These are plants that are widely grown in south central area of Alaska by members in their rock gardens. These are not the only plants that members have growing in their gardens and over time we will be adding to the list and photographs. The members are always on the lookout for new plants to try. Trial and error is how members discover what will grow in our area.
Type: BULB – dwarf allium
Family: Alliaceae
Color: star-like, powdery-blue to deep cobalt blue
Exposure: Full sun to part shade
Bloom Month: June - July
Height: 6-10”
Shape: Upright
Soil: trough or crevice, or open rock garden
Moisture: Average
Origin: Chinese Himalayas
Hardiness Zone: zone 4
Propagation: seed; division of larger clumps
Note: Very narrow, grass-like leaves arise from small bulbs.
Type: Evergreen perennial
Family: Primula
Color: pink or white with a yellow eye
Exposure: Full sun to part shade
Bloom Month: May-June
Height: Under 6”
Shape: Mat
Soil: Acidic
Moisture: Average
Origin: Himalayas; European Alps
Hardiness Zone: to zone 4
Propagation: From seed or herbaceous stem cuttings
Note: apt to wither suddenly in patches; remove dead growth promptly
Type: Hardy perennial
Family: Primulaceae
Color: Pink, rarely white with yellow eye
Exposure: Full sun
Bloom Month: April - June
Height: under 4”
Shape: Cushion
Soil: Scree, trough; gritty; light soils without lime
Moisture: well drained; water freely in dry weather and shelter from the sun in summer
Origin: Himalayas, the mountains of central Asia, the Caucasus, and the southern and central Alps and the Pyrenees
Hardiness Zone: 4-7
Propagation: Seed or single rosettes as cuttings in early to mid-summer
Note: Over forty species are known
Type: hardy perennial
Family: Primulaceae
Color: rose/pink flowers with a dark eye;
Exposure: Sun-part shade
Bloom Month: April-June
Height: 4-5 inches
Shape: trailing mat; 12-18 inches
Soil: scree, trough, wall – needs excellent drainage
Moisture: dry
Origin: East Asia
Hardiness Zone: 3-7
Propagation: Division: New plants form on the ends of the trailing stems and are easily moved in early autumn or spring.
Note: hermaphrodite; prefers mixed forests, rocky slopes and open woodland, at elevation 8,900–13,100 ft
Type: Hardy perennial
Family: Primulaceae
Color: pink
Exposure: Full sun to part shade
Bloom Month: April – June
Height: up to 4”
Shape: low rosette; loose mat
Soil: well drained with some organic content; not fussy about pH; does well in a trough
Moisture: dislikes winter wet
Origin: NW Himalayas, on grassy slope and stable gravels above 3000 m.
Hardiness Zone: 3
Propagation: By seed or stolon division.
Note – After flowering, the rosette dies but not before it sends out several red stolons, each which ends in a new rosette.
Type: Herbaceous perennial
Family: Ranunculaceae
Color: pink
Exposure: Sun or Part shade
Bloom Month: May - June
Height: 1-1.5 ft
Shape: clump
Soil: trough, soil, or scree – rich & fertile
Moisture: average
Origin: herbaceous perennial.
Hardiness Zone: 5
Propagation: Division, root cuttings
Notes: hybrid produced from a cross between Anemone multifida and A. sylvestris
Type: Hardy perennial
Family: Ranunculaceae
Color: short blue, incurved spurs, and blue blades with white tips and throats
Exposure: Full sun
Bloom Month: Late spring to early summer
Height: 6”
Shape: 6-12”
Soil: Fertile, moist, well-drained soil.
Moisture: likes moisture
Origin: Northwest Spain
Hardiness Zone: 4-8
Propagation: Seed or division
Notes: Dead head spent flowers to prolong bloom; after blooming cut the plants down to the ground to rejuvenate
Type: herbaceous perennial
Family: Rosaceae
Color: white
Exposure: Full to part sun
Bloom Month: Early summer
Height: 2-3’
Shape: 1.5 – 2‘
Soil: gravely soil amended with organic matter
Moisture: medium to wet
Origin: Northern hemisphere
Hardiness Zone: 3-7
Propagation: Division: lift clumps in spring, and cut the heavy rootstock with a sharp knife, leaving at least one eye per division.
