On the site of a country house or dacha, an alpine slide looks like a stone paradise. It stands out against the background of the general landscape design and pleases with bright shades and texture of colors. There is an opinion that an alpine slide is created only by designers and cannot be done by yourself.

In practice, this is nonsense. You are looking for information in advance about the composition of the soil, the shape of the stones and other little things. Stock up on the right ingredients and make a list of plants that you want to see on your site. And as planned, you begin to plant them on an alpine slide. Consider the climatic nuances and characteristics of each type of plant.

What plants are suitable for an alpine slide, photos and names can be seen below. If this is not enough, take a look at the forums of gardeners, landscape designers, sites about plants. The desired option will be found quickly.

To create an alpine slide, choose plants that do not grow much in height. They will not only be easy to care for. They will not obscure each other's light. Designers divide low-growing plants into several subgroups. Plants in them are similar in the principle of care and in some features of appearance.

They got their name due to their ability to grow very quickly and take up area. If you do not follow this, carpet flowers will quickly take up the entire free area. Basically, they are simply cropped to keep them from growing. In this case, the shoots are not completely removed. The job is like mowing a lawn.

Pay close attention to plants that reproduce by tendrils and root systems. When plants with antennae ( , alpine strawberries, and others), have grown too much, the extra antennae are completely removed from the parent specimen.

And yet plants with antennae are not as harmful as those that reproduce by the root system (St. John's wort, yarrow (tree), alpine lianca). The roots grow unnoticed for you underground, and after a while this type of plant will occupy the entire rock garden. It will be possible to get rid of it only with the help of a complete re-equipment of the alpine slide or thorough weeding of the earth.

Care should be taken when caring for carpet plants. For example, where plants with a root type of growth grow, you need to be careful not to damage the plant. Do not plant saxifrage and sedum near carpet, bulbous plants.

The bottom line is that in the process of life, they release harmful substances and toxic decay products of useful substances. The soil next to them becomes unsuitable for the growth of other plants. At the same time, saxifrages and sedums do well in these conditions.

Different types of carpet plants rarely coexist near each other. Some gardeners are confident that they will merge into a beautiful spot and, with an emphasis on this, are planning an alpine slide. In practice, carpet plant species grow poorly together and compete in every possible way for every patch of soil.

Choose plant species that will not bloom at the same time. It is easier to combine different varieties with each other and , your rock garden will be bright throughout the warm season.

Tuberous and bulbous plant species

They are beautiful in that they bloom in spring and autumn. Choose plant species that will bloom at different times. For example, crocus "Kogi" and crocus "Fine" will delight you with their colors in the fall. Common crocuses, tulips, daffodils bloom in spring.

It is better to combine plants with bulbs with carpet plants. But, plant them away from each other. As mentioned above, some carpet plants release substances into the soil that are detrimental to bulbous flowers.

When planting plants, consider the needs of each species and choose the best options. On an alpine slide, bulbous plants should never be covered with plastic. Every year the bulb sprouts in different places and it is difficult to guess where it will go this time. In addition, the bulbs can rot from the created greenhouse effect.

One of the most beautiful types of plants for an alpine slide. There are dozens of types of them. The interest is that the flowers are beautiful, they tolerate the neighborhood perfectly and reproduce well vegetatively. At the same time, these flowers are demanding to care for and have a different flowering period.

For an alpine slide, choose types of flowers that will bloom for a long time. For example, a variety such as Molodilo will die immediately after it fades. These plants are beautiful, but there is a lot of work with them. Each time, the dead elements will need to be replaced with new plants.

How to choose a variety, what are the plants for an alpine slide, photos and names, we will consider, sorting into groups below.

How to choose a variety of plants for a rock garden?

Dozens of different plants can fit into your alpine slide and grow actively there. Think in advance how much time you are willing to devote to caring for a stone garden? Already, based on these data, you can begin to select options. Plants can be annual or perennial.

In the first case, you will need to plant or sow flowers every spring, wait for them to grow, devote time to them. Sometimes, because of the time spent, you don't want a beautiful garden either. Perennials are easier in this case. They were planted once and the plants grow up to 7 years in one place. You will need to feed them, weed out the weeds, and watch the watering.

Perennial plants on the site

Many landscape designers are inclined to believe that the garden should be natural. Plants are selected that are similar to those types of flowers that grow in nature. They naturally cover the slide and give it a well-groomed look. In addition to these varieties of flowers, there are dozens of beautiful , and they will also fit into the alpine slide. You don't have to follow the advice of renowned landscape designers to create a beautiful garden.

Plants for one year

Annual flowers thrive among stones. They need other conditions for development and life. When choosing flowers for one year, sort them according to the color of the shoots and inflorescences, according to the height of the plants. With these colors, you can create whole compositions. Lobularia and alyssum look interesting on an alpine slide. In general, annuals are fine if you want a different kind of alpine slide every year.

