Choosing plants for an alpine hill is a fascinating and painstaking task. Of course, you can use ready-made diagrams, 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 inhabitants of the rock garden yourself. After all, who but you knows what microclimate is on your site, or what kind of soil you can actually provide for your plants. An alpine hill is not a flower bed with annuals, which can be easily moved or the composition of flowers on it can be radically changed. 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 carefully and competently. Otherwise, all sorts of alterations and plant death cannot be avoided.

The ideal plants for an alpine hill are low-growing and slow-growing ones. woody plants(, cinquefoil, various conifers) and ground cover or cushion-shaped forms of herbaceous perennials, forming picturesque mats and curtains among stones. These can be either flowering species or decorative deciduous ones.

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 harmonious next to large boulders; try to avoid possible symmetry when planting. Low perennials that form picturesque clumps are planted both at the base and closer to the top of the hill, visually separating them with taller plant forms and stones.

Since usually the assortment of plants for an alpine hill includes slow-growing species, at the first stage the appearance of many bald spots between plants is inevitable; at first, you can fill the empty spaces with annuals that provide a minimum of self-seeding. These include large-flowered purslane, low-growing marigolds, gatsania, graceful gypsophila, marine lobularia, lobelia erinus - all of these annuals 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 “common 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, rates of development and growth, similarity of conditions for growing.

The top of the alpine hill

Upper tiers of the alpine slide as a rule, they are more open to sunlight than others, but less moisture is retained there than in other areas. Therefore, only sun-loving and drought-resistant plant species are planted there.

A real decoration for the top of the slide 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 clumps of Iberis, blooming in May-June, will envelop the top as if in a blanket of snow.

Iberis evergreen

If you have the opportunity to get fresh seeds (they germinate better) common lumbago(Pulsatilla vulgaris), then do it, because it will give your alpine hill a special charm and even some mystery. The plant has silvery pubescence, and large purple flowers usually appear in April. However, today on the flower market you can find both red and white flowers, and there are even double varieties. The lumbago must be planted immediately in a permanent place, as it gets very sick during transplantation and may even die.

In addition to the lumbago and chistets, there are also many cute “Alpines” in noble silvery shades, such as the fluffy tender wormwood Schmidt(Artemisia schmidtiana) or Anaphalis three-veined

Wormwood Schmidt

Anaphalis three-veined

Will add bright rich colors to the rock garden alpine aster(Aster alpinus), flowering large daisies different shades. And there is no shortage of grace and elegance (Armeria maritima), which forms dense curtains of narrow leaves, from which in June long thin peduncles with pink balls of inflorescences appear.

Western and eastern slopes of the alpine hill They no longer receive as much sun as the southern middle and upper tiers. Here the planting pockets are filled with turf-crushed soil with a fair amount of humus.

There is a huge variety of varieties Heuchera which ones to plant depends on your personal preferences and general color range. After all, it is the leaves of the most bizarre colors that are the main decoration of the heuchera, and its modest flowers only add gloss to its already spectacular appearance.

For those who like to struggle with difficulties, we can advise planting a fastidious gentian (Gentiana) with its amazing pure blue color, which, although it will add to your worries, but in case of “successful cooperation” will repay you with amazingly beautiful flowering. To help it settle better on your hill, dig a large stone next to the place where it is planted - 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 quite aggressive and can crawl in different directions if given free rein. It's better to put him on western slope– he is not so active there.

Bluebell Carpathian

Dense carpet covering 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 awl-shaped

Don't forget about primroses - primrose(Primula vulgaris), which, depending on the species and variety, can have different colors and different flowering times. For primrose, the northeast side will be the most suitable. And it will add pink, soft lilac and purple colors, rare for autumn , the mass planting of which will become a real decoration at the foot of the hill.

Primula vulgare

Colchicum beautiful

For filling north side of the hill Ordinary garden soil, in which most flowers grow, is suitable. Shadow reigns here, so the choice of plants, especially flowering ones, is significantly limited.

Pozharsky's bell(Campanula poscharskyana) is very shade-tolerant, and its bluish-purple flowers “spread” among the stones in fancy rivulets.

Pozharsky's bell

Rezuha Caucasian(Arabis caucasica) and alpine(Arabis alpina) will add light to north facing areas with its profuse white blooms in spring. A Haller's Corydalis (Corydalis halleri) It blooms its light purple, white or pink inflorescences in May, but it is also decorative at other times, as it forms pretty bluish-green thickets of lacy leaves that create a light effect.

Haller's Corydalis

The foot of the alpine hill

Foot of the northern slope can decorate Duchesnea indica(Potentilla indica), which not only flowers yellow flowers, but also decorates itself with berries similar to strawberries. You can also land here creeping tenacious(Ajuga reptans), which is not afraid of shading and blooms profusely.

Duchesnea indica

Creeping tenacious

At the base of the alpine slide plant plants that need moisture fertile soil depending on their light preferences.

In terms of photophilousness, practically universal plant is saxifrage(Saxifraga) and its various species. Saxifraga paniculata(Saxifraga paniculata) forms graceful compact bushes in the form of silvery pads, from which white-pink flowers appear on long peduncles in June. Saxifraga is shady in the fall, and after the first frost it acquires an unusual reddish tint. A soddy saxifrage(Saxifraga umbrosa) produces dense light green clumps that are covered in a dense cloud of pink or white flowers in spring.