Notes: Common name ‘Goat’s Beard’
Type: herbaceous perennial
Family: Asteraceae
Color: blue, indigo, violet, white, pink
Exposure: Full sun
Bloom Month: late spring - mid summer
Height: 6–12 inches
Shape: spreading mass
Soil: well drained with low fertility; soil- pH 6-7.5
Moisture: tolerates dry soil
Origin: Europe and Asia
Hardiness Zone: 4-7
Propagation: Propagate by cuttings, division or separation; Take cuttings in summer.
Notes: non-aggressive, non-invasive; divide plants about every 3 years in spring
Type: Herbaceous perennial
Family: Ranunculaceae
Color: White
Exposure: Full sun
Bloom Month: April-May
Height: 4-8”
Shape: tuft; low growing mound
Soil: well-drained scree
Moisture: evenly moist soil
Origin: native to the Alps, Carpathians and Pyrenees
Hardiness Zone: Zone 2
Propagation: From seed
Notes: They resent transplanting
Type: Hardy perennial
Family: Campanulaceae
Color: mid-blue bells with paler centers
Exposure: Full sun to part shade
Bloom Month: May through June
Height: 2-6”
Shape: Mat
Soil: any well-drained soil
Moisture: cool, moist soil
Origin: Native from Japan north through eastern Siberia, along the Aleutians and into northwestern Alaska
Hardiness Zone: zone 3-8
Propagation: By seed or division
Notes: This species is also known as C. pilosa, C. dasyantha and C. pilosa var. dasyantha.
Type: rhizomatous herbaceous perennial
Family: Campanulaceae
Color: deep blue
Exposure: Full sun or partial shade
Bloom Month: Early to mid summer
Height: 6-8 inches
Shape: Clump forming, 8-10 inches across
Soil: Normal, or sandy
Moisture: average, well drained
Origin: native to the Pyrenees, Alps, French Massif Central, and Carpathian Mountains of Central Europe.
Hardiness Zone: 3-9
Propagation: Propagate by cuttings
Notes: Also called Fairy Thimble; divide every 2 years in spring to maintain vigor.
Type: Herbaceous perennial
Family: Campanulaceae
Color: Blue-violet bell-shaped flowers
Exposure: Sun , Part Shade , Shade
Bloom Month: Jun - Sep
Height: 1-3 ft.
Shape: spreading by seed and rhizomes
Soil: Sandy, well-drained soils.
Moisture: Dry
Origin: Temperate Eurasia and North America, from Europe east to Siberia and Canada
Hardiness Zone: 4-9
Propagation: By seed or root cuttings
Notes: Habitat: Moist, rocky, mt. slopes; dry meadows & prairies; open woods; limey cliffs; beaches. Harebells grow in dry, nutrient-poor grasslands and heaths.
Type: Dwarf evergreen shrub
Family: Thymelaeaceae
Color: Flowers deep pink, very fragrant
Exposure: Full sun; West-facing or South-facing
Bloom Month: in late spring and early summer
Height: 4”
Shape: shrubby, prostrate habit
Soil: Moderately fertile, humus rich, Sand, loam
Moisture: Moist, but well drained
Origin: native only to Slovakia
Hardiness Zone: 5-9
Propagation: Seeds are rarely produced; cuttings & graftings may be done.
Notes: The species is endangered and protected by law in Slovakia and also by European law
Type: Perennial herb
Family: Caryophyllaceae
Color: Pink shades
Exposure: Full Sun or Partial Shade
Bloom Month: June to August.
Height: 2”
Shape: a low cushion or bun, 6-12 inches wide
Soil: Sandy; gravel scree or trough garden
Moisture: Dry, well drained; dislikes heavy or soggy soils.