When creating an alpine slide, a special film or plastic containers are used. When the plant is not scattering underground shoots, it is planted in plastic, cutting small holes for each unit. Thus, bulbous and rosette plants can be planted. Sometimes ivy, conifers, phlox are planted in a similar way.

Rooted flowers usually grow strongly and throughout the area. Here they act cunningly: a crosswise cut is made in the film, a plastic container is inserted into it, which has no bottom, and flowers are planted in it. Thus, the plant cannot spread further than its capacity will allow, but it receives enough nutrients.

It is easier not to take a container with a bottom. The plant will grow in pots with a bottom, but there will be no such contact with the ground. You will have to water the flowers more often than usual. This is not always possible, because you can be away from home for several days or weeks.

When planning an alpine slide, select plants and planting schemes in such a way that you can live freely and preserve the beauty of your garden.

Types of plants and flowers for an alpine slide

What are the plants for an alpine slide, photos and names will be in this section. Additionally, you can find the necessary information on the forums of flower lovers and summer residents. Find the best options for your stone garden.

A small plant that grows as a cover. They can perfectly cover bare areas in an alpine slide. The plant blooms in purple, blue or white. The scent of this rug spreads throughout the garden. The interest lies in the fact that a delicious tea with a pleasant aroma can be prepared from thyme.

In the last century, this plant was harvested for the winter and consumed as hot drinks. Those who took this tea had less flu and ARVI. Thyme blooms in summer and until autumn. It is unpretentious, as in the natural conditions of nature it grows in the forests at the edge, in the fields, in the meadows. The difference between the soil of such areas is colossal. Thyme hardly needs fertilization.

Another plant that grows with a rug. There are folk songs about these flowers. It blooms in blue and creates a dense carpet. Its green leaves with a matte sheen and small blue flowers. This plant grows and blooms equally well, both in the sun and in the shade.

Will cover all empty spaces between the main plants. It will delight with its color from late spring to early autumn. If the autumn is warm, then you can see the periwinkle flowers in early October.

Perennial plant, adapted to the domestic climate. It survives frost perfectly. About 12 species of this flower are used in landscape design. The most popular varieties are Armeria turfy, Siberian, prickly and others.

The plant can be planted in small groups. With its help, not only rock gardens are created, but also stone gardens, beautiful flower beds. Armeria gets along well with plants that form a carpet or crawl. It can be planted next to thyme, ivy, creeping violet, quarries and others of this species. Armetria blooms almost all season, which is convenient for creating an alpine slide.

It is also called wolfberry. The plant has a lush crown, blooms profusely, and grows low. There are about 10 species of this flower. They differ in the shade of the inflorescences, the shape and size of the crown, and the period of color. Daphne smells good and can be a great addition to an alpine slide.

In addition, wolfberry is grown in tubs and pots that are in greenhouses. He can easily grow in a flower bed or on a lawn. It is worth remembering that the juice and berries of this plant are poisonous. He needs to be kept away from children, who are always overly curious.

The plant is able to grow in a solid carpet, in small groups, looks great in a set with other plants. The gentian tolerates the Russian winter well. It blooms in spring with a deep blue color. Landscaping enthusiasts have come to love this plant for its long period of color and ease of care.

The gentian can easily grow in places where there is not much sun. To create alpine slides, spring gentian or stemless gentian is most often chosen. There is also a demand for hybrids of these varieties.

This type of plant can save any alpine slide. Flowers grow on any soil, up to stones. They cover the most ugly, bumpy areas on the site where other flowers simply will not survive. They can grow both with a rug and in small groups.

Each plant has a separate rosette and small, dense leaves. Saxifrage blooms in spring. Its flowers can be pink, blue or golden. Muscari, sedums, dwarf irises and other plants that do not give much shade can be neighbors of this flower.

An interesting plant for alpine slides and garden paths. The flower is tenacious, survives frost well, adverse conditions. If you step on him, he will get nothing. Cat's legs are planted in places of high traffic, for decoration of rocky areas, planted between the slabs.

The plant grows short, only 10 centimeters long. But it grows in width to 45 centimeters. Cat's legs bloom in spring, with delicate small flowers.

It blooms almost as soon as the snow melted. This plant will be the first to delight your eyes in spring. The flower is not afraid of frost, is almost not damaged by pests and does not get sick. Caring for plants is simple, it is enough to water regularly and get rid of weeds in time.

The alpine slide will look bright and juicy. In addition, the corydalis is tall. Bees will be frequent guests in your garden. The Corydalis is grown for the reason that it reproduces itself and is easy to grow.

The plant has another name - Cyclamen. It actively grows in composition with other flowers on an alpine hill. The plant will feel comfortable among bushes, stones and tall flowers. Dryak does not freeze in winter, is not afraid to grow in the shade. All you need to care for it is watering and weeding regularly.

Grows well next to crocuses, crocuses, snowdrops and other bulbs and flowers.

