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.
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.
A mat-forming alpine with narrow bright green leaves and silvery blue flowers with a dark eye. Height 10cm. Spread 30cm. Flowers from May to June. Evergreen. Hardy.
Moss Phlox. A mat-forming alpine with narrow bright green leaves and blue violet flowers. Max height 10cm. Max spread 30cm. Flowers May to June. Full sun. Hardy.
A spreading perennial with a cushion of dense green foliage smothered in a mass of pure white flowers in spring. Height 15cm. Spread 60cm. Full sun, well-drained soil. Hardy.
A mat-forming alpine with narrow bright green leaves and lots of pink striped white flowers in the spring. Height 10cm. Spread 30cm. Flowers from May to June. Evergreen. Hardy.
This hybrid Phlox forms a low, mounding habit of magenta pink, star-shaped flowers. It blooms about a week or so after Phlox subulata and does not spread aggressively. Salt Tolerant. Attractive to bees and butterflies.
Dense, mat or cushion-forming, evergreen perennial with hairy, linear, green and white variegated leaves. Salver-shaped, bright pink flowers bloom in late spring and early summer.
Cinquefoil. A clump-forming perennial with silvery grey, hairy leaves. Clusters of small golden yellow flowers from late spring to summer. Height 30cm. Spread 30cm. Flowers from June to August. Herbaceous. Hardy.
The low growing evergreen lends itself to border edges or large containers where it is allowed to creep. Resilience. Hardy. Spreading habit. Height 3cm. Spread/Trail 45cm. White flowers May to September.
An evergreen mat-forming alpine with pretty. star-shaped sky blue flowers in summer. Height 3cm. Spread 30cm. Flowers from June to August. Evergreen. Hardy.
Bright golden feathery foliage ideal for medium to large areas of carpet bedding schemes. Prefers full sun, or partial shade with free draining, but moist soil or compost.
Confecta is a vigorous, clump-forming, herbaceous perennial, tufts of narrowly lance-shaped, hairy, dark green leaves. In late spring and early summer, slender, erect stems bearing large, solitary, mid-pink flowers, sometimes white or red-flushed, usually changing colour with age. Height 15cm.
A delightfully delicate herbaceous beauty. Sturdy, dark green swards will emerge from corms in spring and will bear solitary, pale-pink flowers that fade to near white with maturity.
Small alpine with white flowers with pink edges and a yellow heart in June and July.
Small alpine with white flowers in June and July.
A clump-forming alpine with keeled, light green narrow leaves. Deep crimson or cerise flowers throughout summer. Height 10cm. Spread 10cm. Flowers from June to August. Herbaceous. Frost hardy. Protect from winter wet.
A low-growing evergreen perennial, forming dense mats of slender stems that root at the the nodes, with fine, linear, bright lime green leaves held in pairs along the stems. Tiny white flowers are held up on stems to 4cm high in summer
Pearlwort. Compact, mat-forming, evergreen perennial with linear, bright yellow-green leaves and single, white flowers in summer.
Low growing golden foliage with petite white flowers during summer. Prefers full sun, or partial shade with free-draining soil or compost. Useful for cover of beds, borders, rockeries or in a bowl for vibrant colour.
A mat-forming alpine with mid-green leaves. Clusters of brilliant deep pink flowers in summer. Height 8cm. Spread 30cm. Flowers from June to August. Herbaceous.
Tumbling Ted. A mat-forming alpine with bright green leaves. Loose clusters of white flowers in summer. Height 18cm. Spread 15cm. Flowers from June to August. Herbaceous. Hardy.
Tumbling Ted. A mat-forming alpine with bright green leaves. Loose clusters of pink flowers in summer. Height 8cm. Spread 45cm. Flowers from June to August. Herbaceous. Hardy.
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.
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