An important color accent at the foot of the slide can be placed Liatris spikelet(Liatris spicata), planted on the south side. In July, when the first shaggy spike-shaped 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 this list will be expanded in the future. But you can take it as a basis and create your own; in addition, various woody trees were not considered here decorative forms, suitable for alpine hills, ornamental cereals, bulbous and such large group plants like conifers, which means that the conversation is not over.

In our store you can purchase from private collectors and large agricultural companies. On sale there are always seeds of gentians, lumbago, carnations, bells, primroses and other interesting garden (and not only!) species, both introduced into cultivation long ago, and taken out of their habitats and introduced to garden conditions.

Construction of a rock garden or rock garden - the right way obtaining a unique and extraordinary landscape. Having decided to decorate your property with a rocky garden, even before starting its construction, figure out which plants for the alpine hill will be the most suitable, which flowers will make it bright and original. Find out which conifers the best way fit into the composition, how to arrange decorative greenery among stones. Having understood this, you will create a unique corner on the site that you can be proud of.

Criteria for selecting plants for a rock garden

There are certain canons in the selection ornamental plants for a rocky hill. The classic option involves populating it with perennial plants growing in the highlands. These are ground cover and low-growing, with a compact bush, undemanding to soil and moisture, winter-hardy, and wind-resistant.

Rock garden on the site

However, time makes adjustments, and lovers of rocky gardens have expanded the range of plants, including some inhabitants of forests, steppes and long-flowering annuals. Most often in rock gardens and rockeries there are:

• Low-growing species of conifers and deciduous shrubs or varieties with a slow growth rate. They, along with stones, form the basis of the rock garden composition.
• Creeping ground cover plants filling the volume of the rock garden. Among them, it is advisable to choose varieties that do not lose their decorative effect after flowering ends: for example, those that have leaves with a specific color.
• Herbaceous perennials. Special attention You should pay attention to those of them whose appearance resembles specimens growing in the mountains.
• Bulbous. They enliven the landscape in the first days of spring, but after flowering aboveground part dies. That's why separate place There is no need to divert them; they need to be planted together with ground covers.

Combination of plants in a rock garden

When choosing plants for a rocky garden, you should definitely take into account its location and lighting. The “new residents” of the alpine hill should receive the amount of sunlight they need. Accordingly, in a rock garden open to the sun, it is necessary to place light-loving species, and on a hill located in the shade or partial shade, shade-loving species will be comfortable.

Plants in the rock garden are combined in appearance

In order for the composition of mini-Alps on a summer cottage to be harmonious and decorate the garden, it is necessary to select neighboring plants with approximately the same growth rate. Otherwise, too actively growing shrubs and flowers will not allow less energetic neighbors to grow. In addition, the selected plants should be similar in terms of growing conditions, flowering period and compatible in appearance.

An example of an alpine slide

How to choose flowers for an alpine slide

It’s hard to imagine a rock garden without flowers. Carefully selected beautifully flowering perennials and bright, low-growing annuals add a special charm to this unique flowerbed, and with it the entire site as a whole.

Long-lived rock garden - perennial flowers

When creating a rock garden on a site, several reasons encourage preference for low perennials:

1. They form dense thickets-clumps along the perimeter of the laid stones, going around them, repeating the stone relief, partially hanging down on the boulders. This looks inimitable, especially during the flowering period, since perennial flowers have a high density of inflorescences.
2. Most perennials have a long flowering period (40-80 days) and after flowering remain attractive due to the highly decorative leaves.
3. When caring for perennials, less labor is required: there is no need to replant plantings annually. Weeding is also easier - active perennials fill all the crevices between the stones with their roots, preventing weeds from developing. And weed seeds have too little chance of surviving in the dense shade of clumps.
4. These flowers are drought- and frost-resistant, undemanding to the soil.
5. Many species can bloom again at the end of the season if faded flowers are removed in time and faded specimens are fed.
6. Perennials can be propagated by dividing bushes, cuttings, and seeds.

• Perennial flowers of alpine origin are sun-loving; in shade and partial shade they develop poorly and may die.
• High humidity“Alpines” cannot tolerate soil, especially stagnant water in it - good drainage under their plantings is mandatory.

Dense clumps of perennial flowers

You can get acquainted with some representatives of the vast world of perennials for rocky hills from brief descriptions and photos.

Popular perennial flowers for alpine hills

Edelweiss (popular name Highlander). A sun-loving mountain flower, growing on the poor soils of inaccessible rocks, will decorate the top of the hill and be your pride. It is listed in the Red Book, but you can grow the legendary flower yourself from seeds, then propagate with seedlings.

Edelweiss

Rejuvenated. Exclusively unpretentious plant with fleshy leaves collected in a beautiful rosette, for which it is sometimes called a stone rose. There are many species of juveniles, rosettes come in different shapes and shades: from silver-green to burgundy. There are chameleon varieties that change color according to the season. A stone rose will strengthen the slopes of a rock garden, since it can take root in the narrowest crevices between stones.