Viola or violet for an alpine slide photo

Grows in small bushes. Each of them has a height of about 22 centimeters, the diameter of the bush is 5-10 centimeters. The flowering period of this plant stretches over the entire season. You will admire the violet from May to September.

In care, the plant is not whimsical, it loves a bright area, but without the scorching sun. Watering the plant is on schedule. The violet does not tolerate very wet soil and rots. There are about 8 types of violets for an alpine slide. You can plant one species or combine several varieties.

Plan the alpine slide first on paper, select the elements and varieties of plants. Imagine a finished garden plot. How should it look? What flowers do you want to see on it? Try to keep the garden blooming all season.

At the same time, plant care doesn't have to be difficult. Not everyone can afford to spend a lot of time working in the garden. Once you understand what your site will be like, it will be easier to pick up plants. You can buy the necessary seedlings, seeds and cuttings at any flower shop in your city.

Alpine slide video

Plants and stones go well together, so it is worth highlighting a small corner for a rock garden in your garden. Some plants for an alpine slide, photos and their names, you will see in this article. Our selection will help you to make the slide original and bright, it will be the best decoration of the entire site.

Making a slide with your own hands (photo and diagram)

First of all, you should make a marking of the contours of the future rock garden, remove weeds and sod. After that, inside these contours, you need to create a small depression in the ground and form the entire volume of the future rock garden. For this, not only large stones are used, but also crushed stone, construction waste, gravel. First, the largest stones are laid, then the small ones, they are covered with sand and soil.

When the soil layer settles, you need to fill all the depressions with the same soil, then additionally expand a 20 cm layer of earth, your plants will grow on it. After that, all the remaining decorative stones are laid.

The finished slide is watered, the entire structure costs two to three weeks, more is possible, all this time you need to actively weed out. After that, they select plants for the alpine slide, look at the photos, write out the names of the varieties they like and purchase them in specialized stores. All plants are planted either in spring or early autumn, usually September. Planting time depends on what time you manage to prepare the base for the rock garden.

Plant selection criteria for an alpine slide

Ornamental plants for the slide are selected according to certain rules, they are not difficult, you can master this simple science on your own. Above you see a photo - DIY design of an alpine slide. The traditional classical approach provides for the presence of perennial plants on the hill, which grow wild in high mountain areas. These are undersized specimens, which have a small and compact bush, undemanding to the soil and the presence of moisture. As a rule, these types are winter-hardy, they are resistant to gusts of wind. Examples include plants such as dryad, awl-leaved phlox, thyme (both creeping and common, and alpine shrimp. You will also see some flowers for the alpine slide later in the article).

Almost always on the hills there are stunted conifers, sometimes low deciduous ones, among which it is better to choose slowly growing varieties. Among the deciduous alpine slides, they look good:

• a low-growing variety of barberry, whose fruits and colorful bright leaves adorn the hill until late autumn;
• Japanese low-growing quince;
• some varieties of cotoneaster.

Together with decorative stones, they form the basis of the entire composition. However, recently, on the alpine slide, you can also meet annuals, which have a long flowering period, steppe grasses and bulbs. The latter really enliven the slides in spring and delight flower growers. These can be crocuses, snowdrops and lilies of the valley, ornamental onions and daffodils, undersized tulips and cyclamens.

The most popular flowers for the alpine slide

We bring to your attention some names and photos of popular plants for an alpine slide (flowers - perennials).

Iberis

Iberis looks very good on the top of the hill, there are varieties that do not grow more than 10 centimeters in height. The plant blooms profusely in snow-white clumps in late spring or early summer.

Edelweiss

The famous mountain flower, sung in literature, grows wild on the depleted soils of the rocks. Such a plant on an alpine hill is the pride of a florist, especially since it is listed in the Red Book. However, it is quite possible to grow this flower independently from ordinary seeds, and then propagate it in the usual way (seedlings).

Edelweiss is sun-loving and does not tolerate shading, as in the wild these plants grow on mountain tops. For better growth of an exotic flower, you need to make a special depleted soil mixture with fine-grained sand and small pebbles.

So, when choosing perennial flowers for an alpine slide, you cannot ignore this beautiful specimen, which, moreover, can grow in one place for up to 20 years.

Rejuvenated (stone rose)

This plant looks like rosettes, which are composed of fleshy thick leaves of all sizes and shapes. Different varieties differ in their colors. There are many types and varieties among perennial flowers for an alpine slide, rosettes are burgundy and silvery green, you can choose several different specimens at once. An unpretentious plant can adapt to any living conditions and take the most inconvenient place, including the gaps between the stones, which is ideal for an alpine slide.

Armeria seaside

This plant is not afraid of either cold or drought, but does not like waterlogging. Small bushes, can release ten peduncles at once, which have spherical inflorescences. Armeria is also good because it blooms for a very long time, practically all summer, but we must not forget to remove old inflorescences, otherwise it will wither.

