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Good doers for south facing rockery

chelseagreenchelseagreen Posts: 4
edited September 2018 in Plants
Hi! Wondering if anyone has some good ideas for plantings in a south facing rockery, very exposed but well drained, likely slightly acid soil as has azalea and pines. Would like plants that die well and won't require too much maintenance :) Any ideas appreciated! 

Posts

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I assume you mean 'do well' not 'die well'.... ;)

    I also assume you want low growing plants? Lots of little ones - Aubretia, Cerastium, alpine Phlox, Arabis, and many saxifrages will be fine. I have all of those in a sunny 'raised bed' which is on a fence, so it's very well drained.
    You can also use bulbs - many of the species Tulips will thrive, and crocus will be fine, as will some of the miniature daffs/narcissus. There will be others too - the dwarf Irises [reticulata types ] will do well.
    I have Pasqueflowers in raised beds in sunny sites. They're very pretty, and look quite delicate, but are pretty tough. Lovely seedheads too. They flower around Easter time. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • chelseagreenchelseagreen Posts: 4
    Great suggestions thanks! I've been curious about pasqueflowers... I did mean die well though :) Meaning a plant that doesn't look too bedraggled or flop over or melt into a brown pile when it's done. There are lots of low growing plants already, I'm thinking I can go for taller plants if they can handle wind / exposure. It is a very large rockery. I like Lewisias but I heard they get scruffy with too much wind? 
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Ah - apologies - thought it was a typo!  :D
    All those ones in the first section are either evergreen, or look ok when out of flower/dormant. Mine get plenty of cold and exposure, and they all do well with it. 
    The bulbs are pretty much ok too - foliage can be removed when it's died back.
    The Pasqueflowers still have good foliage till late in the year. 
    Seedheads on mine a few years ago.

    My white alpine Phlox last May. Other colours like bright pink/purples are available

    I don't grow Lewisias, but someone else might, and be able to advise.I'd have to have a think about taller plants - you'd maybe need some sturdy perennials, or smaller shrubs.
    Some of the Hebes would suit. They're fairly trouble free, and most are summer flowering. Hardy geraniums too. Dianthus would also be good - but may not suit your soil if it's acidic. Mine is neutral and they grow very well in it as long as I have them in free draining areas. You might be able to footer around with little pockets to suit them though. 
    Some of the Geums might be ok - they cope quite well with wind if they're grown hard. Not too much food so that they don't get soft and leggy. Many of them are no bigger than about 2 feet. Salvias as well.  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • josusa47josusa47 Posts: 3,530
    I've got a super little plant that came with the house, it's called Anthemis punctata, it grows cushiony and is evergreen.  It is easy to propagate from cuttings, I can send you a few if you like.
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