Low growing shrubs to replace alpine bed

Emerion · August 2023

We have an area about 6 feet square, that has been a kind of alpine bed. It keeps getting out of hand, so I want to replace the plants with low-growing shrubs. It gets pretty good sun and is on very free draining ground. Slightly acidic. Would heather fit here? Would it suppress some weeds? I know I will still need to weed a bit, and that’s OK. Any other ideas? Evergreen would be nice, but not essential.

Loxley · August 2023

I think heather would be good! Grasses (small ones) can look good with heather and are good weed suppressors, e.g. Sesleria, Helictotrichon, Carex. Lavender, santolina or prostrate rosemary would be worth looking at too.

Bilje · August 2023

I’m having to clear areas in our garden as we’re both getting older. Beds of perennials are now too much work. To simplify two areas one in the back, on in the front we cleared what was growing and planted hardyfuchsias under planted with snowdrops, crocus and dwarf daffodils. One bed has Hawkshead (2-3foot tall) small white flowers, the other Genie, shorter, lemony green leaves, small traditional coloured flowers. The soil is covered with a mulch of bark chippings. Other than a small amount of weeding all we need to do it give the bushes a hard haircut in Spring.

I haven’t commented on heathers as personally I’m not keen.

Obelixx · August 2023

I find ordinary heathers can get tired and tatty looking for much of the year but some named varieties do better, eg - https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/90779/calluna-vulgaris-spring-cream-/details

A prostrate juniper would be good - https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/74874/juniperus-squamata-blue-carpet/details I have one that is very low growing and spreading nicely and is a lovely glaucous blue.

I've used small leaved, variegated ivy as low growing ground cover tho it didn't like our last winter which was unusually cold for here. Have alook also at gaultheria which can make a good, low thicket and will have blossom and berries - https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/83312/gaultheria-mucronata-crimsonia-(f)/details

Fairygirl · August 2023

The Hawkshead fuchsia is a very nice shrub, as @Bilje says.
You can have heathers in flower for quite long periods if you choose well, and some of the winter flowering ones don't need acidic soil, but they do need trimmed after flowering to avoid them getting woody and sparse. They're common here, and I try not to follow the trend of having loads of them, but I've had a couple of nice ones with white flowers, although I can't recall the names. Erica Springwood White was one though.
I use Iberis for groundcover and it isn't fussy as to pH. Our soil tends to be neutral to acidic. Tough and evergreen, although not a shrub, but makes a large specimen. White flowers in spring.
Some Pieris varieties don't get huge, so that's worth looking at. They're reasonably slow growing too, and can be pruned if they do get a bit big for the site later on, without any problem. It wouldn't need done often either.

JennyJ · August 2023

Ceratostigma plumbaginoides is a low-growing spreader/ground cover with blue flowers in the autumn. C. Willmottianum is a small shrub, similar flowers. Both are deciduous with good, although brief, autumn leaf colour.

Low growing shrubs to replace alpine bed

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