Carnation

Perennial carnations are very good on an alpine slide; by the way, in the wild, they grow well in the mountains. This is probably why carnations are the most popular of all perennial flowers for an alpine slide. There are many suitable varieties, for example, grass, short-stemmed carnation, gray, and also grayish-blue, which you go in the photo above. Carnations bloom with bright flowers throughout the summer season, and they also exude a pleasant spicy aroma.

Ephedra - the basis of the alpine slide

First of all, I would like to highlight the most spectacular plants, for example, there is a dwarf variety of Norwegian spruce, it even grows in pots, and this is a real gem on an alpine slide. The weeping fir is also surprisingly beautiful, it is dark green with a yellow tint, and the long branches bend down to the ground.

When creating an alpine slide, they often make a mistake: they simply use cut trees of traditional tall conifers. If you carefully consider the photo on the design of an alpine slide with your own hands, then you will notice that there are only varieties of dwarf plants. All plants that are supposed to be large in the wild will try to become large.

Here are some types and varieties of dwarf conifers:

1. Nevaki is a Japanese pine, which belongs to real bonsai, naturally dwarf. One of the varieties is pictured above. If trimmed, it will take on any shape.
2. Nana Pine, very fluffy, dark green in color.
3. Pine Panderoza, also very fluffy with huge needles, grows even without shelter, although it comes from warm places.
4. Velda is a creeping pine species, shoots grow only horizontally. It needs to be cut, otherwise it will take three meters in a circle.

Also, we must not forget about creeping varieties, they are irreplaceable on the alpine slides.

So, if you want to create a truly spectacular slide, then look at the photo of flowers for the alpine slide, remember the names of the plants that you like and go ahead! You can create an alpine slide with your own hands without serious financial or time expenditures, and it will not take up much space. The very process of creating it is very interesting, and the result exceeds all the wildest expectations.

What plants are needed for an alpine slide - video

The rocky composition, symbolizing a mountain peak, adorned with spectacular flowering plants, has a special decorative appeal. This type of flower garden serves not only as a decoration for a personal or suburban area, but also gives the entire landscape design a special individuality, sophistication and naturalness. And if during the construction of a rock garden you were required to have certain knowledge in the field of design and construction, then when choosing plants for an alpine slide, try to show a sense of style and artistic taste. Knowledge in the field of floriculture will also be needed, because the choice must be made from plants that are characteristic of the subalpine and alpine belts, as well as from plants adapted to development in rocky and stony rocks.

Considering another important feature - the layering of planting green spaces, the publication offers not only the names of plants for the alpine slide, but also a brief description of the most suitable species and varieties. In addition, the features of planting and caring for a flower garden throughout the season are considered.

The defining feature of this type of flower garden is not only in the presence of large stones and the recreation of a mountain composition, but also in the fact that it consists of mixed types of green spaces and is created for a long period. And if, in the case of a not entirely successful choice, of any species of flowering perennials, it can be replaced without any special problems, then the selection of woody, coniferous and shrub species must be approached especially thoughtfully and carefully. Searching for ready-made solutions on the Internet is ineffective, despite the abundance of colorful photographs of attractive alpine slides. When creating an artistic composition, it is important to take into account a number of factors that are characteristic only of your flower garden - climatic conditions of the area, illumination, the size and location of stones, the number of tiers, etc.

1. the sizes of the selected views. The size of the rock garden and green spaces should be in proportion to be in harmony with each other, pay attention to compact and stunted species;
2. quantity and colors. Do not get carried away by the number of planted species and the variety of flowers, try to preserve natural naturalness and attractiveness. To avoid unnecessary variegation, carefully experiment with a combination of colors;
3. need for care. Given the certain inconveniences of flower garden maintenance (height, hard-to-reach places), it is advisable to choose the types of green spaces that are undemanding in care;
4. compliance with climatic conditions. It is recommended to make a choice from those flowering plants that are most adapted to the given terrain conditions;
5. flowering period. The difference in the periods of the beginning and end of flowering will provide your flower garden with attractiveness and originality throughout the season;
6. livability. Groups of different plants planted in close proximity should not suppress each other, but fully grow and develop;
7. layering of planting. The most attractive are flower beds equipped in three tiers. Plants for the uppermost are selected sun-loving and do not require frequent watering, perennials and bulbous plants are suitable for the lower tiers, which need regular watering, but are not so demanding on lighting;
8. strengthening the soil. In order to prevent the erosion of slopes, plants are planted on them, covering the soil, with a highly developed root system.

