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Alpines - Any Favourites You Can Recommend Please?

PlantmindedPlantminded Posts: 3,580
in Plants
I've got a small alpine trough which will need replanting shortly.  Despite protection from winter rain, most of my choices so far have been less than impressive!  I've tried a few Sempervivums which look good in summer but not great now.  I've also had some success with Erodiums but they are now looking tired.  (I'm tempted to use it for herbs instead!)

The trough has a 50/50 compost/grit mix so it is well draining and in a sunny, sheltered spot.  Any tried and trusted alpine recommendations would be much appreciated please. Thank you.
Wirral. Sandy, free draining soil.


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  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Arabis and alpine Phlox are easy. Armeria [thrift ] as well. 
    I'd use soil rather than compost, and would have more grit than soil, if you're concerned about the wet and want sempervivums. Mine are in almost pure grit. They're potted though, so it's easier to prop them up on their edge for winter too.  :)
    Lots of saxifrages are fine, although some like a decent bit of moisture, so you may have to experiment.
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • GearóidGearóid Posts: 198
    I second armeria (thrift). I also love dwarf carnations in my alpine raised bed. 
  • LiriodendronLiriodendron Posts: 8,328
    Autumn snowflake, Acis autumnalis, is a lovely little bulb flowering in August to September.  It's small so tends to get lost if you plant it in the ground, but it's lovely in a trough.  Very dwarf narcissi look beautiful too - Narcissus bulbocodium is one I've tried.  You can admire them so much better if you don't have to grovel to do so...
    Since 2019 I've lived in east Clare, in the west of Ireland.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Yes - some of the dianthus would be excellent  @Gearóid  :)
    I also have a little plant called Pritzelago, which hangs over the edge of a raised bed. It's also seeded itself during last year's hot summer here, and there are lots of tiny plants in the gravel path. White flowers and evergreen.  It seems very robust, and hasn't minded being crowded out by some other planting nearby, as it was fine once they died back. 
    It's related to cress, and has that appearance. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • PlantmindedPlantminded Posts: 3,580
    Thank you all for your very helpful and swift responses!  That's a great tip @Fairygirl to use soil instead of compost, thank you.  I'll look out from some arabis, phlox and pritzelago (evergreen is good!)  I do also like armeria it reminds me of seaside holidays!  The dwarf carnations will add some cheer @Gearóid and your bulb recommendations are also now on my list @Liriodendron.

    Time to get searching!  Would you wait until March to get planting?
    Wirral. Sandy, free draining soil.


  • robairdmacraignilrobairdmacraignil Posts: 782
    One I would suggest is Arenaria montana. It has nice bright long lasting flowers and is evergreen. It might do with being divided after the first year or two in the garden as it can get a bit bare in the middle as it expands but that might be more pronounced in the one I originally planted as it is a bit overgrown and in ground that is too stony to dig it out properly to divide it. I have got some bits I separated off the original clump that are after starting to grow as well so I'm just finding out how these develop.

    Happy gardening!
    https://www.youtube.com/user/sustainableveg/videos
  • PlantmindedPlantminded Posts: 3,580
    edited January 2022
    Thank you @robairdmacraignil, that sounds like a good all-rounder, now on the list!
    Wirral. Sandy, free draining soil.


  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    edited January 2022
    If you buy small potted plants [and most alpines are sold like that] you can plant up at any time. The only problem with planting at this time of year is that many plants are grown under cover, so you may need to be slightly cautious for a few days re acclimatising. Even hardy alpines wouldn't be happy if put straight outside if it's sub zero conditions, or excessively wet. 
    There are good online suppliers of all sorts of alpines if you don't have a good supplier nearby. Craigiehall Nursery is just one.  :)
    https://www.craigiehallnursery.co.uk/craigiehallnursery.html

    Edrom Nurseries is another   :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • BorderlineBorderline Posts: 4,700
    If you're looking for evergreen plants that still look fine in winter, Rosmarinus Officinalis 'Prostratus' will creep over ground. Lewisia Longipetala has nice interesting leaves that keep well throughout winter.  
  • wild edgeswild edges Posts: 10,497
    There's a really good alpine nursery near Bodnant Gardens in North Wales. http://www.aberconwynursery.co.uk/ It's probably not too far from you and it stocks the rarer stuff that can be hard to find elsewhere.
    If you can keep your head, while those around you are losing theirs, you may not have grasped the seriousness of the situation.
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