Alpines are plants found in high mountainous areas generally above the natural tree line. They are usually exposed to wide ranging temperatures: very freely draining low nutrient soils: strong winds and high light levels. To survive these conditions they have evolved a number of defences because they are low growing, mat or cushion-forming plants. They are protected against harsh winds and cold: they are dormant under snow; they have extensive root systems to seek out moisture and nutrients: they often have spiny growths to deter grazing animals. These conditions are different to a British winter but provided you bear in mind their natural growing conditions, you can grow them quite successfully.
How to grow Alpines
These dwarf plants offer a huge choice of flower colour and also of shape, foliage and a diversity of usage. Used in a rockery, spectacular displays can be achieved with the colour and form of the plants complimenting the rocks. They also make good container plants on patios and are good in old sinks and troughs and raised beds. Some will grow well in hanging baskets and in crevices in walls, or paving stones. Types such as Thyme can be planted en-masse to give a colourful and scented carpet.
Alpines in containers
Alpines can live in containers for many years and dwarf types especially benefit from being displayed in raised sinks or troughs so that their minute detail can be better appreciated. Smaller containers will need holes in the bottom to let excess water drain off. Always put a layer of broken crocks in the bottom to help with drainage and ensure the roots never sit in water. Provide a planting mix of 30% general purpose compost, 30% leafmould or garden compost and 40% added grit. Top dress with gravel and place in a sunny location. Water regularly but not excessively. Keep alpines even drier in winter, but do not allow to dry out. Feed with a general fertiliser at just a 1/4 of the manufacturers recommended strength for other plants in mid-spring. Keep free from weeds and pick off any dead leaves and prune as needed. Move pots into a cool well ventilated greenhouse in winter.
Creating a rockery
A rockery is intended to give the appearance of a rock outcrop mound in a mountanous region. The site is important and a bank is ideal, as building on a level surface seldom achieves a natural effect. The use of natural or imitation rock stone rather than broken concrete or old bricks is preferable. It is best to use one type of rock, choosing the largest pieces you can comfortably handle, although using some pieces will help give a natural effect.
When positioning your plants consider how they would appear in nature. Try to copy this natural look when building your rockery. Create pockets of suitable planting soil for the plants. To add interest vary the soil between the rocks. Bury the base of rocks and slope them back to help direct the rain into the pockets. Most alpines will tolerate any type of soil, providing it is well drained!.
Once the rockery is planted, cover the soil surface with small gauge gravel or shingle to enhance the look and keep the soil cool. Although many alpines grow on very poor soils, always water after planting and in very dry spells. Feed in spring with a general fertiliser at 1/4 strength for other plants to ensure best results.
Candytuft. A mounded evergreen subshrub with dark green leaves. Dense clusters of snow-white flowers in late spring to early summer. Height 25cm. Spread 40cm. Flowers from May to June. Evergreen.
Fairy Footsteps. Blue flowers smother the frond-like foliage. Bushy compact low growing habit. A great alpine for between paving or for ground cover.
Sheeps Bit. A densely tufted alpine with narrow leaves and vivid blue flowers in summer. Height 15cm. Spread 15cm. Flowers from June to August. Evergreen. Hardy.
A simply beautiful sculpture plant with matt green succulent leaves which blush to burgundy towards the margins. Ideal Conditions: Prefers full sun, or partial shade with moist soil or compost. Possible Situation: Perfectly suited for planting in gravel gardens, paved areas, rockeries and small containers. Try mixing with other succulents and alpines.
Crenate, silvery white leaves with green margins that carry clusters of hooded pink flowers, which appear at the stem terminals in late spring to early summer. Evergreen. Good in shade. Also great for winter tubs and baskets.
Perennial mesembryanthemum. Prostrate succulent with narrow blue green leaves. Hardy in a sheltered garden. A good alpine or rockery plant. Very pretty orange flowers. Height 20cm. Prefers full sun and well drained or dry soil. Protect from hard frosts.
Perennial mesembryanthemum. Prostrate succulent with narrow blue green leaves. Hardy in a sheltered garden. A good alpine or rockery plant. Very orange flowers. Height 20cm. Prefers full sun and well drained or dry soil. Protect from hard frosts.
A clump-forming alpine with narrow grey-green basal leaves and yellowish white flowers surrounded by silver-grey bracts. Height 20cm. Spread 10cm. Flowers from April to May. Herbaceous. Hardy. Protect from winter wet.
