Rock garden plants thrive where others cannot. Whether you prefer rock garden shrubs or flowers, find the right rock garden plants at HowStuffWorks.
Trumpet gentian is native to alpine environments, making it perfect for rock gardens. Trumpet-shaped flowers of an unusual hue (dark navy blue with darker, green-striped throats) sit on very short stems above spreading foliage. Learn more about this plant. See more »
Alpine forget-me-not thrives in crevices and scree gardens, and is a good choice for gritty soil or rock gardens. In this article, learn about planting, growing, propagating, and using alpine forget-me-not.
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Aubretia is a low, spreading plant -- perfect for a rock garden -- with purple flowers that bloom in the spring. Learn more about this plant that appears delicate despite its hardy nature.
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Blue fescue is an ornamental grass named for the blue hue of its shoots. The tuft-forming grass has narrow leaves in beautiful shades of silvery blue-green. Learn more about the grass, which is commonly used to border or accent gardens.
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Creeping broom is a flowering ground cover that will grow in any soil and produce bright yellow flowers. In this article, learn about planting, growing, propagating, and using creeping broom.
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Creeping gypsophile, a flowering ground cover great for rock gardens, is also known as creeping baby's breath. In this article, learn about planting, growing, propagating, and using creeping gypsophile.
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Dwarf deutzia, a shrub, produces white flowers that grow in an upright fashion, conserving space in smaller gardens. Arching branches bear double white flowers in spring and foliage that turns an attractive red in fall. Learn more about this shrub.
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Dwarf false cypress will grow in rocky soil with some moisture and matures slowly. In this article, learn about planting, growing, propagating, and using dwarf false cypress.
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Ground-cover sedum is a creeping plant, well-adapted to growth along walls or in rock gardens. Domed clusters of star-shaped flowers vary in color from red to pink to white, and bloom in summer. Learn more about this succulent plant.
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Hairy penstemon produces slender flowers in the late spring or early summer. It prefers well-drained -- though moist -- soil. As such, this plant is a good candidate for a rock garden. Find out more about the hairy penstemon.
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Hens-and-chicks will grow in rock crevices with seemingly no soil. In this article, learn about planting, growing, propagating, and using hens-and-chicks.
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Ice plant is native to South Africa and accustomed to dry climates, as well as resistant to salty, coastal climates. Bright purple-magenta flowers of daisylike form appear over the succulent leaves of this sun-lover in summer. Learn more about the ice plant.
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Irish moss is a ground cover that will grow in rocky soil and produces small white flowers. In this article, learn about planting, growing, propagating, and using Irish moss.
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Lewisia is a spectacular flower that's great for rock gardens. It produces big white flowers and does especially well with a lot of moisture. In this article, learn about planting, growing, propagating, and using lewisia.
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Moss campion will grow in rocky soil and produces reddish-purple flowers. In this article, learn about planting, growing, propagating, and using moss campion.
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Moss pink will grow in any soil and produces bright colored flowers. In this article, learn about planting, growing, propagating, and using moss pink.
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Pasqueflower is an early-blooming flower that will grow in rocky soil and produces anemone-shaped blossoms. In this article, learn about planting, growing, propagating, and using pasqueflower.
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Polyanthus primrose is a shade-dwelling plant that will grow in light to moderate shade and produces big, colorful flowers. In this article, learn about planting, growing, propagating, and using polyanthus primrose.
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Pussytoes will grow in very lean soil and produces small, fuzzy flowers. In this article, learn about planting, growing, propagating, and using pussytoes.
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Rock jasmine is an alpine flower that is perfect for small crevices and forms small pink flowers. In this article, learn about planting, growing, propagating, and using rock jasmine.
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Rockfoil will grow in gritty soil and produces small flowers. In this article, learn about planting, growing, propagating, and using rockfoil.
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