and yellow leaves. Geraniums can do well in almost any soil; just make sure they’re getting plenty of suns!
6. Candytuft
via unirazzi.com
A European native, the candytuft is an evergreen perennial that needs well-drained, alkaline soil and lots of suns so that it can thrive! Most often, the candytuft comes in white, but you can find it somewhere in pink or purple. It’s best if you grow the flower from seeds or cuttings, which will save you some money. These gentle, delicate flowers are blooming all the way from early spring through summer, and they can rebloom in autumn as well.
7. Alyssum
The alyssum belongs to the mustard family, and they grow clusters of tiny white flowers. A bit similar to the baby’s breath, the alyssum is also a very delicate flower that will make such a nice contrast in any rock garden. With the proper care, the flower can self – sow and bloom every year, as long as it is planted in a milder climate. The alyssum blooms in early summer until early autumn and can rebloom with cutting back spent flowers.
8. Hens and Chicks
via monrovia.com
Hens and chicks are another variety of succulents that will make your rock garden amazing! If you’re wondering how these succulents got their name, it’s because of the rosette shape and the plant’s habit to produce new blooms. Hens and chicks can thrive well in both indoor and outdoor, as they are very tolerant of poor conditions and can do in almost every type of soil, as long it is well-drained.
9. Lesser Periwinkle
via dobbies.com
Also known as creeping vinca, the periwinkle is usually grown as ground cover. It needs a partial shade and acidic soil. In case you were wondering, these pretty small flowers got their name after the color of periwinkle blue, which is exactly the color in which they bloom from April to May. Before and even planting, pull out any weeds nearby the planting site; however, it’s also not a good idea to plant them near other flowers, as it can try to overtake them.
10. Red Creeping Thyme
Planting thyme in your garden may be a surprise to you, especially if you’re used to using thyme just as a cooking ingredient. However, some varieties such as the red creeping thyme can be a perfect way of covering some ground. It is known as “Mother of thyme,” and you can plant it in your rock garden among stepping stones or pavers. This variety is also edible and has its scent that will make your garden so relaxing and nice!
