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

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Sedum middendorfianum

Family: (Crassulaceae)

(P) to 8″.  Chinese Mountain Stonecrop.  East Siberia to North China.  A non-stop performer in all seasons.  Narrow, spathulate, leathery, deep green leaves with toothed tips whorl around showy red stems.  In early summer, the dense, semi-evergreen mats support multitudes of five-petalled, bright flowers ranging in colour from yellow to fiery orange-red.  Seedheads dry to a beautiful deep maroon, persisting for the remainder of the season, atop the spectacular autumn foliage show in brilliant shades of red.  One of our favourite, most reliable plants for the well-drained, full-sun garden.  4 & T1

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Gypsophila 'Franzii'

Family: (Caryophyllaceae)

Note: The nomenclature of Gypsophila ‘Franzii’ is dubious. However, this is the name we purchased it by and continue to use. (P to 6″). Alpine Baby’s Breath. Native to the mountainous regions of Europe. This rock garden treasure has a multitude of five-petalled, light pink flowers appearing in clouds over grey-blue foliage. Very easy and a “must have”. Spring to summer bloom, with a second bloom in late summer into fall, if deadheaded. Spreads nicely and is a great

(P to 6″). Alpine Baby’s Breath. Native to the mountainous regions of Europe. This rock garden treasure has a multitude of five-petalled, light pink flowers appearing in clouds over grey-blue foliage. Very easy and a “must have”. Spring to summer bloom, with a second bloom in late summer into fall, if deadheaded. Spreads nicely and is a great dripper over the edge of a trough. Enjoys full sun and well-drained soil. Sun. 4 & T2

 

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Gypsophila tenuifolia

Family: (Caryophyllaceae)

(P) to 8″. Caucasus. Charming alpine Baby’s Breath with many delicate, open sprays of small, white to pink, five-petalled blooms in summer. Tight mats of slender, deep green foliage. Needs a well-drained, limey soil. Ideal specimen for the rock garden. Sun. 4 & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Veronica spicata 'Corymbosa'

Family: (Plantaginaceae)

(P) to 9″. Many-Spiked Speedwell. Many dense spikes of deep blue, star-shaped flowers complement the dark green, toothed foliage. A long bloomer. Sun. 3 & T1

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Hieracium maculatum

Family: (Asteraceae)

(P) to 15″. West and central Europe. Spotted Hawkweed. Triangular, blue-green, leathery basal leaves with purplish mottling. Flowers are yellow and daisy-like to two inches in diameter on 10-inch stalks. May through July. Sun. 4 & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Hieracium villosum

Family: (Asteraceae)

(P) to 12″. Hairy Hawkweed. Mountains of Europe. Unusual rock garden specimen with oblong, silvery blue, woolly leaves and tall stems of bright yellow, ray flowers. Blooms June to August. Self-sows. Sun. 4 & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Leontopodium ochroleucum var. campestre

Family: (Asteraceae)

(P) to 12″. Central Asia to Tibet. The classic “Edelweiss” flower head has tight terminal clusters of small, white, star-shaped flowers surrounded by white, petal-like, woolly bracts. This species has a small, tufted, basal clump of linear leaves and upright flower stems with large, inch-wide, star-like, yellow centres. Grows well for us outside, on top of our tufa beds. Well-drained soil. 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): Lychnis viscaria

Family: (Caryophyllaceae)

(P) to 12″. Alpine Catchfly. British native. Low, dark, spathulate foliage. Compact clusters of deeply notched, dark rose-pink, five-petalled flowers. A “show-stopper” in June. Sun. 4 & T2