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Will an alpine garden work with long hard winters?

I live in an area that can be cold and windy. The winters here have killed countless plants in my garden. I want to make a small alpine garden but I'm worried that come winter everything will die. It surprised me to learn a lot of alpine plants aren't that hardy. What have your experiences been please? Maybe there are there some plants that are especially tough/weak? Maybe it's a no-go? Thanks

Posts

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    The clue's in the title - alpine.  :)
    However, many plants that are called alpine in GCs etc, aren't really alpine plants as such. They just tend to be called that because they're small - in size and flower. They aren't necessarily very, very hardy, although many will be in most of the UK, but not all.

    Dry cold is ideal, wet cold isn't, so it also depends on where you're located and what your climate is like. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • TopbirdTopbird Posts: 8,355
    I would echo what @fairygirl has said. 

    If you find some true alpine plants and you can provide them with sharp drainage they should be ok.
    Heaven is ... sitting in the garden with a G&T and a cat while watching the sun go down
  • LiriodendronLiriodendron Posts: 8,328
    My Dad was very keen on alpines but lived in Cumbria, in an area which experienced a lot of wet in winter.  He used to protect a few of his "special" plants with a small pane of glass angled to shed rain, raised above the plant on wire "legs".  A bit of a faff, though...

    Wet cold is the problem.  True alpines can often survive very low temperatures, but not if they are soggy.  In the wild they may be frozen but will often be protected from wet and from extreme temperature fluctuations by a blanket of snow.

    I guess you'll need to do a bit of research, and avoid anything which needs protection from winter wet.
    Since 2019 I've lived in east Clare, in the west of Ireland.
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    As @Liriodendron says, true alpines have fierce drainage and a blanket of snow in winter which protects them from wet and deep freeze.   Most alpine specialists grow their treasures in cool greenhouses on special display benches.   

    If you can provide good drainage and protect them from winter wet then you can grow alpines.  If not, you need a plan B.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • Paul B3Paul B3 Posts: 3,154

    These people can provide 'proper' Alpines ; far better than the average GC .
    Their catalogue can be an eye-opener ;).

  • Paul B3Paul B3 Posts: 3,154
    https://www.pottertons.co.uk/pott/browse.php?folder=1
    Probably enough here to satisfy the most demanding plantsperson !

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