Plants Suitable for a Rock/Crevice Garden

Achillea oxyloba 

A type of a rock garden plant that has a carpet-growing/creeping habit. Grows best in humus-rich soil but will tolerate poor, gravely soil. Best grown under bright-filtered light/semi-shade conditions. Can be propagated by dividing the offsets.

photos courtesy of kadel.cz

Anemone x lesseri Wehrh.

Tuft-like in growth habit, the plant thrives in full sun, slightly rich, well-drained soil. It seeds in  winter and  grows  after 3 to 6 months.

Antirrhinum sempervirens

Known widely by the common name of 'snapdragons,' this decumbent-growing shrub is popular in crevice and rock gardens. Grown in full sun or light shade, it will grow best in well-drained soil but will adapt to poor soil. There are various species of the shrubs with different colored-blooms (pink, white, fuchsia).

Arnica cordifolia

The plant follows a tuft-like growing habit where it grows from a single base. The plant likes to grow in shady spots in the garden.  It thrives best in moist, humus-rich soil.

Aster souliei

A flowering, tuft plant, asters are very common in rock and crevice gardens. They grow abundantly in the alps, mostly in slightly humus-rich ground. Grown best in full sun. Flowers in the early summer to early fall.

Campanula bellidifolia

The plant thrives in the higher altitudes in the mountains in temperate zones. It blooms in late spring till summer.  Grows in dry, rocky terrain in full sun.

Coreopsis lanceolata

Grows in sunlit areas in very well-drained soil. Shows off golden-yellow blooms in  summertime. Leaves resemble spears (that explains the Latin suffix 'lanceolata').

Cistanthe tweedyi

This gorgeous plant grows from a rosette base (resembling a rose petal).  Flowers are pink and yellow observed at springtime. Thrives in sunny areas on crevices and rock gardens.

Dianthus haematocalyx

With purple-red flowers observed during summer, this cushion plant is excellent for covering up bare spaces in the garden but becomes a highlight in rock gardens. Propagated by seeds or through stem cuttings.

Alyssum daghestanicum

Alyssum is one of the favorites when it comes to the rock garden landscape. It is a very hardy plant and survives when grown in poor, rocky conditions just like its natural habitat up in the alpine mountains. It pops out from dry cracks in the rocks and blooms in spring. Stem cuttings are used to propagate this plant.

These are just a few of my favorites when it comes to rock garden plant ideas. Check with your local garden shops on what suitable plants to use in your particular hardiness zone.