Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Petrophytum caespitosum

Family: (Rosaceae)

(P) to 4″. Rocky Mountains. Rosettes of blue-green, spathulate, densely downy leaves. Racemes of white, five-petalled flowers with up to 20 stamens give a fluffy appearance. Mat-forming, growing to 10 inches across in about 10 years. Sun. 3 & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Platycodon grandiflorus 'Nanus'

Family: (Campanulaceae)

(P) to 4″.  China, Japan.  An enchanting, dwarf form of the Balloon Flower.  Large, inflated, bell-shaped, violet-blue flowers on short, slender stems.  A perfect choice for the alpine trough or smaller rock garden.  Blooms mid to late summer.  Sun.  4 & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Alyssoides utriculata

Family: (Brassicaceae)

Subshrub to 14″. Bladder Pod. Mountains of Europe. Alpine with succulent, matte green leaves and panicles of fragrant, bright yellow, mustard-like flowers, which bloom with Phlox, Alyssum and Saxifraga moschata. Later on, interesting ovoid, inflated seedpods emerge and eventually fall apart to reveal their inner, translucent septum with seeds attached resembling a miniature Honesty plant. Sun. 4 & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Antennaria dioica 'Minima'

Family: (Asteraceae)

(P) to 2″. Half the size of regular Pussy-toes, this adorable little carpeting perennial is at home in the sunny rock garden, alpine trough or growing between stepping stones. It forms a flat mat of tiny silver edged, grey-green leaves. Short stems with tight terminal clusters of buds that resemble the toes of a cat, open to papery white flowers with a pinkish tinge. A billowing cloud of fluffy seedheads follows. Blooms in late spring. A tough and useful plant. Well-drained soil and sun. 3 & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Anthyllis vulneraria var. coccinea

Family: (Fabaceae)

(P) to 6″. Kidney Vetch. Basal rosettes of deep green, paddle-shaped leaves with very light margins. Flowers are clustered, each containing a pale yellow tube with red lips. Flower stalks to eight inches tall and pale purple in colour. Blooms in May and June. Self-sows. Sun. 2B & 3 & 7 for 4 weeks, then T1

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Aquilegia flabellata var. pumila

Family: (Ranunculaceae)

(P) to 12″. Japan. Short-spurred, pale lilac-blue flowers, often with paler or white markings. Rather compact growth and rounded, glaucous foliage. Sun. 4 & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Arabis ferdinandi-coburgii

Family: (Brassicaceae)

(P) to 4″. Rockcress. Southeastern Europe. An easy growing, mat-forming perennial spreading up to 12 inches wide. Flowering white in clusters in early spring on five-inch stalks. A plant for sun or part shade in well-drained soil. 4 & T1

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Draba rigida

Family: (Brassicaceae)

(P) to 4″. Armenia. Cushion-forming, rock garden plant with tiny, green foliage rosettes. Tiny, four-petalled, yellow flowers appear at the end of delicate, two to three-inch flower stalks. Performs well in a glass house, but also lives happily outside in our Zone 5 Tufa Bed. A cheerful April/May bloomer. Sun. 3 & T1

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Erinus alpinus var. albus

Family: (Plantaginaceae)

(P) to 4″. White Fairy Foxglove.  C & S Europe.  An adorable alpine. Evergreen mats are covered in spring with crisp, white, notched, hooded flowers in terminal racemes. A low maintenance rock garden classic. Sun 4 & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Erinus alpinus 'Pikos de Europa'

Family: (Plantaginaceae)

(P) to 4″. Spanish Alpine Foxglove. A pretty, carpeting rock garden plant for walls and crevices with small, terminal corymbs of light pink, lipped flowers. Tiny, dense rosettes of oblanceolate to crenate-serrate, sticky leaves. Irresistible self-sower. Sun. 4 & T2