25 Easy Rock Garden Plants
List prepared by Bobby J. Ward & Mike E. Chelednik
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Anemonella thalictroides
Tuberous-rooted perennial with delicate 3-lobed leaflets. Single, white flowers. Double forms and pink-flowered forms also exist. A favorite Northeastern woodland native. Humus-rich soil. 4-10" high. Zones 4-8.
Asarum spp.
European Ginger, Asarum europaeum, is an excellent, evergreen ground cover for smaller, refined areas. It likes humusy soil in part or full shade. It is approximately 4" high with shiny, kidney-shaped leaves. Zones 4-7.
Chrysogonum virginianum
This is a useful, hardy herbaceous ground cover for sun or light shade producing yellow daisy flowers, 1-2" in diameter, May to October. It is a native of the eastern U.S. Plant in a dry, well-drained peaty soil. Grows easily in Zones 5-9.
Conifers (small cvs. of Cryptomeria japonica and Chamaecyparis obtusa)
Crocus spp.
Crocus speciosus is an autumn-flowering member of the genus, the closest to blue. The cultivar 'Cassiope' is large, late and very blue. Sun or shade. The foliage emerges in early spring. Iran, Turkey, Russia. There are many fine species of crocus for both spring and fall. Zones 5-9.
Cyclamen hederifolium, C. coum, C. graecum
Cyclamen hederifolium (syn. C. neapolitanum). This striking plant comes from southern Europe and eastern Asia Minor. The leaves are heart-shaped with highly variable silver markings. Flowers vary from white to rose, blooming in the autumn. The leaves disappear in spring and reemerge when flowering commences. C. coum has a rounder leaf and is late-winter-blooming. The foliage emerges with the flowers and dies back in mid-summer. Both require woodland shade and mulch north of Zone 6. Zones 4-9.
Delosperma spp.
Delosperma nubigenum Ice Plant. Wide-spreading, inch-high mats of yellow-green succulent foliage that turns red in cold weather. Dazzling spring display of bright yellow flowers. Hardy in a well-drained soil or scree. From the mountains of southeastern Africa. Zones 5-8.
Dianthus spp.
Epimedium spp.
(small and dwarfs)Epimedium x youngianum 'Niveum' 6" high foliage with pure white flowers on 8" stems in May. Shady rock garden or woodland with well-drained humus-rich soil. Maximize the show of flowers by cutting down the overwintering foliage. Japan. All epimediums are desirable. Zones 4-8.
Hepatica americana, H. acutiloba
Hepatica americana 1/2" flowers on 5" stems in early spring over semi-evergreen basal leaves with rounded lobes. Colors range from lilac, blue, pink to white. Well-drained soil under layer of leaves in deciduous shade. Native to eastern U.S. and Canada on wooded, slightly acid slopes. Zones 4-8.
Iberis sempervirens
Dark evergreen leaves. White flowers are in flat terminal clusters at a height of 10" in spring. The cultivar 'Little Gem' is only 6" high and has larger flowers. Alps from Pyrenees to Asia Minor. Zones 3-8.
Iris cristata
(and other small iris)
Rhizomatous, 6" foliage. Blue flowers with yellow crest on short stems in late May. Spreads when in light soil. Full sun or part shade, well-drained, moist woodland garden. Native to the southeastern U.S. There is also a pure white form. Slugs love it in the Northwest. Zones 3-9.
Narcissus
spp. (dwarf forms)
Narcissus asturiensis (syn. N. minimus). The first and the smallest trumpet, 4" in bloom, deep yellow throughout, a perfect miniature of 'King Alfred'. Full sun and good drainage. A summer baking is appreciated. Mountains of northern Spain. Zones 5-9. There are many fine species, but some are still wild-collected; insist on cultivated material.
Orostachys erubescensand O. iwarenge
Phlox nivalis, P. subulata, and small hybrids
Phlox subulata 'Schneewittchen' sports enchanting-but-small snow-white flowers on a 3" mound of needled foliage. Excellent performer in full sun to part shade in good garden soil. Looks wonderful creeping around rocks or in a wall. Zones 3-8. Phlox 'Millstream Jupiter'. Good blue-violet flowers and long-needled foliage mark this hybrid of P. subulata and P. bifida from Linc Foster's Millstream garden. Best in full sun at the front of the border or spreading over rocks. Zones 3-8.
Sanguinaria canadensis
Bloodroot grows wild in eastern North American woodlands. It has thick red-flushed tuberous roots, bleeds orange liquid when cut, and sits very close to the soil surface. In April and May light petaled white flowers appear briefly on stems about 6" high clasped in the tight folds of an unfurled leaf. The double form 'Multiplex' flowers for a longer period. Grows easily in shade in a woodsy soil (pH 5-8), either limy or slightly acid. Zones 3-9.
Santolina incana, S. virens
Scutellaria suffrutescens
Sedum spp.
Sedum pluricaule This handsome stonecrop from Sakhalin has round blue leaves and red stems and red flowers. It grows in a slowly spreading clump 2" x 4". 'Rose Carpet' is a good selection. Small sedums in variety have unusual textures and colors and require very little care. Not every pretty plant is difficult. Zones 3-8.Sedum sieboldii From August to September, flat heads of pink flowers on 8" stems rise over mounds of succulent, gray-blue round leaves. The foliage remains well into winter. Grows in sun or shade. Japan. Zones 3-9. Sedum spurium Mat-forming plant, makes a fine ground cover. Mid-July to August, 6" stems hold clusters of 1/2" pink flowers; the foliage may take on a reddish tinge. 'Dragon's Blood' is a popular selection. Caucasus. Zones 3-8.
Selaginella spp.
Thymus spp.
Thymus serpyllum . Downy gray-green leaves. Wide-spreading ground cover. Low evergreen with tiny aromatic leaves; pink or purple flowers in small terminal heads in late summer. The cultivar 'Coccineus' has bright red flowers. Europe, northern Africa. Zones 5-8.
Trillium spp.
Veronica umbrosa ‘Georgia Blue’, V. ‘Waterperry’
Viola walteri ‘Silver Gem’
Zephyranthes spp.