Rejuvenated

Rejuvenated in a mini rock garden

Alyssum(Alyssum) rocky. Drought-resistant, demanding sunny color. Small golden flowers, united in lush decorative inflorescences, bloom in May, decorate the garden for about 50 days, emitting a sweetish aroma. Faded inflorescences must be cut off. With proper care it blooms again.

Armeria seaside. Highly resistant to cold and drought, and reacts negatively to waterlogging. Compact bushes that simultaneously produce up to 10 flower stalks with spherical inflorescences, similar to the inflorescences of decorative onions. Flowering is long lasting, almost throughout the entire season. Old inflorescences, like all long-blooming ones, must be removed in a timely manner.

Armeria seaside

Echinacea. Perennial with rather large, bright colors, hardy, drought-resistant. Loves good lighting, prefers nutritious soil. It blooms from the second half of summer to September, replacing previously faded specimens.

Echinacea

Carnations(grass, pinnate, alpine). All these carnations form clumps that can cover bald spots between taller neighbors, and bloom luxuriantly. Grassweed is the first of the perennials to bloom, and in mid-June it is joined by pinnate and alpine carnations.

Carnations: grass and pinnate

Annual and bulbous flowers for rock gardens

Decorative perennials planted when creating a rock garden do not grow overnight; some species bloom only in the second year. A rocky hill built according to all the rules at this time looks, if attractive, then too austere, reminiscent of harsh mountain peaks. Perhaps someone will be satisfied with just such a composition. And those who wish to create a semblance of a multi-colored alpine meadow on their site will be helped by annual flowers.

Annuals, together with bulbous flowers, will help the alpine hill awaken to a bright life with the melting of snow and blaze in the garden different colors all season. Bulbous plants for rock gardens should be low-growing and medium-sized. Let's say gladioli on it will be clearly inappropriate. Suitable:

• scillas,
• colchicums,
• snowdrops,
• muscari,
• crocuses,
• birdwatcher,
• Kaufman tulips.

Kaufman tulips

Low-growing annual flowers planted on an alpine hill will make it bright and attractive, help hide empty spaces, and hide fading bulbous flowers. Get to know individual annuals for rock gardens.

Dimorphotheca notemata. By origin it is a perennial, but in Russia it is often grown as an annual crop, unpretentious, resistant to cold and drought. Among other inhabitants of the rock garden, it stands out for its large inflorescences of sunny yellow and orange shades; it blooms profusely and for a long time.

Dimorphotheca notemata

haretail(lagurus). This is an ornamental grass that will add “naturalness” to a rocky hill. Loves sun, light partial shade, requires regular watering, has a negative attitude towards the slightest drying of the soil.

haretail

Brachycoma iberisolifolia. Not particularly widespread yet, but deserves more. Light- and heat-loving, requires watering only in drought. The soil for it needs to be light, dry, but nutritious for greater decorativeness.

Important: Do not overdo it with the number of flowers, because you are recreating on your site not a flowerbed, but a miniature fragment of the mountains, and the role of stones in it is dominant.

Brachycoma iberisolifolia

Annuals and perennials blooming all summer

Flowers are a wonderful gift of nature, and anyone who grows them wants their appearance to caress the eye and warm the soul all summer. There are two possibilities for this:

1. Select different species that bloom in succession throughout the season. Perhaps this is not a very simple option.
2. Choose long-flowering representatives to your liking flora, which decorate the area and delight with flowering all season.

Arenaria crimson

The latter include the above-mentioned Armeria, Brachycoma iberisolifolia, Dianthus grass, and Dimorphotheca notemata. But the list goes on and on. It is worth paying attention to the types of flowers presented below.

Arenaria crimson. Exceptionally unpretentious drought-resistant flower with shoots of a crimson color. An ideal perennial for rock gardens, capable of growing on stones and sand. The height of the stems is up to 15 cm. Small star flowers cover the bushes from early June until autumn.

Periwinkle. It grows as an evergreen mat, feels equally good in the sun and in the shade, which is rare. Pleases with small blue flowers from late May to September. In warm autumn, you can admire the flowers even in October.

Periwinkle

Balkan geranium. A fragrant perennial that blooms in June and again in autumn. The bushes, 20-25 cm high, are decorated with carved foliage, which turns yellow and sometimes red in the fall; the leaves often overwinter. It is noteworthy that this type of geranium has a branched rhizome, from which new rosettes of leaves extend, forming dense thickets. Grows equally well in moist soil and dry soil, in the sun and in the shade.

Balkan geranium

Rhodiola. An impressive looking mountain perennial with medicinal properties. Loves sun, moist (without stagnant water) nutritious soil mixed with gravel and sand. Blooms from spring to autumn.

Marigold. A charming, unpretentious annual with an amazing variety of varieties. It begins to bloom at the beginning of summer and continues until frost. Heat- and light-loving, adapted to limited watering, does not tolerate stagnation of moisture.

Marigold

Ground cover plants for rock gardens

If it’s hard to imagine an alpine hill in the garden without flowers, then it’s completely impossible without ground covers. Stones, ground cover plants and conifers are the “three pillars” that support rocky gardens.

