Several folks consider rock gardens to be both attractive and useful. Because constant mowing and deadheading aren’t needed, this sort of garden requires less effort to maintain than others.
Traditional rock gardens might have some significant drawbacks that must be addressed for plants to thrive.
A rock garden’s soil is relatively dry, making it difficult for many plants to thrive between the rocks.
Although this type of garden does not provide perfect growing conditions, some plants are better suited to it.
The following plants will make a bright statement in your rock garden despite poor soil or dryness.
You can let many attractive plants bloom here as long as there is sufficient drainage, which will improve the hardscape aesthetic offered by gravels and rocks.
Although there is no clear definition of a “rock garden plant,” the following plants share several characteristics that make them suited for this type of setting.
Best Plants That Grow In Rocks
Douglas Moss Phlox
Phlox leaves are dark green and have a needle-like shape that will look excellent among your garden’s rocks.
It grows best in locations with a moderate temperature, although it may also thrive in colder climates.
This plant’s blossoms are often pink and purple. This is a plant with a longer stem, so it will be able to cover rocks and give your landscape more depth.
Yellow Alpine Alyssum
Yellow is a fantastic way to brighten up your rock garden. This Alyssum cultivar blooms in the spring and is a mellow golden color.
It’s simple to grow, drought-resistant, and thrives in low-nutrient soil. Because this plant prefers to grow in direct sunlight, it may struggle to survive in gloomy places or areas that are chilly for part of the year.
Blue Fescue
Several rock garden owners would not think of adding ornamental grass like blue fescue to their garden, but it may be a wonderful compliment, especially because of the blue hue, which will make the rocks pop.
This plant will need to be in direct sunlight so that the leaves can turn blue, and if properly cared for, the grass will form and maintain a peculiar sphere-like shape.
Columbine
The Columbine is a beautiful herbaceous perennial with a distinctive bloom with long, slender spurs.
Hummingbirds and butterflies are attracted to the flowering plant, which comes in a range of colors.
Columbine reaches three feet tall and two feet wide in direct sunlight to partial shade and medium moisture, making it an excellent choice for garden borders. This wispy wildflower is drought resistant once grown.
In the fall, cut it back, and in the spring, keep an eye out for seedlings (columbine is a great self-seeder).
Hens and Chicks
Succulents are a must-have for every rock garden, and hens and chicks are one of the most famous.
Hens and chicks can extend up to two feet and rise to four inches tall with their mossy green clusters of rosette-shaped leaves.
This succulent prefers bright sun to moderate shade and, while it can be used as a ground cover, it needs plenty of drainages. You may simply transplant the “chicks” or offshoots across your garden.
Cranesbill Geranium
Hardy geraniums are a popular choice among gardeners due to their low maintenance requirements.
The full sun produces the most flowers, but the geranium can also be grown in moderate shade.
The blooms bob and sway, interacting with nearby plants, and the magenta flowers sparkle against the geranium’s green, textured leaves.
The plant flourishes with a little maintenance: trim the plant to a few inches above the ground once it has done flowering to stimulate a second bloom; split the plant once every three to five years when the center dies back.
The plant will repay you with blossoms year after year in exchange.
Pinks
The serrated edge of the flower petals, which appear as if they’ve been gently clipped with pinking shears, gives pinks its name. Their blossoms have a clove aroma to them.
There are a variety of flower colors to pick from, varying from pink to white and red. Most people have a habit of being small. Grow in wet, well-drained soil in direct sunlight to light shade.
Are There Plants That Grow On Rocks?
Plants that grow in or on rocks are known as lithophytes. Epilithic (or epipetric) lithophytes thrive on the surfaces of rocks, whereas endolithic lithophytes grow in the cracks of rocks (and are also known as chasmophytes).