Origin: found in the north-eastern limestone Alps of Austria
Hardiness Zone: 3-8
Propagation: By seed or division
Notes: Evergreen
Type: hybrid perennial herb
Family: Caryophyllaceae
Color: rose-pink
Exposure: Full Sun to Partial Shade
Bloom Month: Late spring or early summer
Height: up to 4 inches
Shape: compact mounds or mats
Soil: well drained, fertile, sandy loam, neutral to alkaline soil
Moisture: well drained
Origin: hybrid
Hardiness Zone: 3-8
Propagation: By seed or soft wood cuttings
Notes: Deadhead regularly to prolong flowering
Type: perennial herb
Family: Primulaceae
Color: pink - Large and showy flower, from altitudes 6,000 to 12,000 feet
Exposure: full sun
Bloom Month: June - July
Height: up to 12”
Shape: erect clump
Soil: Bogs, moist meadows and beside streams, in high-elevation areas, up to 11,500 fee
Moisture: Moist
Origin: native to the Western United States, in California, Arizona, Nevada, Oregon, and Utah.
Hardiness Zone: 4
Propagation: From seed or division
Notes: common name alpine shooting star
Type: Herbaceous perennial Family: Brassicaceae
Color: yellow flowers bloom in racemes
Exposure: Sun, part sun
Bloom Month: Mar – May
Height: up to 3 inches tall
Shape: dense hairy cushions; 3 inches across
Soil: gritty, sharply drained soil; scree, trough; protect from overly wet soils in winter
Moisture: well drained
Origin: native to Armenia and Turkey; Grows on hills and rocky places.
Hardiness Zone: 4-8
Propagation: Seeds, division or cuttings
Draba is easily grown from seeds, or late summer cuttings from single rosette shoots
Notes: Evergreen – rare - on the list of Rare and Endangered Plants of Armenia.
Type: Herbaceous perennial
Family: Brassicaceae
Color: pure white
Exposure: Full sun or partial shade
Bloom Month: March, April
Height: 3”
Shape: Cushion to mat-forming
Soil: well drained, scree; lean, with a little fertilizer
Moisture: dry; needs water during growth cycle, then dry.
Origin: Mountains of northern and eastern Spain
Hardiness Zone: 3
Propagation: division; seeds may be sown in the fall
Notes: Avoid pouring water over cushions; dead head flowers after blooming.
Type: Perennial herb – forb - in the mustard
Family: Brassicaceae
Color: bright yellow
Exposure: Full Sun
Bloom Month: Jun-Aug
Height: 4-6 inches
Shape: cushion-like mats of small fleshy, hairy, pointed leaves in rocky crevices and on slopes
Soil: scree; tufa
Moisture: well drained
Origin: native to western North America, above 2000 meters from California to Alaska to Wyoming.
Hardiness Zone: 4-8
Propagation: by seed in spring or cuttings of single rosettes in late summer.
Notes: Also known as the dense-leaf draba
Type: Perennial herb; forb
Family: Brassicaceae
Color: yellow clusters
Exposure: sunl shaded from hot afternoon sun
Bloom Month: May-June
Height: 4-6 inches
Shape: ground-hugging habit of growth;
Soil: grows best in sandy soils
Moisture: dry to average in well-drained soil
Origin: Siberia, Caucusus Mountains of Europe, and eastern Greenland.
Hardiness Zone: 3-7
Propagation: Seeds are small siliques – can be divided right after blooming
Notes: Also called Siberian Willow grass, although it is not a grass.
Type: Herbaceous perennial
Family: Primulaceae
Color: pink
Exposure: Full sun
Bloom Month: April - May
Height: under 4”
Shape: cushion
Soil: scree; suitable for troughs
Moisture: well drained
Origin: Found only in Montana, Idaho, Wyoming and the Waterton Lakes area of Alberta.
