These 10 rock garden plants work well in just about any climate and can add beauty to your front yard.
Transform your garden into a stunning xeriscape with these rock garden plants. Effortless elegance brought about by drought-resistant plants not only produces a modern, minimal aesthetic but also results in a resilient and low-maintenance rock garden. We spoke to an expert to bring you ingenious ideas for beginners and help set up your very own xeriscape.
Why Choose Rock Gardens for Your Landscape?
Rock gardens bring together practicality, ease of maintenance and eco-friendliness. Since rock gardens allow for seamless creativity, you can experiment with rock garden plants suited to drought conditions. This reduces water load and the need for irrigation. They require minimal upkeep.
emer1940/Getty Images
What Is a Rock Garden?
A rock garden is a plot of well-draining soil decorated with rocks, stones and boulders with drought-tolerant plants growing between the rocks. Also called alpine gardens or rockeries, they’re more than a pile of gravel. They create a specific habitat for plants, says Mike Kintgen, curator of Alpine Collections at the Denver Botanic Gardens and speaker for the North American Rock Garden Society. Rock gardens are ideal in Kintgen’s climate in Colorado—dry and cool. They also require less watering. That, Kingten says, is why interest in them has risen in the last five years or so. Two more benefits: The plants typically require minimal maintenance and you don’t need to replant annually.
Low-Maintenance Rock Garden Plants
Generally, rock garden plants are 12 inches tall or less to fit neatly between rocks. They should have a long season of interest, Kintgen says, with attractive leaves and form as well as flowers, so you can enjoy them year-round. Plant them in soil that’s a minimum of 12 inches deep, to allow the plants’ deep root systems to take hold. It’s those deep root systems that make these plants so drought-tolerant.
Kintgen says picking native plants (meaning indigenous to your region) is also helpful for creating a long-lasting rock garden. These 10 plants, which include the best succulents for rock gardens, are known survivors and thrivers in just about any USDA Plant Hardiness Zone.
ⓘ
1/10
krblokhin/Getty Images
Creeping phlox
Creeping phlox (Phlox subulata) is a perennial ground cover native to the Eastern U.S. It blooms in late spring for three to four weeks, is about five to six inches tall and spreads up to two feet wide. It can handle full summer sun as well as some shade and is a great plant for dry areas. The flowers are blue, purple, pink, red or white. Creeping phlox is also a favorite of hummingbirds and butterflies.
2/10
Руслан Науменко/Getty Images
Rock cress
Rock cress (Arabis) is a perennial considered a U.S. and Eurasian native. Like creeping phlox, rock cress blooms in the spring with fragrant flowers of pink or white that attract butterflies. Similar to rock cress, purple rock cress (Aubrieta deltoides) blooms in late April to May with purple flowers. Plus, both kinds are edible.
3/10
Lydie Gigerichova/Getty Images
Basket of gold
Basket of Gold (Aurinia saxatilis) is a perennial and among the most resilient rock garden plants native to central and southern Europe. It blooms from April to May and can handle full summer sun but does like some shade. It doesn’t tolerate clay soil or humidity well, making it another option if you’re seeking plants for dry areas. According to the Missouri Botanical Garden, it’s sometimes treated as an annual in humid areas.
4/10
Anna Müller / EyeEm/Getty Images
Prickly pear cactus
Prickly pear cactus (Opuntia) comes in various species and cultivars that do well in rock gardens, depending on location. O. humifusa is native to 30 Eastern and Midwestern states, including Minnesota and Wisconsin, Kintgen says and O polyacantha is native to at least 14 Western and Midwestern states.
These classic cacti are among the best succulents for rock gardens, channelling the Old West in your front yard year-round with their tolerance for the hottest temperatures and driest of conditions.
Prickly pear cactus blooms with yellow flowers in June—just beware of the thorns!
5/10
Dee/Getty Images
Crested iris
Crested iris (Iris cristata) is a perennial native to the Eastern U.S. and blooms with light purple, lilac, and blue flowers tinged in gold in April. It grows about three to six inches tall and can survive in full sun as well as full shade (partial shade is perfect). Be forewarned that crested iris can also attract snails and slugs, which can be a problem and is hence not suitable if you’re a beginner.
6/10
BambiG/Getty Images
Stonecrop
Stonecrop (Sedum) comes in many species and cultivars—more than 50! Sedum ternatum is native to more than 10 Eastern and Midwestern states. Also known as three-leaved-stonecrop, this particular species of sedum handles shade and moisture better than others. It grows about three to six inches tall and has tiny star-like white flowers that bloom in April and May.
