Plants for Rock Gardens

When selecting your plants, make sure they are right for your climate and exposure.

When planting a rock garden, select a variety of plants so as to have a constant show of colour — unless you want to make a spectacular display in a particular season.

Plants for the rock garden should need a minimum of care while tolerating harsh growing conditions. First, dwarf evergreen shrubs may be used to give a permanent quality to the rock garden. Hardy native ferns, perennial flowering plants, succulents and spring-flowering bulbs add interest and colour. Avoid the use of large masses of plants or those with oversized blooms. Annual flowers should be used sparingly, especially such common species as petunias, or the large-flower varieties of aster, marigold, or zinnia, many of which will self-sow and may squeeze out other plants.

In subtropical areas (of South Africa and elsewhere) you can use any of a wide range of flowering plants, ferns and cycads that need warmth and humidity.

In temperate regions, almost any plants will thrive in a rock garden, provided they do not grow too large.

Among the popular plants that are frequently used in rock gardens and informal rockeries in South Africa and other areas having a Mediterranean type climate include aloes, gazanias, proteas, pelargoniums, cacti, ericas, portulacca varieties, small conifers and many of the indigenous bulbs.

The table below contains a list of about 70 plants deemed to be appropriate for rock gardens. As the followers of gardeningisezee.com are spread from Japan in the East to California in the West it would be wise to see this list as a starting point for developing your own planting list. Check what is appropriate for your own climate or zone. Ask local garden clubs and nurserymen for guidance. Start building your plan around plants that are known to thrive in your area. If possible include plants that are native to your area. Don’t be afraid to include the many ornamental grasses or even low growing local grasses that can add interesting colours or textures. However, these may need lots of management to prevent them from spreading or strangling other plants.

Succulent plants in a South African rock garden.