Hardiness Zone: 3-5
Propagation: From seed
Notes: Dwarf primrose
Type: Evergreen subshrub
Family: Rosaceae
Color: white
Exposure: Full sun
Bloom Month:
Height: 4”
Shape: small prostrate colonies
Soil: Gravel or sandy soils
Moisture: Moist
Origin: Arctic and sub-arctic Europe, Asia and America. Mountains in south Europe, including Britain
Hardiness Zone: 3-6
Propagation: From seed or division
Notes: Common name includes Mountain Avens
Type: Evergreen Perennial
Family: Gentianaceae
Color: Blue trumpets
Exposure: full sun to partial shade; protect from hot afternoon sun
Bloom Month: mid to late spring
Height: up to 4 inches
Shape: mat forming, up to 10 inches
Soil: rich, acidic and cool soil
Moisture: Evenly moist
Origin: native to central and southern Europe
Hardiness Zone: 2-9
Propagation: From seed or division
Notes: Also called ‘stemless’ or trumpet gentian
Type: semi-evergreen perennial
Family: Gentianaceae
Color: single pure blue with a white- and green-striped throat
Exposure: Full Sun, partial shade
Bloom Month: Autumn – Sept – October
Height: 2–3 in tall, with multiple prostrate stems 6–12 in long,
Shape: Low growing mat, 12-18”
Soil: well-drained soil with an acid or neutral pH; scree;
Moisture: average to moist - does not like alkaline soil
Origin: native to western China and Tibet
Hardiness Zone: 4
Propagation: Clumps may be easily divided in spring.
Notes: Also called ‘Showy Chinese Gentian’
Type: rhizomatous or bulbous perennials
Family: Iridaceae
Color: variable colors violet-purple, blue to yellow or white
Exposure: full sun
Bloom Month: early May
Height: 8-10”
Shape: short spikes
Soil: sandy soil, loam, alkaline
Moisture: well drained
Origin: native to central Europe and the Caucasus
Hardiness Zone: 4-9
Propagation: Propagate by seed or by division of rhizomes
Notes: Also known as pygmy iris or dwarf iris
Type: Evergreen perennial herb
Family: Montiaceae
Color: usually white with dark pink stripes
Exposure: semi shade
Bloom Month: May to June
Height: 8”
Shape: basal rosette
Soil: Sandy loam, well drained; tolerates nutritionally poor soil
Moisture: moist; avoid winter wet
Origin: Western N. America - South British Columbia to Oregon
Hardiness Zone: 4-8
Propagation: From seed
Notes: grows from a taproot; hermaphrodite
Type: petite perennial herb
Family: Montiaceae
Color: white, pink or magenta
Exposure: mostly sun
Bloom Month: May-August
Height: 2-3”
Shape: basal rosette
Soil: well drained, rocky, gritty with minimum nutrients
Moisture: moderate water
Origin: native to western North America from Alaska and Alberta to California and New Mexico
Hardiness Zone: 3-7
Propagation: division of offshoots
Notes: common name alpine lewisia and pygmy bitterroot
Type: fleshy, perennial herb
Family: Montiaceae
Color: salmon to yellowish-pink
Exposure: full sun, with some partial shade tolerated
Bloom Month: May to July
Height: 4-8”
Shape: basal-leaf rosette
Soil: very sharp drainage, root crown does not tolerate being wet
Moisture: drought tolerant
Origin: found in north-central Washington and adjacent Canada
Hardiness Zone: 4-7
Propagation:
Seeds: From seed or side shoot cuttings
Notes: Seeds are attractive to and dispersed by ants
Type: perennial, dwarf shrub
Family: Ericaceae
Color: rose to white bell
Exposure: part shade
Bloom Month: June-August
Height: 1-3 ft
Shape: mat-forming
Soil: rocky or peaty, acid soils
Moisture: Cool, moist
Origin: Circumpolar, through most of AK & Yukon
Hardiness Zone: 1
Propagation: From seed, or stem rooting
Notes: Also called Alpine azalea
Type: Perennial evergreen herb
Family: Caryophyllaceae
Color: single white, star shaped flowers
Exposure: Part Shade
Bloom Month: Summer
Height: 2-3”
Shape: Mat forming; creeping
Soil: dry gravely soils
Moisture: dry
Origin: N hemisphere, Europe, Mediterranean, North Africa, southwest Asia, and the Caucasus
Hardiness Zone: 4-9
Propagation: Propagate by division, cuttings or seed.