Perennial plants for the alpine slide

The fundamental selection criteria are short stature, compactness, undemanding care and a long flowering period. Let us consider in more detail the types of perennials that have the necessary qualities, depending on the tier of planting. On the highest plane, it is desirable to arrange low and unpretentious plants that bloom from June to late autumn. It must be borne in mind that the soil dries out faster in high areas, so the flowers should be fairly drought-resistant.
The most common plants for the perennial alpine slide:

Iberis

The representative of the mountainous areas of southern Europe prefers a well-lit place, rocky and sandy soil. In rock gardens, the Crimean, evergreen, Gibraltar and rocky species are more common.It is a low-growing (15-30 cm) shrub plant with pink or white (depending on the type) inflorescences. The flowering period begins in spring, looks especially impressive in group plantings;

Perennial carnation

Refers to perennial grasses and shrubs, with leaves of a linear or linear-lanceolate shape and single delicate flowers of various colors. Ornamental species are distinguished by their unpretentiousness to the quality of the soil (except for acidic) and the frequency of watering, they prefer good illumination. It is recommended to plant in the upper tiers;

Thyme

Better known as thyme, the pink or purple blossoms of which have a pleasant spicy aroma. Creeping thyme can decorate the upper tier (height up to 15 cm), while ordinary thyme (height up to 40 cm) is better placed in the middle of the rock garden. Both species are quite unpretentious and do not need additional feeding. More often propagated by dividing an adult bush into separate parts, less often by cuttings and seeds;

Rejuvenated

In its natural environment, it is distributed in mountainous and rocky areas. The plant won the love of domestic flower growers due to its special decorative attractiveness and the ability to grow in almost any conditions. The common name "stone rose" fully corresponds to the ability of the plant to thrive on the rocky surface of an alpine hill. Ideal for planting in the middle and lower tiers, does not require maintenance;

Saxifrage paniculata

A graceful, low (10-15 cm) plant that grows ideally in crevices of a rocky surface. It blooms in small but attractive paniculate inflorescences of purple or pale yellow color. Differs in excellent winter hardiness, undemanding care and decorative qualities. It is recommended to plant directly at the foot of the stones or in the crevices between them;

Alpine edelweiss

A real native of the subalpine and alpine zones. It is a herbaceous plant with a height of 10-20 cm. Perhaps the most common plant for an alpine slide, which in its qualities fully corresponds to this type of flower garden - attractive, undemanding and beautifully blooming. Inflorescences of white or yellow color form several small baskets, the flowering period begins in the second half of May.

Plants for an alpine slide with a long flowering period

By choosing plants for the alpine slide that bloom all summer, you ensure the attractiveness of the flower garden throughout the season. The abundance of representatives of ornamental species of perennials and annuals of various heights make it possible to successfully solve this problem. Ground cover creeping green spaces are used to create a flowering background. Here is a list of flowering plants with the longest flowering period:

Arenaria

A low-growing plant from the carnation family. Domestic florists are better known as "gerbil". Low stems (10-15 cm), growing, form a solid green carpet. Most often, large-flowered, crimson and mountain gerbils are planted. All species are characterized by abundant and long flowering. Well-drained soil with added sand is preferable;

Rhodiola

Amateurs often plant Rhodiola rosea - a perennial bushy unpretentious plant up to 40 cm high, with a well-developed root system. Small yellow flowers form a corymbose inflorescence, flowering period June-July. In addition to its attractive appearance, it is valued for its medicinal properties;

Marigold

Depending on, there are annual varieties and perennials. In flower beds, stunted annuals are often planted, blooming before the first frost. They differ in general undemanding care, develop well in open areas and in partial shade. It can be planted both in separate groups and in composition with other representatives of the flower garden;

Balkan geranium

Planted along the perimeter of the stones, growing, forms continuous low thickets, emphasizing the originality of the rock garden. Red or purple flowers appear in June and usually last for a month. Prefers well-lit areas, can grow in partial shade, but in this case the flowering period is reduced;

Thrift

Armeria turfy

Herbaceous low perennial; in rock gardens, amateurs often plant Alpine or turfy armeria. When favorable conditions are created, separately planted Armeria bushes form a continuous flowering cushion up to 15 cm high. The flowering period extends to two months;

Echinacea purpurea

Quite high (80-100 cm) herbaceous plant, characterized by unpretentiousness, decorative qualities and a long (up to 2 months) flowering period. It is planted at the foot of stones in small groups. Well adapted to frosty winters and undemanding to care for. Due to its healing properties, echinacea flowers are widely used in traditional and folk medicine.

Conifers and shrubs for rock garden

Conifers for the alpine slide "Colorado spruce Procumbens"

Conifers for an alpine slide, like shrub species, are a must, but not the main element of a flower garden. They play the role of a kind of scenery, creating signs of the naturalness of the mountain landscape, so there should not be many of them (maximum 2-3 species). The main qualities that you need to pay attention to when choosing are short stature, unpretentiousness and the correspondence of the appearance of the plant to the general idea of ​​creating a composition.

