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Rock Gardens


Some gardeners consider growing rock gardens or alpine gardens to be the ultimate form of gardening (rock gardens and alpine gardens are terms used interchangeably). I have always enjoyed this kind of horticulture although it takes more weeding than most other forms. (I'm not a fan of weeding) :-)

While there are a wide range of plants and construction techniques, the articles here will give you the basics for both plants and construction techniques and point you in the direction for further information.

The majority of alpine plants are short and flower in early spring as they do in their mountainous homes.

With dedicated searching however you can find summer and fall blooming plants for rock gardens.



Plant Lists


Dianthus or carnation type of short alpine plants. Many of these varieties have a very long bloom time.

Creeping Phlox that blooms heavily in late spring is probably the most popular rock garden plant.

Aster flowers are a fine sight to see in the early spring garden. Here's the data on growing the alpine forms of this plant.

Questions and Answers


Please use the form below to ask questions about rock gardening.

Please understand that I get hundreds of questions every week across my sites and while I do my very best, I simply can't get to them all. If yours is one of those I don't answer right away, please accept my apologies.

Got a Rock Gardening Question?

If you have a question about a rock gardening with perennials, then feel free to ask it using this form.

Please note that the advice is by nature a general one - I can't help you with every problem (although I do try) but I may be able to point you to resources that will help you.


If you have a picture of the problem or situation, feel free to upload it here as well. Please keep the pic under 100K to speed uploading



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What Other Visitors Have Asked about Rock Gardening

Click below to see questions from other visitors to this page...

Rocky Mountain Columbine  starstarstarstarstar
Doug,
You said: "Aquilegia alpina is a terrific plant if you can find it....
Aquilegia bertolonii is my favorite columbine...
Aquilegia caerulea ...

landscape fabric and rock gardens  Not rated yet
We just put in a shade garden. I am concerned because my husband fist put down landscape fabric, then covered it with pea gravel. He said we can add the ...

Training phlox  Not rated yet
How do I plant creeping flox so they will spread more sideways. I have a very short ...

starting a rock garden  Not rated yet
I have a large pile of rock all along my back yard fencing, I am planning to make it look more attractive by making it into a rock garden.
I have removed ...

Perennial pink carnation  Not rated yet
My pink carnation plants I planted in early May have only bloomed once I have ferterlized etc. I live in Norfolk, Va.
What could be the cause for this....

Mulch for Rock Gardens  Not rated yet
1) I am putting in a rock garden on a slope in my yard. Can I use Cedar mulch to stop erosion while the plants have time to grow??

2) Where do you put ...

Invasive weed  Not rated yet
When we purchased our home it came complete with a rock garden. However, there is an invasive weed that I cant seem to get rid of. It spreads very quickly....

pond rock garden  Not rated yet
What would you suggest for the edgin of this pond in Minnesota?

Doug says that if you want a rock garden here, then you're going to have to start by ...






phlox subulata


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creeping pholx
Phlox subulata or
Creeping Phlox