High on a hill a lovely Alpine..

Alpines are a varied and wide-ranging group with varieties suitable for a range of situations. Alpines are often thought of as plants that grow in the alpine regions of Europe - above the valley and the tree line. Elsewhere plants display similar adaptations as in the high mountain regions of Asia, South America and also those areas which have weeks or months of snow such as in Scandinavian countries and towards the arctic and antarctic. Some of our cottage garden plants are alpines and will happily thrive in borders, pots, rockeries and gravel gardens.

Alpines have adapted to deal with icy, windy or dry conditions with short growing seasons and to take advantage of the higher light levels during the growing season. Adaptations include a short time from flowering to fruiting; hairy leaves and stems; low growing and compact forms; thick leaf walls as seen in succulent plants. 

Alpines generally prefer bright light for at least part of the day and many need a sunny position to thrive and flower. All alpine plants dislike being in the wet and so need a free draining soil, often enhanced by the addition of grit as well as a top dressing of grit to allow the leaves to be free of damp soil. There are some alpines that are more tolerant of drought, others that are more tolerant of shade, so if you are considering an alpine or rock garden then do your best to identify which alpines will suit your particular situation.

For more information about alpine gardening and the requirements of specific alpines there are various societies that can give further information on the selection and growth of alpine plants including The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) and the Alpine Garden Society.

Where can I see Alpines in a natural setting?

A couple of years ago we stopped at the RHS Harlow Carr garden near Harrogate and were delighted to see their beautiful alpine house and the spectacular stream gardens with their own hybrid Primula 'Harlow Carr' in full bloom in June.

Look out for areas in your local gardens open to the public which usually have some kind of alpine or rockery planting. The National Gardens scheme and some of the university and national botanic gardens are also good places to explore. 

What can I choose to start my rock or Alpine garden? 

The following are plants that often grace a cottage garden, rockery or alpine tub and are some of the easier alpines to grow. At home I have a small corner at the front where I wanted low growing plants on the edge of a path which is the only narrow entry to the back garden being a challenge for navigating with the wheelbarrow.

Further up from the succulents on the corner, in the dry sunny south facing border, under the crown raised holly tree I have planted Erigeron and Aubrieta - grown from seed a couple of years ago and now just getting established.

Alpine Dianthus. These scented flowers need a dry site in a sunny spot to flower well.

Arabis. Also known as Rose rockcress is a mat forming evergreen with pink or purple flowers so is good for ground cover. It needs full sun and well drained soil and is suitable for gravel gardens, rockeries and borders and containers.

Aubrieta - deltoides. Comes in a range of blue, red and violet flowers. It likes full sun but can be grown in part shade with at least half a days sun. This is a spreading form and can be grown on walls, rockeries, the edges of borders and containers.

Species tulips. Useful in pots, rockeries and border edges. These are more longlived tulipa varieties and will naturalise and spread in the right conditions.

Sedums or stonecrops and Sempervivum. These low growing succulents can be grown on green roofs and walls, in well drained borders and containers. They have a spreading habit and flowers are loved by pollinators.

Armeria. Also known as Thrift suits these tuft forming evergreens with grass like leaves can thrive on exposed rocky sites including coasts. It can also be grown in containers and gravel gardens. 

Aster Alpine varieties. Daisy like perennial flowers suitable for rockeries.

Or what about alpine poppies, alpine phlox, or alpine sea holly? Once you start looking the list could go on as there are so many to choose from.