Notes: Commonly known as Artic Sandwort, or Artic Stitchwort
Type: Perennial evergreen herb
Family: Caryophyllaceae
Color: white
Exposure: Mostly sun
Bloom Month: summer
Height: 4-6”
Shape: cushion, 15-24”
Soil: Average, well drained, gritty; limey
Moisture: consistently moist
Origin: N. hemisphere, mainly Europe, Mediterranean, and N Africa, SWAsia, and the Caucasus
Hardiness Zone: 2
Propagation: From seed or division
Notes: Also known as Irish Moss or Spring Sandwort
Type: Herbaceous perennial
Family: Scrophulariaceae
Color: violet-blue to lilac-blue, occasionally pink
Exposure: Part sun
Bloom Month: mid to late summer.
Height: 4-8”
Shape: tufted to clump forming – ground cover
Soil: scree
Moisture: well drained
Origin: Southern and eastern Alps, in limestone rock crevices at 2500m.
Hardiness Zone:
Propagation: From seed
Notes: a choice relative of veronica
Type: Perennial
Family: papaveraceae
Color: yellow
Exposure: full to partial sun
Bloom Month: Jun-Aug.
Height: 6-12”
Shape: clump
Soil: Sands and gravel
Moisture: well drained, but not dry
Origin: Alaska; Asia (Russian Far East, Kamchatka)
Hardiness Zone: 1-4
Propagation: From seed
Notes: one of the northernmost plants in the world
Type: Perennial herb
Family: Papaveraceae
Color: striking white to pale pink flowers
Exposure: Full sun
Bloom Month: June-August
Height: 2.5 to 7 inches
Shape: clumps
Soil: sand and gravel
Moisture: well drained but not dry
Origin: native to temperate and cold regions of Eurasia, Africa and North America.
Hardiness Zone: 2-7
Propagation: self- seeds
Notes: Also called ‘Pale Poppy’; sensitive status, collection and disturbance of pale poppy prohibited in national forests of Alaska; does not like competition with other plants
Type: evergreen perennial
Family: Plantaginaceae
Color: blue, lavender to purple
Exposure: Full sun
Bloom Month: late spring, early summer
Height: 3-4”
Shape: mat forming
Soil: lean, well-drained soil
Moisture: well drained, not overwatered
Origin: North America: Sierra Nevada Range in California and Nevada through the Coast and Cascade ranges of Oregon and Washington into British Columbia
Hardiness Zone: 5-8
Propagation: From seed or woody cuttings
Notes: Common name Davidson's penstemon
Type: Hardy perennial
Family: Brassicaceae
Color: lilac or pale pink
Exposure: sun, part sun
Bloom Month: spring
Height: 2-4”
Shape: mat forming
Soil: scree, trough; limey
Moisture: well drained, rocky
Origin: European mountains
Hardiness Zone: 4-7
Propagation: From seed
Notes: Also called Draba pyrenaica, Pyrenean Whitlow Grass
Type: Perineal herb
Family: Polemoniaceae
Color: white or pink
Exposure: full sun
Bloom Month:
Height: 1-2”
Shape: cushion-like mats
Soil: sharply drained medium that is alkaline in nature
Moisture: moderate to dry– do not overwater
Origin: Eastern California, Nevada, Colorado and small areas of New Mexico
Hardiness Zone: 4
Notes: Winter-wet must be avoided
Type: Herbaceous perennial
Family: Polemoniaceae
Color: Red-purple to violet-purple to pink to white
Exposure: Full sun
Bloom Month: May-June
Height: 3-6”
Shape: mat-forming; can grow up to 3’
Soil: humusy, well-drained soils; also grows well in sandy or gravely soils
Moisture: medium moisture
Origin: Native Range: Eastern and central United States
Hardiness Zone: 2-7
Propagation: Division or cuttings
Notes: Common name Moss Phlox; vigorous
Type: Herbaceous perennial
Family: Rosaceae
Color: yellow
Exposure: Full sun to part shade; will not grow in full shade
Bloom Month: May-June
Height: 3-6”
Shape: ground cover; mat
Soil: sandy loam; well drained
Moisture: medium
Origin: Native Range: Northern, western and central Europe
Hardiness Zone: 4-8
Propagation: From seed or root cuttings
Notes: Common Name: cinquefoil; vigorous
Type: evergreen or semi-evergreen perennial
Family: Primulaceae
Color: lavender
Exposure: Sun, part sun
Bloom Month: May-June
Height: 5”
Shape: clumps of rosettes Soil: scree, trough
Moisture: Well drained but moist
Origin: Europe
Hardiness Zone: 4
Propagation: From seed or division
Notes: leathery, silver-edged leaf edges lined with farina; cultivation dates to 1700s
Type: evergreen perennial
Family: Primulaceae
Color: multiple colors
Exposure: part-shade
Bloom Month: May-June
Height: 8”
Shape: rosettes
Soil: well-drained but moist
Moisture: moist
Origin: Europe - Alps and Carpathian mountains.