Advantages and disadvantages of ground covers

Ground cover representatives of the green kingdom have earned recognition from summer residents because they:

1. They are highly decorative throughout the summer (some even in winter), adding originality and charm to the rock garden composition.
2. They are unpretentious, do not particularly need care - time is saved for other things.
3. They cover the ground with a continuous living carpet, preventing it from overheating, drying out, and weathering, which makes them better preserved. useful material in the ground.
4. Prevents weeds from developing.
5. Hardy, for the most part not afraid of shortages nutrients, cold and drought.
6. Being planted on the slopes of an alpine hill during its creation, they strengthen the composition.

Important: When purchasing ground cover species, carefully read their characteristics. Many grow aggressively, peremptorily conquering territory from neighbors, and not only weeds, but also your pets can survive. Such specimens should be planted away from other inhabitants of the rock garden.

Ground covers on the slope of a rocky hill

The most common ground covers

The range of ground cover plants is wide. Many of them are creeping: they spread through the rooting of tendrils and stepsons. Others produce many shoots, turning into a fluffy mat, while others grow in breadth with the help of surface roots. Meet some of the flora that can create impressive living carpets on garden plot.

Saxifrage. An almost indispensable inhabitant of rock gardens, it is found in perennial and annual crops. Some species of saxifrage prefer full sun, others prefer partial shade, and all need high humidity. Graceful bushes are decorative, forming many rosettes that merge into dense mats. They can bloom for up to 4 months (from May to August). Saxifragas easily reproduce by rosettes, which need to be separated after flowering.

Saxifrage

Arabis. One of the best perennials for rock gardens and gardens. Honey plant with rich aroma. It blooms during May-June, has decorative leaves, thanks to which it decorates the hill even after flowering. It blooms more luxuriantly in the sun, and grows stronger in the shade of the garden. It has incredibly intense growth, displacing its neighbors, just like saxifrage, by the way. Because of this, the layers have to be removed.

Aubrieta. Groundcover perennial, elegant, profusely flowering. Creates a “carpet” 10-30 cm high, up to a meter wide (depending on the type). In early spring, the rock garden is decorated with overwintered small leaves of aubrieta, which can be bright green, bluish, or variegated. By May, the rug is transformed, becoming covered with an innumerable number of small flowers, their colors depending on the variety.

The flowering of aubrieta lasts up to one and a half months. A faded rug dries out and looks sloppy. But if you cut off the shoots after flowering, this encourages the beauty to produce new ones and bloom again in the fall.

Delosperma profusely flowering. A charming groundcover annual. Loves heat, bright sun, frequent watering, well-drained, poor soil. Blooms in the year of sowing, flowers are pinkish-lilac, star-shaped.

Delosperma

Dwarf shrubs and conifers for rockeries

If the construction of an alpine hill seems too labor-intensive for you or there is not enough space for it, you can create a small rock garden of conifers in front of the house, placing in it dwarf or low-growing species of spruce, juniper, pine, and thuja. Arranging a rock garden on a flat area does not require such serious expenditure of physical labor and money as building a rocky hill, but in terms of decorativeness, a rock garden is not inferior to a rock garden.

Rockery in front of the house

Choosing conifers for rock gardens

In creating a decorative rock garden, large and small stones play an even greater role than on an alpine hill, and should occupy at least half the area of ​​the rocky garden.

Coniferous composition

Shrubs and trees should be planted in small quantities and the composition should be supplemented with ground covers and flowers, with which it is also important not to overdo it. As on an alpine hill, first of all you need to plant trees and shrubs on the site.

For a small rock garden, you should choose low-growing conifers or dwarf species, the various shades of greenery of which will decorate the garden all year round. Their range is not particularly large.

Combination of conifers

Dwarf spruces. They grow slowly, eventually reaching a height of 0.6 m, and tolerate being trimmed well. The shape of the crown can be pyramidal or spreading. The color of the needles ranges from blue in seaside spruce to lush green in Canadian spruce. Spruce trees are unpretentious and require almost no care. Being resistant to dry conditions, they are very suitable for rock gardens.

Dwarf spruces

Junipers. They have a lot of very decorative species, both creeping and standard. The needles are green, sometimes with a yellowish tint. They grow well on rocky soil and are light-loving. What makes junipers attractive are their cute, indehiscent cones.

Junipers

Mountain pine. There are several varieties. An interesting dwarf pine Pug has a spherical shape. By the age of 10, the diameter of its crown reaches only 50 cm. The needles are greenish-blue. This variety of pine is undemanding to external conditions and feels great in rock gardens and rockeries.

Mountain pine

Thuja. A shrub with a cone-shaped (some species with a spherical) dense crown and delicate green needles. Under bright sun the greens sometimes turn red. Thuja can be cut to give the desired shape. The shrub is unpretentious, cold-resistant, and drought-resistant.

Thuja in rock garden

Evergreen shrubs for rock gardens

Deciduous shrubs are undesirable inhabitants of rock gardens, where removing leaves is difficult. However, there is a group of evergreen small shrubs that do not shed their leaves and are very decorative. Here are the most popular ones.