This succulent perennial, which forms compact rosettes with short panicles of large, rose-pink flowers, will also rebloom. This hybrid is more tolerant of container growing than Lewisia species.
A choice alpine forming a flat rosette of fleshy, dark green leaves and clusters white flowers. Height 30cm. Spread 25cm. Flowers from May to August. Evergreen. Hardy. Protect from winter wet. Lewisia 'Elise Mixed' flowers in its first year.
A choice dwarf alpine forming a tuft of narrow, dark green leaves and star-shaped peach flowers. Height 10cm. Spread 10cm. Flowers from May to June. Herbaceous. Hardy. Protect from winter wet.
A choice dwarf alpine forming a tuft of narrow, dark green leaves and star-shaped magenta flowers. Height 10cm. Spread 10cm. Flowers from May to June. Herbaceous. Hardy. Protect from winter wet.
This is a Cornish treasure! A scarce beauty found on cliffs of North Cornwall - Poldark country! Tough mounds of slightly blue-green foliage and profusions of pale pink to lavender coloured bracts.
A small herbaceous alpine with small lobelia type flowers from spring to autumn 10-20cm high.
'Blue Star' is a low sprawling evergreen shrub bearing small, green leaves and abundant small, bright blue flowers that are edged in white from spring to summer.
A prostrate evergreen shrub with narrow, hairy green leaves and clusters of white starry flowers. Height 15cm. Spread 60cm. Flowers from May to August. Evergreen. Hardy. Planting instructions add peat to the planting hole.
A trailing evergreen shrub with narrow, dark green leaves and clusters of long-lasting azure-blue flowers. Height 15cm. Spread 60cm. Flowers from May to August. Evergreen. Hardy
A prostrate evergreen shrub with narrow hairy green leaves and clusters of deep azure-blue starry flowers. Height 15cm. Spread 60cm. Flowers from May to August. Evergreen. Hardy Peaty soil.
Alpine Campion. Perennial with sticky stems, grass like foliage and dense terminal clusters of tufted, dark pink flowers in late spring. Flowers from June to August. Herbaceous.
A hybrid between Agave and Manfreda. A rosette forming succulent with pale green pointed leaves that are heavily spotted with maroon splodges and have finely toothed edges. A great pot plant for the house or garden best in full sun and in well drained soil keep dry and frost free in winter.
A mat-forming alpine with toothed leaves and pretty white flowers. Height 5cm. Spread 30cm. Flowers from May to August. Semi-Evgn. Frost hardy. Sheltered site.
Grape Hyacinth. A bulbous perennial with strap-like green leaves and pretty bell-shaped densely bunched, double blue flowers. Height 20cm. Spread 5cm. Flowers from April to May. Herbaceous. Hardy.
Rosettes of very pale grey leaves. In late summer and autumn, 5-10cm pale yellow flower spikes poke up from the rosettes forming cone shapes that resemble a Chinese hat. Flowering Time: April- May. Excellent for borders. Prefers full sun with free-draining soil or compost.
Shamrock. Sorrel. A clump forming perennial with clover-like grey-green leaves and pretty funnel shaped purplish pink flowers with darker veins. Height 10cm. Spread 15cm. Flowers from April to May. Herbaceous. Hardy.
Large succulent lobes which resemble a cluster of shiny white pebbles. Prefers full sun, or partial shade with moist soil or compost.
Bred in New Zealand this close relative to Hebe is a compact mound of waxy dark green toothed foliage, larger than other Parahebe, smothered with white flowers that have a pink-purple centre from May to the first frost.
A spreading subshrub with dark green leaves tinged with purple when young. White flowers veined mauve. Height 30cm. Spread 30cm. Flowers from June to August. Evergreen. Hardy.
A very easy, low, almost shrubby plant that will produce a huge quantity of flowers summer. The small flowers of lilac-blue are beautifully marked with cerise-purple. Evergreen. About 25cm (10") high.
A very easy, low, almost shrubby plant that will produce a huge quantity of flowers summer. The small flowers of lilac-blue are beautifully marked with cerise-purple. Evergreen. About 25cm (10") high.
A mound-forming alpine with narrow dark green leaves and reddish magenta-pink flowers with a dark eye. Height 5cm. Spread 20cm. Flowers from May to June. Evergreen. Hardy.
A mound-forming alpine with narrow dark green leaves and red flowers. Height 8cm. Spread 30cm. Flowers from May to June. Evergreen. Hardy.
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