As a rule, when creating alpine slides, they are planted:

1. juniper. In natural conditions, it prefers well-lit mountain plains. When choosing, give preference to undersized, dwarf juniper species: Golden Carpet, Blue Carpet, Blue Chip. Low evergreen stands are especially decorative and attractive throughout the year, are undemanding to the composition of the soil and do not need special care;
2. decorative spruce. Pay attention to the undersized (height of an adult tree up to 1 m, diameter 1.5 m) Sizuya (Canadian) "Ehiniformis" spherical spruce. Differs in decorativeness and especially slow growth;
3. mountain pine. In rock gardens, you can often find the mountain pine Pumilio - a compact dwarf shrub of elfin trees. It is not demanding on the composition of the soil, but good drainage is necessary;
4. the cotoneaster is horizontal. Not a thorny shrub, often planted at the foot of stones or to form slopes. Distinctive characteristics - unpretentiousness, frost resistance, ease of care;
5. Boyd's willow. It is a slow-growing small tree with a curved trunk and small rounded leaves. Looks especially attractive in a composition with flowering ground cover or creeping coniferous species;
6. boxwood barberry (evergreen) Nana. The height of an evergreen dwarf shrub is up to 50 cm, the diameter of a dense, rounded crown is up to 80 cm. It is planted as an addition to formed groups or as an accent plant over a creeping juniper. It lends itself well to formative pruning, drought-resistant and frost-resistant.

The publication presents the most common types and varieties of green spaces when creating alpine slides, but you can always supplement this list with something of your own, individual. We hope that the material will be useful when creating an original decorative composition of stones, shrubs, conifers and flowering plants.

A rocky garden decorated with a flower garden is a fairly common element of many garden plots. The decorative appeal and ease of caring for the rock garden are the reason for the popularity of this element of landscape design. Rock plants for an alpine slide always visually enliven the stone composition, but at the same time retain the effect of a natural mountain landscape.

Basic rules for the selection of plants

It is not difficult to create a stone composition that will become a spectacular decoration of a suburban area. To do this, when choosing plants for a "rocky garden", you must adhere to the following recommendations:

• When creating a composition, preference should be given to compact and stunted forms of plants that correspond to the proportional dimensions of the slide itself.
• The choice of plants should be carried out taking into account their resistance to local conditions: soil, climate.
• When choosing a place for rooting, it is important to take into account the plant's attitude to sunlight: sunny areas are for light-loving representatives of the plant world, shaded areas are for shade-tolerant ones.
• The intensity of the growth and tillering of certain species is an important point, the lack of which can lead to the death of the “neighbors” of the rapidly growing plant.
• When creating compositions, it is important to take into account the characteristics of each of the plant inhabitants of the rock garden in order to avoid "unfavorable neighborhood". For example: very attractive and unpretentious to care for, chickweed, rezuha and aubrietta have a bad effect on their “neighbors”.
• It is advisable to plant a plant taking into account their "common interests": they should be combined with each other not only in appearance, but in the similarity of growing conditions, growth and development rates, and flowering rhythm.

The material on the choice of suitable stones for an alpine slide will also be useful:

When choosing perennial flowers for landscaping an alpine slide, you should focus not only on the location of the rock garden on the site, but also on the general style of the composition

The most effective combination is given by combinations of herbaceous perennials with shrub and tree-like forms, decorated with variegated rugs of flowering creeping species and juicy green strokes of evergreen and decorative leafy species

Examples of decorative varieties

Slow-growing woody plants and low-growing plants are ideal plants for a "rocky garden". Conifers for an alpine slide provide a highly decorative composition throughout the year.

In miniature stone compositions, creeping and dwarf forms of conifers look great: miniature Canadian spruce "Conica", black pine "Nana", scaly juniper "Blue Carpet", western thuja "Danica"

Combining conifers with different crown shapes and needles in one composition, you can significantly enhance the picturesque effect.

Among the deciduous shrubs for the alpine slide, the clear favorites are the decorative forms of barberry, cotoneaster, chaenomeles, spirea

Perennial carnation and eternally green Iberis can become a bright decoration of the top.

A fluffy carpet of Iberis will cover the top with snow-white flowers in May-June, cushion-like bushes of carnations will delight with abundant flowering and a pleasant aroma throughout the summer

The sun-loving edelweiss growing on the slopes of inaccessible mountains can become the main decoration of the rock garden, and the lush purple rugs of creeping thyme will attract many bees and butterflies with the honey scent of flowers

Middle tier of a stone composition

Plants that prefer sunny areas, but at the same time easily tolerate light shading, can decorate the middle part of the rocky hill. At the middle level, the soil moisture is higher. This makes it possible to expand the range of plants for decoration with moisture-loving beauties.

In May days, subulate phlox will sparkle with a riotous color of pink, blue and snow-white shades. A spectacular background for phlox can be a woolly chisel with pleasant to the touch silvery pubescent leaves

Noble silver shades also have three-veined anaphalis and Schmidt's wormwood.

Aubrietta is a versatile plant for landscaping, because in addition to its gorgeous flowering in the summer months, it has decorative foliage, the richness of color and attractiveness of which remains throughout the year.

