21 Colorful Rock Garden Plants That Thrive in Poor Soil
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These pretty, low-maintenance rock garden plants make top choices for any well-draining, gravelly spot. Use them to create a colorful rock garden, but these tough plants also work well in gravel gardens, alpine gardens, pockets in dry-stack walls, and between stepping stones. Count on these low-growing perennials and succulents to produce vibrant flowers and foliage, even in poor soil, drought, and heat.
Alyssum
Commonly called basket of gold, perennial alyssum (Aurinia saxatilis) makes a beautiful wall or rock garden plant. Every spring, it develops masses of cheerful yellow flowers that look terrific tucked between rocks and boulders. In warmer regions, this plant can be short-lived, so replant every year or two. You can grow perennial alyssum from seeds or nursery transplants.
Growing Conditions: Full sun in well-drained soil
Size: Up to 12 inches tall
Zones: 4-7
Blue Fescue
Just as you would in a traditional perennial garden, including ornamental grasses in your rock or wall garden is important for adding texture and interest throughout the year. They keep the color show going while other plants come in and out of bloom. One favorite for a rock garden is blue fescue (Festuca glauca). This dense, clumping grass grows just 12 inches tall and has rich blue foliage highlighted with buff-color flower stalks in the late summer. Blue fescue thrives in dry conditions and mixes well with other rock garden plants.
Growing Conditions: Full sun in well-drained, dry soil
Size: Up to 12 inches tall
Zones: 4-8
Blue Star Creeper
Though it stays tiny, blue star creeper (Isotoma fluviatilis) should be on your must-have list for rock or wall gardens. This handsome perennial develops tiny green leaves forming a solid mat that can take light foot traffic. Blue star creeper is covered in the spring with pretty, pale blue star-shaped flowers. Blue star creeper prefers slightly moist soil, making it a great partner for Irish moss in moister climates.
Growing Conditions: Full sun to part shade in well-drained soil
Size: Up to 4 inches tall
Zones: 5-9
Candytuft
A reliable spring bloomer, candytuft (Iberis sempervirens) produces a stunning carpet of snow-white flowers atop bright evergreen foliage. As a bonus, when the flowers mature, they fade to light pink, which gives the plant a second show of color. Candytuft is an easy-care perennial that’s deer- and drought-resistant. After blooming, remove the spent flowers and enjoy the plants’ rich green leaves right through the winter.
Growing Conditions: Full sun in well-drained soil
Size: Up to 6 inches tall
Zones: 3-8
Creeping Phlox
Just when you thought winter would never end, the jewel-like flowers of creeping phlox (Phlox subulata) burst into bloom in early spring. An ideal rock garden plant, creeping phlox thrives in poor, dry soil that drains quickly after…
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