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.
A mass of small white flowers in early spring against emerald-green foliage. Prefers full sun, or partial shade with free-draining, ordinary, or chalky soil or compost.
With very large white flowers this variety is outstanding from other Saxifraga. Masses of flower cover for a long lasting period. A thankful plant in each consumers garden.
Saxifrage. A cushion-forming mossy saxifrage with soft rosettes of bright green leaves. Crimson stems carry clear pink flowers in late spring. Height 5cm. Spread 30cm. Flowers from April to May. Evergreen. Hardy.
Saxifrage. Rose pink flowers on large dark green rosettes. Prefers full sun, or partial shade with free-draining, ordinary, or chalky soil or compost.
Excellent ground cover for rockeries. A mat-forming saxifrage with pink rosettes. Flowers in Spring. Height 20cm.
Excellent ground cover for rockeries. A mat-forming saxifrage with purple rosettes. Flowers in Spring. Height 20cm.
Excellent ground cover for rockeries. A mat-forming saxifrage with purple rosettes. Flowers in Spring. Height 20cm.
Excellent ground cover for rockeries. A mat-forming saxifrage with white rosettes. Flowers in Spring. Height 20cm.
Mat forming evergreen perennial alpine with a compact growth habit. It has bright green lance shaped leaves in small clusters which together create a spiky mound of foliage. In late spring it bears beautiful eye catching star shaped flowers in bright hues of pinks and magentas held aloft on slender stems.
Excellent ground cover for rockeries. A mat-forming saxifrage with rose fading to white rosettes. Flowers in Spring. Height 20cm.
Excellent ground cover for rockeries. A mat-forming saxifrage with red rosettes. Flowers in Spring. Height 20cm.
Excellent ground cover for rockeries. A mat-forming saxifrage with red rosettes. Flowers in Spring. Height 20cm.
Excellent ground cover for rockeries. A mat-forming saxifrage with white rosettes. Flowers in Spring. Height 20cm.
Gymnopera saxifrage. Evergreen. Low groundcover. Good in poor soils. Whorls of waxy leaves under delicate sprays of tiny flowers.
Mound-forming, bushy, mat of tough, green toothed foliage which forms an excellent foil for its crowded clusters of pastel yellow Snapdragon-like flowers. Prefers full sun or partial shade with free-draining soil or compost.
Compact grey-green mounds of foliage become covered in small pinky-purple flowers in July through to Autumn. Prefers full sun, or partial shade with moist or free-draining soil or compost.
Biting Stonecrop. A mat-forming alpine with stems densely clothed in pale green leaves. Star-shaped yellow-green flowers in summer. Height 5cm. Spread 60cm. Flowers from June to August. Evergreen. Hardy.
Biting Stonecrop. A mat-forming alpine with stems densely clothed in yellow leaves. Star-shaped yellow-green flowers in summer. Height 5cm. Spread 60cm. Flowers from June to August. Evergreen.
Stonecrop. A mat-forming alpine with waxy green leaves and tiny white umbel flowers. Height 10cm. Flowers late June and July. Evergreen. Hardy.
Mat-forming, evergreen stonecrop that it native to western Europe. It typically grows to 4-8" tall and spreads to 10-12" wide. Non-flowering stems are densely covered with pointed, flattened, succulent, grey-green leaves (to 3/8" long) in obconical rosettes.
Stonecrop. An alpine with rosettes of glaucous, green leaves, flushed red-bronze in autumn. Clusters of star-shaped, bright yellow flowers in summer. Height 5cm. Spread 20cm. Flowers from June to August. Evergreen. Hardy.
Striking golden green mounding succulent foliage magnified by dazzling yellow flowers in summer. Prefers full sun, or partial shade with free-draining soil or compost.
Stonecrop. A mat-forming alpine with rosettes of silver-grey leaves. Clusters of star-shaped. bright yellow flowers in summer. Height 10cm. Spread 60cm. Flowers from June to August. Evergreen.
A mat-forming alpine with red stems of toothed mid-green leaves. Purple-tinted when mature. Clusters of star-shaped deep pink flowers in late summer. Height 10cm. Spread 60cm. Flowers from August to September. Evergreen. Hardy.
Cobweb Houseleek. A rosette-forming alpine with succulent rosettes of mid-green to red leaves. Cobwebbed with fine white hairs. Produces reddish pink flowers in summer. Height 8cm. Spread 30cm. Flowers from June to August. Evergreen. Hardy.
Dark maroon rosettes with a cob-web like covering. 5 x 10cm. Flowers red June to August.
Houseleek. A rosette-forming alpine with succulent rosettes of lime green leaves. Produces pinkish flowers in summer. Height 5-8cm. Spread 20-30cm. Flowers from June to August. Evergreen. Hardy.
Houseleek. A rosette-forming alpine with succulent rosettes of deep purple-red leaves. Produces greenish red flowers in summer. Height 10cm. Spread 30cm. Flowers from June to August. Evergreen.
Wonderful silvery-green succulent leaves. The inner 'heart' of the houseleek turns a ruby red as it matures. Prefers full sun, or partial shade with free-draining soil or compost.
Mat-forming, evergreen, succulent perennial forming rosettes of fleshy, ovate, pointed, bright green leaves and leafy stems bearing clusters of pink flowers in summer.
This wonderful succulent variety has lurid green foliage with dark, almost black tips. The "chicks" emerge from the mother "hen" on slightly extended tendrils.
Deep burgundy rosettes 5 x 15 cm. A great alpine.
Winter-hardy succulent with beautiful tight rosettes which sends out stolons, spreading quickly. If conditions are ideal, Sempervivum Hippie Chicks shoot up flowers that attract bees.
Moss Campion. A very dwarf moss-like cushion of narrow, bright green leaves. Almost stemless, pink flowers from spring to early summer. Height 3cm. Spread 20cm. Flowers from April to June. Evergreen. Hardy.
Moss Campion. A dwarf moss-like cushion of narrow, bright green leaves. Almost stemless, deep magenta flowers from late summer to Autumn. Height 25cm. Spread 30cm. Evergreen. Hardy.
Sea Campion. A mat-forming alpine with green cream variegated leaves. Single white flowers in summer. Height 5cm. Spread 10-15cm. Flowers from June to August. Semi-evergreen. Hardy. Sheltered Site.
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