Hardiness Zone: 3-7
Propagation: From seed or division
Notes: auricula means ‘ear-shaped’; also called mountain cowslip or bear's ear
Type: Hardy perennial
Family: Ranunculaceae
Color: dark maroon-red to plum-lilac
Exposure: full to partial sun
Bloom Month: April-May
Height: 8-12”
Shape: clumps; shoots arising from persistent woody bases
Soil: Sandy loam; avoid winter wet
Moisture: moist, well drained
Origin: native to the N. hemisphere, dispersed across a wide swath of Europe, Asia, and N. America.
Hardiness Zone: zone 4
Propagation: From seed
Notes: Common name Mountain Pasque Flower; has a tap root
Type: Hardy perennial
Family: Ranunculaceae
Color: wine-red
Exposure: Full Sun; afternoon shade
Bloom Month: April-May
Height: 8-10”
Shape: Clump - 10-12”
Soil: Sandy loam
Moisture: well drained; can tolerate draught
Origin: Europe, southwestern Asia
Hardiness Zone: 4-8
Propagation: From seed
Notes: Resents being moved when mature; has a tap root
Type: Perennial deciduous shrub
Family: Ericaceae
Color: Violet, White, Red
Exposure: shade-part shade
Bloom Month: June
Height: up to 12 inches
Shape: prostrate
Soil: acid soil; well mulched with organic material
Moisture: Well drained, moist
Origin: Siberia (Kamchatka), Japan, W N America (Alaska)
Hardiness Zone: 4
Propagation: by seed, grafting or cuttings
Notes: flowering is sparse, but continues through to autumn; leaves turn yellow in autumn
Type: dwarf, deciduous shrub
Family: Salicaceae
Color: yellowish catkins produced in early spring, often before the leaves
Exposure: full sun
Bloom Month: Late May through early July in the wild but as earlier warmer climates.
Height: 3”
Shape: loose open mats with extensive, much-branched, underground stems
Soil: scree, calcareous
Moisture: well drained, not too dry
Origin: native to the colder parts of Europe, North America, and Northern Asia
Hardiness Zone: 2
Propagation: Seed or cuttings
Notes: also known as net-leaved willow or snow willow
Type: deciduous shrub
Family: Salicaceae
Color: Cream, Yellow
Exposure: full sun
Bloom Month: may produce small catkins in April or May
Height: 1-2’
Shape: mounding to upright, but gnarled habit
Soil: gritty soil that stays evenly moist
Moisture: moist, well drained
Origin: thought to be a hybrid between Salix lanata and Salix reticulate.
Hardiness Zone: zone 4 but not fond of heat and humidity
Propagation: Cuttings
Notes: Also called “Boyd’s willow” - Slow growing; may be started in a trough, later transferred to the ground.