7/10
Rudolf Vlcek/Getty Images
Hens and chicks
Hens and Chicks (Sempervivum) is a Eurasian-native, evergreen perennial that blooms with pink flowers from June to August. Kintgen says these plants are really tough, so they can handle just about any environment. They just need well-draining soil to avoid root rot. About three inches tall, they can grow from 1/4-inch to 10 inches in diameter.
8/10
Perrin Dixon/Getty Images
Snow flurry aster
Snow flurry aster (Symphyotrichum ericoides) is a perennial native to about 45 states. The white flowers with yellow centers bloom from September to October. While the tiny flowers (about 1/2-inch in diameter) appear delicate, Snow flurry aster grows about six inches tall and handles the worst soil and water conditions—clay, sand, erosion, drought, you name it.
9/10
seven75/Getty Images
Hardy plumbago
Hardy plumbago (Ceratostigma plumbaginoides), a perennial native originating from western China, blooms deep blue flowers from July to September. It can live in full sun but likes partial shade during the summer if it’s really hot. Hardy plumbago grows about six to 10 inches tall, handles just about any soil and is drought tolerant. It can even over-spread if given room to run.
10/10
apugach/Getty Images
Missouri evening primrose
Missouri evening primrose (Oenothera missouirensis) is a long-blooming perennial native to the Midwest. Its yellow flowers bloom from May to August and it handles full sun and drought well. Missouri evening primrose can be grown from seed. It grows about six to 12 inches tall and its flowers are substantial—three to five inches in diameter.
How to Care for Rock-Garden Plants
While the above list shed some light on a few rock garden ideas for beginners and the plants best suited to them, it’s also important for you to understand how to care for your rock garden. Though lower on maintenance they still need care and attention.
Spring
Clearing debris that would’ve accumulated during the winter is the first step when you’re trying to bring your rock garden back to business as usual. Remove mulch, dead or decayed organic matter and dead portions. Additionally, clear the frost and refresh the gravel layer if necessary.
Summer
Once the sun comes out in its full glory, it’s the best time for your rock garden plants to shine. Since most plants in the niche are drought-resistant, watering must be calculated and done wisely. Avoid bottom watering and overwatering these plants. Good drainage is key, and extended dry periods are tolerated well by most dry area plants.
Fall
With dormancy soon approaching, your focus should be in clearing out spent flowers and flower buds before your rock garden plants go into a phase of minimal growth. It might also be wise to prune the perennials and ornamental grasses, just so they’re in shape before winter.
Winter
In case you live in an area with an especially harsh winter, some amount of mulch around the base of the plant might help with insulation. But beware, excess can result in fungal infestations and damage. Make sure your garden is well-drained to provide dry enough spaces.
Beyond Plants—Design Tips for Rock Gardens
Plants for rock gardens form only an aspect of the landscape you’re creating, beyond them exist other natural elements such as rocks and stone, which, when combined together result in visually stunning areas.
Use pathways
Besides accessibility, pathways also enhance the setup and flow of your rock garden. Flat stones, stepping rocks and gravel are great choices for laying down a pathway. Also consider creating focal points close to the pathway for a modern aesthetic.
Add water features
A small pond, fountain or even a dried river bed can add more structure and variety to your xeriscape. In addition to serenity and a sense of calm, water features also incorporate a sense of dynamism and visual appeal.
Terraces and slopes
Your garden doesn’t need to be flat all over; you can also use layered designs to create steps and terraces in your garden. Slopes are a great option, too. Raised beds and terraced levels add height, depth and variance across your rock garden.
Functional decor
Bird baths, natural-seeming benches and even sculptures are brilliant rock garden ideas for beginners. They provide ample opportunities to create focal points and blend in seamlessly.
Choose the right rocks
Since rocks are the foundation of your garden, making the right choice is crucial. Select shapes, sizes and colors based on the aesthetic you’re going for. While you can use stones and boulders to create points of attraction, smaller rocks and gravel are best suited to pathways and gaps.
About the expert
Mike Kintgen is the curator of Alpine Collections at the Denver Botanic Gardens and speaker for the North American Rock Garden Society. He has worked full-time for more than 21 years at the Denver Botanic Gardens.
Sources
Mike Kintgen – “North American Rock Garden Society”
We are no longer supporting IE (Internet Explorer) as we strive to provide site experiences for browsers that support new web standards and security practices.
