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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.


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What Other Visitors Have Asked about Rock Gardening

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

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 ...

If you want to ask a question about  rock gardens, click here