Type: Herbaceous perennial
Family: Saxifragaceae
Color: light pink, mauve, lilac
Exposure: partial shade
Bloom Month: May-June
Height: 4-8”
Shape: cushion or mound
Soil: organically rich, gritty, well-drained
Moisture: cool, moist
Origin: Arendsii hybrid
Hardiness Zone: 4-9
Propagation: softwood cuttings or division. Hybrids may be grown from seed, but may not come true
Notes: The Latin word saxifraga means literally "stone-breaker"; also called ‘Mossy saxifrage’ or ‘rock foil’; deadhead after flowering
Type: Herbaceous perennial; evergreen
Family: Saxifragaceae
Color: cream petals dotted with round spots of varying colors
Exposure: Part shade
Bloom Month: June-August
Height: 2-6”
Shape: compact, basal rosettes, growing into colonies
Soil: Dry, rocky
Moisture: dry
Origin: AK to Greenland, Oregon & New Mexico
Hardiness Zone: 2
Propagation: From seed
Notes: Also called ‘Yellow spot saxifrage’
Type: Herbaceous perennial; evergreen
Family: Saxifragaceae
Color: light yellow
Exposure: full sun- partial shade; protect from hot afternoon shade
Bloom Month: early spring
Height: under 1”
Shape: mostly cushion or mat-forming
Soil: sandy loam
Moisture: moist but well drained
Origin: cultivar of the cross S.apiculata; a garden hybrid, S.marginata x S. sancta.
Hardiness Zone: 4
Propagation: Division; Stratify seeds; will not come true from seed
Notes: Vigorous; ideal trough plant
Type: Herbaceous perennial; evergreen
Family: Saxifragaceae
Color: yellow
Exposure: sun to part shade; full sun in cooler areas
Bloom Month: May
Height: 6-8”
Shape: dense, spreading hummock
Soil: gritty well drained soil; limestone rocks
Moisture: moderate
Origin: Bulgaria, Greece and Turkey
Hardiness Zone: 3
Propagation: Seeds, cuttings or division
Notes: vigorous; ideal for tufa gardens and alpine troughs
Type: Herbaceous perennial; evergreen
Family: Caryophyllaceae (carnation)
Color: pink
Exposure: sun
Bloom Month: early spring
Height: 2-6”
Shape: low, ground-hugging plant; densely matted and moss-like; up to a foot or more diameter
Soil: Rich, scree soil; Moist, chalky rock crevices in high mts.
Moisture: dry or moist
Origin: high arctic and tundra in the higher mountains of Eurasia and North America.
Propagation: From seed or cuttings
Notes: Also known as moss campion or cushion pink; male, female hermaphrodite flowers
Type: Herbaceous perennial
Family: Crassulaceae
Color: yellow
Exposure: Full sun to shade
Bloom Month: June-August
Height: 6”
Shape: low-growing foliage mat
Soil: tolerates sandy or clay soils
Moisture: well drained
Origin: E. Asia - Japan to Siberia.
Hardiness Zone: 3-8
Propagation: Seeds, cuttings, division
Notes: Also called Kamchatka sedum or Kamchatka stonecrop; hermaphrodite, self-fertile
Type: Hardy perennial
Family: Ranunculaceae
Color: deep violet to wine purple
Exposure: Full sun
Bloom Month: June-July
Height: 12-18”
Shape: mound or tuft, 8-12”
Soil: Clay, Chalk, Sand, Loam
Moisture: moist, but well drained
Origin: native to open woodlands in China
Hardiness Zone: 4 -8
Propagation: From seed
Notes:; also called False columbine or semiaqualegia as it has no spurs on flowers
Type: Evergreen perennial
Family: Primulaceae
Color: Violet, white, blue, purple; bell-shaped, fringed
Exposure: Full sun to partial shade; protection from hot afternoon sun
Bloom Month: June
Height: 6”
Shape: mat; tuft; 6-10”
Soil: fertile, well drained; suitable for troughs
Moisture: cool, moist
Origin: native to the Carpathian and Tatra Mountians
Hardiness Zone: 4-5
Propagation: From seed or division; divide regularly to maintain vigor
Notes: Latin names include Soldanella alpina, Soldanella villosa, and Soldanella carpatica.