Cotoneaster horizontal. In nature, it is an inhabitant of mountain slopes. The bush shape is compact, with small dense foliage. The foliage is green throughout the year, turning purple in autumn. In May it is covered with inconspicuous pink flowers. The cotoneaster is very decorated with fruits that appear in the fall and persist throughout the winter.

Cotoneaster horizontal

Iberis evergreen. A low-growing (up to 50 cm) strongly branching bush with dense foliage. It has a pleasant aroma and is highly decorative. The first buds appear in May, it blooms luxuriantly for 2 months, the flowers are white. Unpretentious, but does not tolerate shade and stagnant water. Requires watering during drought. Loves sandy, rocky soil.

Iberis evergreen

Barberry evergreen(boxwood). Dwarf bush, up to 50 cm high. Undemanding to soil, loves sun or partial shade. It is cold-resistant, but in very severe winters it needs shelter. It blooms in May, but its main decoration is its luxurious greenery.

Barberry evergreen

If there are not so many true “Alpines”, then it is impossible to list all the names of the various plants that have found shelter in stone gardens. Choose according to your taste, taking into account the needs of your green friends, their relationships with each other, follow simple agricultural practices, and your rock garden will be inimitably beautiful on a country plot or in the garden.

So, for example, shade-loving species are not suitable for a sunny rocky hill, etc. But when selecting plants for rocky gardens (rockeries), one more thing must be taken into account important factor- their naturalness, “naturalness”. On a rocky hill, lush garden flowers are inappropriate, as they distract attention from the overall composition. In addition, all plants should be compact and, if possible, all year round look neat and beautiful. Therefore, give preference to natural species and varieties similar to them, especially plants with wintering leaves and shoots that decorate the garden even in winter.

The main functions of plants for a rock garden are as follows:

• emphasize the beautiful elements of the rock garden;
• hide unsuccessful elements of the composition, ugly or unnaturally laid stones (suitable for this conifers and ground cover perennials);
• soften and enliven the composition;
• delight the eye with a variety of colors and textures of leaves, beautiful flowering.

Plant plants in the order in which they are discussed in this article - this will help you correctly create a composition and provide the plants with the best living conditions.

Types of perennials for alpine slides: photos and names

Perennial plants for alpine hills with foliage that dies off during the winter can be roughly divided into following types:

• Species that form narrow-leaved tufts- corollas, anticleas, paradiseas, liatris, daylilies, many irises. They look organic in any composition, especially next to large stones. Low-growing forms of perennials for rock gardens, such as sisirhynchium and dwarf ornamental grasses, are good for group planting.
• Species that form large but compact tufts of leaves or shoots- ferns, astilbes, thorns, ash trees, rhodiola. Such flowers for rockeries look best near stones, at joints and at the foot of terraces.
• Species that form low-growing curtains- spectacular, but often capricious plants: primroses, edelweiss, lumbago, cranberry, gentian, armeria, rock bells, miniature ferns. Plant perennial flowers for alpine hills in isolated holes and in small groups on small terraces.
• Species growing in tall clumps. Most are shade-tolerant forest plants. Some can be quite aggressive, such as lilies of the valley, kupenas, disporums, bergenias; use them in large rock gardens flat type or to stabilize slopes. Other flowers for rock gardens grow compactly: mountain weeds, jeffersonias, uvularia, “curtain” ferns; the best place for them is spacious terraces.
• “Giants” are plants too large for rockeries. Only in large gardens can you use a few slender species with beautiful leaves: Volzhanka, black cohosh, buzulniki, Rogersia, ascylboides, peltiphyllum. Plant these perennials for rock gardens individually or in small groups - this is the only way they will demonstrate all their beauty.

There are a huge number of leaf-shedding perennials suitable for rocky gardens, so we will focus only on the species typical of the most common type of rockery - the alpine slide.

To successfully grow the plants presented below, it is necessary to follow not only the rules specific to each species, but also the rules of agricultural technology common to all of them:

• Replant in early spring (before active growth begins) or in the second half of summer (after growth ends).
• Plant perennials on light, humus-rich loams with an acidity of 5.5 - 6.
• In autumn, cut off all plants that have not retained or formed green shoots at ground level.
• For successful wintering, carry out hilling or mulching in the fall, cover capricious species with a layer of leaves to a height of 10-20 cm.

Ephemeroids are plants that have a very short growing season. They bloom in spring or early summer, after which they shed their leaves. They are planted in rockeries last and only in the fall.

What ephemeral flowers can be planted on an alpine hill?

Snowdrops, white flower beds, corydalis, crocuses, iridodictiums, kandyks, chionodoxes, scyllas, pushkinias, muscari, and, of course, tulips, daffodils and hyacinths are perfect for these purposes. They bloom for a short time, but are catchy and impressive, for which they are loved by gardeners.

These plants for rockeries have a single, but serious drawback - after flowering they look inconspicuous, and during the period of foliage dying off they do not decorate the rock garden, but rather spoil it. However, there is no need to abandon ephemeroids - you just need to choose the right types.

Give preference to plants whose foliage dies within 2-3 weeks after flowering. Be careful with large-flowered varieties tulips and hyacinths - their splendor contradicts the aesthetics of a rock garden. The natural forms of these plants and their miniature varieties look much more organic in a rocky garden.

