Whether you currently have a rockery that you’re considering livening up or you’re looking to start one, there are some beautiful plants and flowers that you should consider. These plants can help improve visual appeal with many different options. With some careful planning, your rock garden will be something to be very proud of and a source of great beauty in your yard.

It’s important to take into consideration which plants will not only be beautiful but which will thrive in this kind of environment. Rock garden plants and rock garden flowers need to be chosen carefully. Consider the different options below to make the best choice for your yard.

Alpine Plants

Alpine plants are low-maintenance, hardy, drought-tolerant, and tend to spread easily. They are a great choice because they also have colorful flowers to brighten up any rock garden. Check out the different options below.

Pulsatilla vulgaris

These beautiful plants are also known as the Pasque flower. It is characterized by hairy stems, frilly leaves as bell-shaped flowers.

Arabis

Arabis is good for ground cover and has dense green foliage. The white or pink flowers are fragrant and will also attract butterflies to your garden!

Dianthus

This alpine is a beautiful rockery plant and they smell good. They are characterized by grey or blue foliage with pink, white, or purple flowers.

Thyme

You may think of thyme as more of an herb, but it is also a great decorative plant. It has purple flowers as well as tiny green leaves to add great beauty to your rock garden.

Sempervivum

These rock garden plants are also referred to as houseleeks. They are succulents but have intricate leaf rosettes. They do come in a range of colors, but full sun is necessary to keep their vibrant hue.

Helianthemum

This type of plant is also known as the rock rose. They are evergreens and will spread quickly. They feature miniature rose-like flowers starting in late spring.

Aubrieta

This is a beautiful rock garden flower for late spring. It is a carpeting plant and the purple flowers come out during this time. The flower color ranges anywhere from pale lilac to deep violet.

Anacyclus

This alpine is usually called the Spanish Chamomile or Mount Atlas Dairy. It has small white or yellow daisy-like flowers on long stems.

Campanula

There are hundreds of varieties of this bellflower plant. It ranges in many different heights, colors, and flower sizes.

Edelweiss

This is probably one of the most well-known plants on this list. It is hardy and from the daisy family. It is silvery-white in color, usually with a tinge of green.

Sedum

These plants are also referred to as stonecrop and are perfect for your rockery. They have clusters of star-shaped flowers in the summer as well as succulent leaves.

Saxifraga

This rock garden flowering plant is a great way to add greenery to your rockery. It forms a mat of growth and produces flowers in red, white, yellow, pink, and purple. With its great variety, you are sure not to get bored.

Gentiana Verna

This spring gentian forms a low-growing mat and produces deep sky-blue star-shaped flowers in the late spring and early summer.

Conifers

In addition to the flowering plants for color, also consider adding some miniature conifers. These will add special points of interests to your rockery. Chamaecyparis obtuse nana is a good option.

Bulbs

To add some additional interest to your rock garden, dwarf bulbs are a good option. They add both height and a splash of color. Consider snowdrops, dwarf narcissus, dwarf iris, and early crocus.

Layout is important as well

When it comes to building a rockery, it is about both the plants as well as the layout. It can be intimidating to get started, so start out simple with just a few plants. Some of it may be trial and error to figure out what you like the best.

If you don’t have a naturally rocky site, you can build one. A stone wall is an ideal foundation. Incorporating water features is also a great way to add additional interest in your display. You can build your garden around these centerpieces. A hillside is a great foundation as well for your rock garden. Different texture and scale of plants and rocks make for a beautiful display with maximum visual interest.

New Life Rockeries can help you try out different combinations of colors and plants to make the best space for you! It can be hard to figure out where to start when you’re beginning from scratch with this kind of project. Contact us today to help you get on your way to creating your perfect rockery!