If you have a rock garden, you’re surely head over heels for its beauty. But do you know that you can still upgrade its aesthetic and functionality with the right plants?
This article will cover the benefits of having a rock garden, the characteristics of plants suitable for this garden, and the best plants for rock garden.
Why should you invest in rock gardens?
A rock garden is a landscape area that features stones and rocks as its main elements combined with other plants. Typically, this type of garden serves different purposes, and that’s actually where its benefits can be seen. Look at the following list.
Low maintenance
Rock gardens are low maintenance because it demands minimal fertilization, watering, and pruning. In fact, the plants you’ll see in a rock garden originated from areas with little to no rainfall and poor soil and survive in harsh conditions.
Drought tolerance
Rocks and gravel in this garden assist in retaining moisture in the soil. Likewise, during the day, the rocks can effectively absorb the heat and will just release it at night. This is essential in establishing a microclimate favorable to drought-tolerant plants.
Attractive landscape features
There’s no denying that rock gardens are pleasing to the eyes, especially if a wide variety of stones and rocks are displayed there. But adding bright and showy flowers can make a rock garden even more attractive. Plus, it can add value to the property for selling purposes.
What are the characteristics of plants suitable for rock gardens?
Remember that not all plants are ideal for rock gardens. It means these plants should have a common denominator or the same characteristics that make them perfect for rocky landscapes.
So, when trying to find the best plants for rock gardens, you must look for the following characteristics.
- Small size and compact form
- Adaptability to rocky, well-drained soil
- Drought tolerance
- Low-maintenance requirements
What are the best plants for rock gardens?
Stop your search because we’ve already compiled a list of the best plants for rock gardens. These are chosen based on the characteristics mentioned above.
1. Sedums
This plant is a type of succulent under the Crassulacease family. It’s no wonder why it’s also called stonecrops because it’s an ideal plant for rocky areas. Sedums have attractive and colorful flowers that bloom in early fall or late summer.
Succulent sedums are known for their low-maintenance requirements, drought tolerance, and ability to thrive in rocky areas and xeriscapes. There are also sedum varieties perfect for roof gardens or groundcovers.
2. Sempervivums
This plant is also called hen-and-chicks, still under the same family of sedums. Sempervivums originated from the mountains of North Africa and Europe and are typically found in rock gardens, containers, or groundcovers.
In terms of appearance, sempervivums are famous for their unique rosette shape with offsets around their mother plant. This is the reason why it’s called hen-and-chicks. Like sedums, this plant is low-maintenance, drought-tolerant, and thrives in dry, sunny locations.
3. Cacti and succulents
This group of plants is famous for their adaptation to arid places and unique ability to store water in roots, stems, and leaves.
Cacti are succulents with spines, which they use to protect themselves and a place from conserving water. They’re native to the deserts of North, Central, and South America.
Meanwhile, succulents include a wide range of plants, and one includes cacti. Like cacti, they can store water in their roots, stems, and leaves, which gives them the power to survive in dry areas like rock gardens.
Both of these groups of plants are perfect for rock gardens because they’re low-maintenance, drought-tolerant, and thrive in sunny locations.
4. Alpine plants
Alpine plants are a group of cold-tolerant plants. They’re commonly found in mountainous regions with short growing seasons, high-altitude, cold temperatures, and harsh conditions.
These plants are typically small but don’t belittle them because they bloom colorful flowers, making your rock gardens gorgeous.
5. Herbaceous perennials
These are unique plants popular in landscaping for their versatility. Herbaceous perennials like black-eyed Susan, roses, peonies, iris and more can die back to the ground when their growing season ends and then come back after a year. This is possible due to their roots or also called underground storage structures.
Additionally, herbaceous perennials don’t have woody stems like trees or shrubs. Instead, they rely on their stems and leaves to produce new growth yearly.
So, there you have it. You can start trying out these best plants for rock gardens. But before you decide on one, do not forget to consider different factors such as the following.
- Climate
- Soil type
- Sun exposure
- Water availability
Plant care tips for rock gardens
Although the best plants for rock gardens are low-maintenance, you still need to know the proper way to care for them. Here’s what we recommend!
- Ensure that the soil combines sand, gravel, and compost for good drainage.
- Water your plants thoroughly but frequently, and avoid over-watering.
- Plant them where they can receive the right amount of light and shade.
- You can add a layer of mulch for moisture retention and soil temperature regulation.
- Once there is yellowing foliage or damaged stems, you can prune it for the best appearance.
- Use a slow-release fertilizer during spring to condition your plants.
- Watch out for pests and take action immediately to prevent further damage.
Maximize your rock garden!
There is no doubt that rock gardens are eye-satisfying, but if you want to give your landscaping an upgrade, adding plants is one good option.
Based on what we’ve discussed, it’s important to remember that not all plants you know can be planted in rock gardens. We also reiterated that the best plants for rock gardens are those drought-tolerant and low-maintenance. So, if you have a plant in your mind you want to add to your rock garden, ask yourself if it has these characteristics.
But you don’t have to go through the hardship of finding plants because we’ve already laid down the best plants for rock gardens. All you need to do is to go to your local nursery shop and purchase some of these.
Adding these plants to your rock garden can give your landscaping a big transformation you never imagined possible!