Ephemeroids are always planted in groups. In small gardens, nests of 3-5 or 10-20 specimens look impressive, peeking out from under stones or growing at the foot of terraces. In large rockeries, especially flat ones, they create extensive color spots from dozens of plants. Just don’t forget that after the leaves die, the space occupied by ephemeroids will be empty until next spring.

Ephemeroid plants belong to very different families, but their agricultural technology has a lot in common:

• • They are photophilous, but can be planted under the crowns of deciduous plants and between late-growing perennials, since ephemeroids have time to bloom before the planting site is shaded by foliage.
  • They are moisture-loving during the period of active growth; after the leaves die off, they normally tolerate dry soil.

• Heat during the growing season shortens the growing season. Before flowering begins, they are not afraid of frost. After the end of the growing season, they are demanding on temperature conditions - some need to be dug up and stored in a cool, dry place until planting.
• Most survive for many years without a transplant. Excessive compaction of the “nest”, which prevents the normal development of plants, means that it is time to carry out a rejuvenating division. The best period for digging and replanting is the end of the growing season.
• The optimal planting time is from late September to mid-October. The heavier and colder the soil, the closer to the surface plant the bulbs.
• They love well-drained, humus-rich, slightly acidic or neutral soils. They prefer loose loamy or sandy loam soils.
• They reproduce well with fresh seeds, blooming in 3-5 years. Seedlings tolerate replanting (picking) painlessly only in the initial stage of growth. Many species spread easily throughout the garden when earthworks and thanks to the ability to self-seeding.

Look at the photo of perennial ephemeral flowers for the alpine hill:

When choosing flowers that are ideal for an alpine slide, pay attention to the following plants.

Anticlea gracilis (Zygadenus) - Anticlea elegans (Zygadenus)

Anticlea gracilis (Zygadenus) on the picture
Flowers of Anticlea gracilis

The bulbs do not have summer dormancy. The plant is suitable for all large rockeries. Looks great near the stones, next to the “swamp”, in a mixborder.

Bulbous plant. This perennial flower, suitable for an alpine hill, did not get its name by chance - it is, indeed, very elegant. Narrow bluish basal leaves are collected in bunches up to 40 cm high. It blooms in early summer. The flowers are small, yellow-green, collected in a narrow paniculate inflorescence, the peduncle is about 70 cm tall. Prefers rich soils. It grows well both in partial shade and in open areas. It is moisture-loving, but can withstand temporary drying out. Winter-hardy without shelter.

All representatives of the genus are suitable for rockeries.

Thrift- Armeria

The most compact:

Armeria soddy in the photo
(A. caespitosa) in the photo

Armeria seaside in the photo
(A. maritima) in the photo

Armeria maritima (A. maritima), forming cushions of narrow, partially overwintering leaves.

As you can see in the photo, the inflorescences of these plants for alpine slides are capitate, the flowers are often pink, the peduncles are from 3 to 30 cm high:

Armeria are very effective in small and narrow holes, in crevices of retaining walls and rocks, between slabs of paths.

Prefer open sunny places, poor and well-drained soils. Drought resistant. Winter-hardy without shelter, they freeze only in very cold, snowless winters.

Venechnik
Anthericum

All species are showy, elegant plants. Narrow basal leaves are collected in rosettes. They bloom in early summer with snow-white flowers collected in lush paniculate inflorescences.

Peduncles height from 60 to 150 cm. Excellent as seasonal dominants.

Pay attention to the photo how well these rockery plants complement large compositional groups:

They are undemanding to soil, but develop better on nutritious loams. Prefers a sunny location, but tolerates shade. Shelter for the winter is not required.

catchment area on the picture
Aquilegia on the picture

For rocky gardens, the fan-shaped catchment (A. flabellata) is most suitable - a dwarf species with a height of no more than 15 cm (varietal forms can reach 30 cm).

This perennial alpine plant got its name from the ability of its leaves and flowers to collect and store rainwater and dew. The leaves near the catchment area are bluish-green and pinnate. The flowers are large, with short spurs, blue, white or pink; bloom in early summer. It is undemanding to soils, but lives longer in loose soils than in heavy or peaty ones. Prefers a sunny or semi-shady location. Easily tolerates transplantation. Drought resistant. Winter-hardy. Blooms profusely, but does not last long.

Bell on the picture
Campanula on the picture

Unpretentious mountain-meadow and rocky species are best suited for rockeries. The name of these flowers, suitable for alpine slides, is known to everyone. Bells are sun-loving, do not like summer replanting, do not tolerate waterlogging, and are relatively drought-resistant. They prefer neutral or slightly alkaline loamy soil.

Carpathian bellflower in the photo
(S. carpatica) in the photo

Forms compact bushes about 25 cm high. The leaves are small, basal and stem. The flowers are blue or white, large. Blooms all summer.

Gargan bell in the photo
(S. garganica) in the photo

Forms curtains from lodging stems. Blooms beautifully in early summer blue flowers. These alpine hill flowers grow well only in crevices of dry masonry walls or on narrow terraces. It is frost-resistant, but overwinters safely only on well-drained soils under snow cover.