At the end of May, the blooming beauty will be taken over by the cultural beauty, pleasing the eye with lush streams of pale pink, rich crimson and dark purple flowers

Well suited for the middle tier and unpretentious in the care of the sunflower monotonous dwarf shrub. In sunny areas of the tier, you can place all kinds of stonecrops, which are formed into pretty pillow-like bushes, decorated with miniature flower stars in the summer months

If you choose among the names of flowers for an alpine slide, which feel comfortable in our latitudes, then the slopes of the slide can be decorated with all kinds of bulbous, various, dense bushes, delicate alpine aster, primroses, primroses, beautiful autumn-flowering colchicum.

Rock garden foot

At the foot, plants are planted that like to grow in rich, moisture-saturated soil and are not afraid of shading.

Color accents at the foot of the composition can be set using compact saxifrage bushes and spike-shaped Liatris flowers

The lower tier is also allocated for the placement of tree and shrub plants. Often on this part of the hill, group plantings of miniature dwarf conifers, rhododendrons are placed.

The creation of an alpine slide is a fascinating process that requires not only imagination, but also care. Even one incorrectly selected plant can ruin the whole experience, disrupting the harmony between other inhabitants of the rocky garden. Therefore, you need to make the right choice from an extensive list of plants suitable for composing an alpine slide.

To make the alpine slide look attractive all season long, a place for planting plants should be selected, taking into account their flowering dates and the principle of tiering:

1. The top of the hill. It is more exposed to sunlight than the tiers below; therefore, it is rational to plant here plants that love sunlight and do not need a lot of moisture.
2. Middle tier- a place for plants that feel good in partial shade. Here, the soil moisture is average, so the middle of the alpine slide can be called universal: milking most flowers here are ideal conditions, which gives ample opportunities for choice.
3. The foot of the slide- the logical completion of the landscape composition. Plants planted here should be combined with the rest of the rock garden and choose those that love moisture and tolerate shade. After all, most of the sun's rays will go to the neighbors from above.

To ensure continuous flowering from early spring to late autumn, flowering plants should be selected according to the principle of rotation. Evergreen shrubs and dwarf trees will look great in winter, looking out from under the snow.

The creation of an alpine slide is a fascinating process that requires not only imagination, but also care

Plants placement in the rock garden

Before you start creating an alpine slide, you need to create a graphical diagram. It will reflect the general idea of ​​the composition, help new ideas appear and find possible mistakes even before planting the plants.

First of all, they represent stones. The largest ones should be at the base, and the rest should create a gentle slope so that there is room for soil and plant roots. You can experiment by coming up with terraces, sharp cliffs, a pond and other interesting solutions.

Here are a couple of example circuits:

1. Spicy slide on which they are located: the top will be occupied by oregano, on the middle tier heather, hyssop, monarda and medicinal will feel good, and basil, bright nasturtium and fragrant thyme will perch at the very base.
2. Coniferous slide: thuja, planted at the top, looks great surrounded by a creeping middle tier juniper (different types can be used) and a weeping cypress tree. The rock garden is completed by dwarf spruces or, the soil under which is masked by a carpet of saxifrage.

Each site owner has the opportunity to create a unique landscape slide design. After drawing up the scheme, you can start laying stones and soil, and then planting plants.

Gallery: plants for an alpine slide (25 photos)

What plants are suitable for an alpine slide (video)

Names and Descriptions of Perennial Flowers for Alpine Slides

Perennials form the basis of the alpine slide. Therefore, their choice must be approached responsibly: the appearance of the composition depends on which plants are chosen. You can add new colors and accents annually by planting annual plants.

Armeria seaside

A compact plant whose bushes form fluffy green cushions of narrow leaves. Numerous inflorescences (about 10) rise above them, which are lilac balls. Outwardly, Armeria looks like a decorative bow. Hardy plant, poorly responsive to high soil moisture. Therefore, Armeria will feel good on the top of the hill or on the slope of the middle tier.

Dicenter exceptional

This plant is popularly called "broken heart" for the original shape of the flowers. Usually dicenters are a large bush, but the Exceptional does not exceed 25 cm in height. It goes well with conifers and creepers, therefore it will be an excellent highlight of the rock garden. The green-gray foliage of the dicentra is exceptional similar to fern leaves, and flowers in the form of disconnected halves of the heart can be white or pink.

Dicenter exceptional

Gypsophila

The plant belongs to the carnation family... It has an erect or creeping stem with a few small lanceolate leaves, crowned with panicle inflorescences with small white (rarely pink) flowers.

Bulbous flowers

These are crocuses, daffodils, snowdrops and woodlands. They appear immediately after the gentle cover disappears, enlivening the landscape like a spring. For a change, you can plant varietal Greig tulips with beautifully shaped flowers reaching 30 cm in height, and Kaufman tulips.

