Alpine Plants

Have you ever wondered why the little plants in the garden centre are called alpines? It’s because many of them originate from the alpine regions of the world. The plant hunters must have thought they’d found heaven when they stumbled across such a huge variety of beautiful minature plants. Most alpine plants are low growing, the wind on mountain tops too strong for tall, wispy stems. They are also pretty tough and well adapted to poor soil, cold weather and even drought.

These plants have adapted to the thinner soil, harsher weathers and greater altitudes of the Alps and similar habitats.
Rock gardens became very popular during the Victorian era and have been a feature of countless garden designs ever since. Traditionally they would have contained plants gathered from the mountainous regions of the world. Rockeries have gone out of fashion a bit, which is a great shame as they are a great way to show off these delicate, intricate little gems. Aplpines are a great way to get children interested in gardens and also ideal for containers.

Look out for a range of alpine plants from specialist nurseries and at the garden centre. For instant colour now, choose bulbs such as crocus, iris, dwarf narcissi and grape hyacinths will all be available in flower at the garden centre in pots. Buy them now and plant them into spaces within the rockery for instant effect. Feed them after flowering as the leaves die down and they will reflower year after year.

Perennial alpines with mat or compact, low growing, cushioned shaped growth are ideal for rock gardens. Look out for saxifrages such as the very pale pink flowered Saxifraga ‘Jenkinsiae’, varieties of sandwort such as the white flowered Arenaria montana, the rich pink flowered thrift - Armeria juniperifolia ‘Bevan’s Variety’, the alpine snowbell (Soldanella alpina) with frilly mauve pink flowers and the pure, rich blue flowered spring gentian (Gentiana verna).

Other plants that are easy to grow and create maximum impact include aubrietia and campanula species. These are low growing and often have a trailing habit making them a good choice to plant on the top of walls or in window boxes and hanging baskets.

Soil matters
Alpine plants demand good soil drainage mimicking the conditions that they would naturally grow in. If your soil is heavy clay or prone to waterlogging you can grow these delightful plants in pots, containers or troughs. It is essential to fill the bottom of the planter with a thick layer of well draining gravel. Alpines hate to be waterlogged, which is why they naturally grow on the scree slopes of mountains. Plant alpines into a loam based compost and mulch over the top of the compost with horticultural grit. Raise the planter up on pot feet or bricks to ensure good drainage.

If very heavy rain or snow threatens some plants may benefit from a canopy over them to protect them from the worst of the weather, alternatively they could be moved in the shelter of a cold frame or greenhouse until the worst of the weather has passed. Some gardeners are so hooked on growing alpines that they have a greenhouse completely dedicated to them. Take a trip out to Kew Gardens or Wisley where you will find Alpine Houses with some of the most exquisite miniature plants you have ever seen. But be warned alpines are addictive and once you are hooked you may find you fill more than just a rockery with this delightful garden gems. For those who have the bug there is even an alpine garden society (www.alpinegardensociety.net).