Portenschlag's bell in the photo
(S. horntenschlagiana) in the photo

Vertical shoots are collected into neat bushes. It blooms very profusely in early summer. The flowers are small, purple. It grows well and overwinters only in drained holes or crevices in the walls of dry masonry.

Bells will decorate any sunny rockery. Plant them in small holes, on narrow terraces or in crevices of walls lined with dry masonry - in such places they develop best. Carpathian bellflower can grow on tuff.

To extend the flowering period of Carpathian Bluebell, cut off faded shoots - abundant fruiting stops flowering.

Here you can see a selection of photos of perennials for the alpine hill, the names of which are given above:

Mountain plants are those flowers that are ideal for alpine slides. Growing rock species of bells and saxifrages, gesneriaceae, gentians, lewisias, dwarf ferns and other “highlights” of rocky gardens requires considerable experience and patience. “Rarities” are planted in small holes and in crevices between stones, while trying to distinguish them from the overall composition. Sometimes you have to prepare a special soil substrate, specially drain it seat or install a canopy to protect from rain. Many of these plants need a certain acidity of the soil that differs from the general background and the presence of a certain type of stone in the neighborhood.

Most mountain plants and flowers, when grown on an alpine hill, cannot be tolerated by loved ones groundwater and stagnation of water on the soil. They grow well on small shaded terraces of rocky hills.

However, if you grow a rare saxifrage, gentian, chickweed or breaker, you will have a legitimate reason for pride.

Below you will see photos and names of mountain flowers suitable for rock gardens.

Gentian on the picture
Gentiana on the picture

Relatively unpretentious species:

Gentian seven-parted in the photo
(G. septemfida) in the photo

Rough gentian in the photo
(G. scabra) in the photo

Chinese gentian decorated in photo
(G. sinoornata) in the photo

They bloom in late summer - autumn, and live for many years without replanting or special care.

The situation is more complicated with dwarf alpine gentians that bloom in early spring:

Stemless gentian in the photo
(G. acaulis) in the photo

Gentian Delecluze in the photo
(G. clusii) in the photo

Spring gentian in the photo
(G. verna) in the photo

Plant them in well-drained holes protected from the wind, filled with loose fertile soil and fine limestone crushed stone. Replant only in early spring, water in summer and protect from the scorching sun. And remember: all the difficulties of care will be paid off with the joy of long and lush flowering.

Levisia cotyledon on the picture
Lewisia cotyledon on the picture

A beauty that would be most suited to a cold greenhouse, but it can also bloom in open ground, in a crevice or hole protected from rain.

As you can see in the photo, even the rosettes of these flowers are original for the alpine hill - evergreen, similar to large juveniles:

In May, flower stalks appear from the rosettes, on which flowers 3 cm in diameter bloom. The main condition for the successful development of a plant is right choice landing sites. The soil should be permeable, nutritious, and the rosette should remain dry if possible.

Haberleia rhodopiana on the picture
Haberlea rodopensis on the picture

A relative of the Uzambara violet, but in middle lane quite frost-resistant. Can only grow in proximity to stones. Does not tolerate alkaline soil. The best landing site is an inclined hole. Winter-resistant, but it is better to cover it with spruce branches.

Below you can see another selection of photos of plants grown in rock gardens, find out their names and descriptions.

Perennial flowers for rock gardens: photos and names

Kolyuchnik on the picture
Carlina on the picture

All species are suitable for rockeries, but the stemless thorn (C. acaulis) is especially good.

Hard, prickly leaves are collected in rosettes. Blooms in late summer. The inflorescences are baskets with a diameter of 6-8 cm, opening only in the sun. Peduncles from 10 to 30 cm.

All thorns are dried flowers. They are especially good for planting near stones, in holes and on terraces.

Very sun loving. Drought resistant. Does not tolerate transplantation well. Does not tolerate waterlogging. Prefers loose loams, but grows normally on any non-acidic, well-drained soil. Winter-hardy. It freezes only in severe snowless winters and when winter-spring waters stagnate.

Primrose (Primrose) on the picture
Primula on the picture

Primroses will decorate any rock garden. This plant, suitable for rock gardens, got its name because it is one of the first to bloom.

Primula Ears in the photo
(Auricula) in the photo

The species of the Auricula section are particularly unique. These are typical alpine plants; their leaves are smooth, leathery, the flowers are wide open. Prefers non-acidic, moist soils and is drought-resistant. Sun-loving, but tolerates shade. Frost-resistant.

There are varieties with large and double flowers, and there are also charming “dwarfs”:

Primrose Delecluze in the photo
(P. clusiana) in the photo

Primrose visible in the photo
(p spectabilis) in the photo

Primrose bordered in the photo
(P. marginata) in the photo

Increasingly popular in summer cottages use the alpine slides. Anyone who was lucky enough to see what these hills look like in the spring - bare stones, and small bushes of flowering plants between them, will no doubt want to repeat such “Alps in miniature” in their own garden. To do this, you need to choose the right place and plants that will please the eye and decorate the slide.

The choice of plants for an alpine hill is quite large; you can, of course, use ready-made planting schemes, but creative individuals will be very interested in our article today. Thanks to some tips, we will try to study and understand the features of growing future residents of the rock garden ourselves.