Gypsophila

Rejuvenated

The stone rose, as it is also called rejuvenated, is distinguished by its excellent endurance. At the same time, the plant is very beautiful: its fleshy angular leaves are collected in rosettes. They can be both completely miniature and reach 10 cm in diameter. The color of the leaves ranges from gray-green to burgundy. The stone rose is suitable for decorating the slopes of an alpine slide. It looks impressively young, growing in the cracks between the boulders.

Primrose

Primrose (popular name for primrose) is a perennial herb. Its advantages: early onset of flowering, variety of shapes and colors of flowers, pleasant smell. The primrose is undersized (height 10-30 cm), when single planting forms a small bush with leathery leaves and bright inflorescences that attract bees. If you plant primroses close to each other, you get a variegated carpet.

Edelweiss

The people also call the plant a mountaineer. Loves the sun, and grows in the wild on well-lit mountain sides. Therefore, it will worthily take the central place on the hill - its top. In summer, edelweiss will surprise you with beautiful star-shaped flowers.

How to make an alpine slide with your own hands (video)

Creeping and ground cover plants for an alpine slide

Ground cover plants are an integral component of the alpine landscape on the site. They decorate the soil and make the hillsides truly alive.

For example, this:

1. Antennary (). A low-growing plant, the peduncles of which do not rise above 15 cm. It has small leaves with a silvery tinge and pubescence, creating a dense carpet on the ground up to 5 cm thick. The inflorescences-baskets are white, so the cat's paw cannot be called a bright plant that attracts attention. But it is very hardy!
2. Periwinkle... Forms an evergreen rug, blooming from May to September with delicate blue flowers scattered among the leathery small leaves. Suitable for growing in the sun and on a shady slope: the plant is unpretentious to light.
3. Alpine two-seed A low plant that forms a decorative turf, which does not exceed a height of 3 cm. In May and June, inflorescences up to 15 cm appear on it, which are brushes with numerous white flowers.
4. Saxifrage. One of the most popular ground cover plants. The time of their flowering falls in the middle of summer, and the color of different species differs: from snow-white to maroon. He loves light, so you need to plant on the western or southern slope of an alpine slide or closer to its top.
5. Aubrieta. Covers the ground with a lush carpet. It blooms profusely throughout the spring, and during this period it is covered with pink and purple flowers. Loves the sun and loamy soils, although it grows well in any soil.
6. Subulate phlox. The plant is 15–17 cm high, named for the narrow and pointed leaves at the ends. Shoots are densely covered with numerous inflorescences of pink, white or lilac color. Flowering begins in May-June and continues in early September.

Several types of ground cover plants coexist on one hill, if they are in harmony with each other. Given their flowering time, it can be done so that the soil will be covered with a bright carpet from spring to autumn.

Ground cover plants are an integral component of the alpine landscape on the site

Shrubs for alpine slides

It is not recommended to use deciduous shrubs in landscaping alpine hills, because their leaves stuck in gaps between stones are difficult to remove, and the composition will look untidy. Better to opt for small evergreen bushes.

For example, the branches of which grow parallel to the ground. They are decorated with small leathery leaves, which acquire a crimson color with the onset of autumn. After flowering, small red berries appear that remain on the branches all winter and give the cotoneaster a special charm.

An interesting solution would be to use boxwood barberry. Its bush grows no higher than 50 cm and represents a spreading crown of numerous branches. A very unpretentious plant that tolerates frost and drought well. Loves light, but when grown in the shade retains its decorative properties.

In landscaping alpine slides, it is better to opt for small evergreen bushes.

Dwarf plants for rock garden

An alpine slide is a repetition of a mountain landscape in miniature, so for naturalness you need to use small plants. Large bushes will take up half of the composition and will distract attention from other inhabitants of the rocky garden.

Dwarf herbaceous varieties can be used(for example, annual marigolds or alpine aster). It is desirable that their height does not exceed 30 cm. And, of course, dwarf conifers are regulars in rock gardens: spruce, pine, etc. Thanks to them, the slide really looks like a reduced copy of the alpine relief.

Conifers for an alpine slide

To create an alpine landscape, low-growing species and varieties of conifers are used:

1. Dwarf spruce, whose height does not exceed 60 cm. They lend themselves well to shaping and require almost no maintenance. The shape of the crown in different varieties can be spreading or pyramidal.
2. Juniper. Species look spectacular, the branches of which grow parallel to the ground. The needles of the plant often have a yellow tint, and the branches are decorated with small bumps. Juniper in the wild can be seen on the slopes of the mountains, so it is undemanding to the soil and grows well on rocks.
3. Thuja- a shrub or tree of a pyramidal shape, less often it is cut in the form of a ball.
4. Mountain pine variety "Pug" grows very slowly and by the age of 10 it has a crown with a diameter of up to 50 cm, which makes it possible to plant a tree on an alpine hill. The green needles have a pleasant blue tint.
5. Cypress: its decorative dwarf varieties will effectively decorate the rock garden slope. You can choose a bush with golden, silver or traditional dark green needles. And the Filifer cypress has hanging branches that looks like a coniferous cascade.