Type: short-lived perennial or biennial
Family: Campanulaceae
Color: pale lavender-blue bells
Exposure: full sun; protect from hot afternoon sun
Bloom Month: May in warmer regions but may not start until July further north
Height: 10”
Shape: mound, leafy rosette; 15”
Soil: fertile
Moisture: moist, but well-drained
Origin: native from the Caucasus to northwestern Iran.
Hardiness Zone: zone 5 or colder
Propagation: From seed; self-seeds when happy – has a tap root
Notes: Also called Caucasian Ring Bellflower.
Type: Herbaceous perennial
Family: Iridaceae
Color: purple with yellow center
Exposure: full sun to partial shade
Bloom Month: June
Height: 4 - 20 in
Shape: grass like clumps
Soil: sandy loam
Moisture: moist but not wet soil
Origin: Northern North America from Newfoundland west to easternmost Alaska, and south to Pennsylvania in the east, and to New Mexico in the Rocky Mountains; introduced to parts of France, likely during WWI
Hardiness Zone: 4-9
Propagation: From seed or division
Notes: Also known as ‘Blue-eyed grass’
Type: Herbaceous perennial; miniature woodland plant
Family: Ranunculaceae
Color: lavender to pinkish-purple flowers
Exposure: Full sun to part shade
Bloom Month: June to August
Height: 4-6”
Shape: low-growing foliage mat or clump
Soil: organically rich, moderately fertile, well drained
Moisture: more water needed in full sun
Origin: Native Range: Japan, Korea in moist woodland alpine areas
Hardiness Zone: 4-9
Propagation: May be grown from seed and will self-seed.
Notes: Also called ‘Dwarf Meadow Rue’; dioecious
Type: Evergreen subshrub
Family: Lamiaceae
Color: small purple or pink flowers
Exposure: sunny location
Bloom Month: early summer
Height: 6–12 in
Shape: bushy ground cover
Soil: well-drained soil
Moisture: Moist but not wet
Origin: native to southern Europe from the western Mediterranean to southern Italy
Hardiness Zone: 2-5
Propagation: easily propagated from cuttings
Notes: Numerous cultivars and hybrids have been developed for ornamental purposes
Type: Herbaceous perennial
Family: Ranunculaceae
Color: Yellow
Exposure: sun or partial shade
Bloom Month: June - July
Height: 8-12 inches
Shape: mounding clump, 8-12”
Soil: Tolerates heavy, wet clay soils
Moisture: Damp
Origin: Plant range: Himalaya & E Tibet
Hardiness Zone: 3
Propagation: From seed or division
Notes: Also known as Dwarf Globeflower; shear back in summer to promote fresh new growth
Type: Herbaceous perennial
Family: Plantaginaceae
Color: blue, pink, purple and white flowers
Exposure: Full sun; tolerates light shade
Bloom Month: June to August
Height: 1–3 feet
Shape: upright, clump-forming
Soil: moderately fertile, well-drained
Moisture: Constant moisture due to shallow roots
Origin: Native Range: Northern Europe, Asia
Hardiness Zone: 3 to 8
Propagation: From seed, cuttings or division
Notes: Common name Spiked speedwell; remove spent flower spikes to encourage additional bloom. Plants may be cut back to basal growth after flowering.
Type: Hardy, deciduous fern
Family: Woodsiaceae
Color: green fronds
Exposure: full sun; shade from hot afternoon sun
Bloom Month: summer (spores)
Height: 2-10”
Shape: clumps
Soil: rocky slopes; thin, dry, acidic soils
Moisture: moist, well drained; draught causes dormancy in hot summers
Origin: North America and northern Eurasia
Hardiness Zone: 3-5
Propagation: From spores or careful division
Notes: Also called Rusty Woodsia or oblong woodsia; considered "Threatened" or "Endangered" in the states of Illinois, Iowa, and Maryland and "Presumed Extirpated" in Ohio.
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