Planting a hill is carried out from top to bottom, and it is in this order that we propose to consider advice on choosing plants.

The top of the alpine hill

Sun-loving and drought-resistant plants are ideal for the upper tiers of an alpine hill, since moisture practically does not linger at the very top of the rock garden. In such conditions the following plants feel very comfortable:

• Iberis evergreen

The leaves are evergreen, oblong, dark green, shiny, up to 7 cm long. The flowers are white up to 1.5 cm in diameter. There are several options for planting Iberis: in the form of seedlings or seeds. If you buy seedlings, they should have healthy shiny green leaves, as this indicator is a parameter of plant health.

• Perennial carnations

Especially good perennial carnations on alpine hills, firstly, they are unpretentious, and secondly, they do not require careful care - the main thing is that they are not “choked” by weeds or plants planted nearby. But it’s better to choose an open and sunny place for them; the upper tier of the rock garden will be just right.

• Alyssum rocky

Rock alyssum is drought-resistant, excellent for growing on alpine hills. It easily tolerates frosts down to -10 degrees, and if it is thoroughly covered with snow for the winter, then in the spring it will emerge from under the snow green and ready for further growth. The pride of this plant is its bright yellow flowers; such a carpet “hat” near the hill will not leave anyone indifferent.

• Edelweiss

This type of flower is a herbaceous perennial plant with beautiful foliage and beige-white flowers. Alpine edelweiss is somewhat reminiscent of daisies; this type of edelweiss grows well in rocky, sandy soil with good drainage, which explains their popularity in stone gardens.

• creeping thyme

Creeping thyme is a drought-resistant and winter-hardy plant, and these qualities are the necessary minimum in order for the plant to take root on the alpine hill. Areas with fertile, loose, neutral soil of light or medium texture, free from weeds, should be allocated for it, well illuminated by the sun, protected from cold winds.

Middle tier of alpine slide

In the middle tier of the “stone garden” the conditions are slightly different - less light, more humidity, which means that a completely different assortment of plants will take root here.

• Phlox subulate

The main advantage of the awl-shaped phlox is that from March until frost, its stems and petals retain a bright emerald green color, and during the flowering period, in late May - early June, carpets of awl-shaped phlox are completely strewn with flowers of various shades. It is also impossible not to note the excellent winter hardiness of this plant.

• Aubrieta

Another suitable option for an alpine hill - this is a plant with original name Aubrieta, its main advantage is that it overwinters with leaves. The flowers are small, but due to abundant flowering, gives the impression of a colored carpet, it can be violet, magenta, rose-red, blue or white. Flowering is abundant and long lasting.

• Pozharsky's bell

This bell forms a lush carpet of lilac flowers in the shape of stars, the flowering is so abundant that you literally cannot see the leaves behind it. Pozharsky's bell grows quickly and overwinters well. The plant grows up to 20 cm in height with large rounded basal leaves with jagged edges. Looks good next to large species of carnation and saxifrage.

• Common lumbago (sleep-grass)

The best place for shooting is an alpine hill, a rose garden or a flower bed with low perennials. The best option– areas with light shading, although it grows well in open places, the middle tier of the rock garden has all necessary conditions for favorable growth of sleep grass.

• alpine aster

This type of aster is also called alpine chamomile; it is a cold-resistant perennial, herbaceous or, less commonly, subshrub plant. Reproduction of this plant is possible in several ways: seeds, dividing the bush, cuttings and shoots.

• Gentian

Another type of plant that takes root well in rock gardens is gentian. This flower is quite low-growing, so when combined with other plants, it will not stand out from the overall design.

The best place for planting gentian is the western side of the middle tier of the alpine hill.

The foot of the alpine hill

At the base of the alpine hill, plants that need moist, fertile soil are planted, regardless of their light preferences.

• Duchesnea indica

Duchenia is also called decorative strawberry; the thing is that the flowers of this plant are very easy to confuse with strawberry fruits. The foot of the alpine hill is an ideal place for duchesne, partial shade and high level humidity will help this flower become a real decoration of the rock garden.

• Liatris spikelet

Liatris prefers fertilized soils and bright places; in this regard, the foot of a rock garden is a wonderful place for this flower to grow. It is in such conditions that it can be especially luxurious: numerous flower stalks sometimes reach 2 m, and the length of the inflorescence reaches 35 cm.

• Saxifrage

Cushion-shaped saxifrages are originally inhabitants of mountains, all kinds of crevices, and vertical walls. Their rigidity, hard protrusions, scaly structure, bluish color or powdery coating - all these are adaptations developed to reduce evaporation and withstand mountain solar insolation. Thanks to all these characteristics, saxifrage takes root well at the foot of the rock garden.

• The edge of the lawn is one of the most suitable places to create an alpine slide;

• Start filling the slide various plants always follows from top to bottom;

• A very important part of the work of filling an alpine hill is the correct arrangement of plants; if this part of the work is done correctly, then there will be much less trouble with the plants;

• Another important task is not to overdo it with fertilizers; overly fertilized soil will lose winter hardiness;

• The voids that were formed during the creation of the slide must be filled with clay-turf soil;

• It is always better to start watering from the bottom.

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