The Golden State: Where & How to Live, Secure, Visit, Enjoy and Thrive in California

Rockweler Rockgardens

And so my suggestion to the beginner is that he may well leave the discussion as to what is and what is not a rock plant to the experts and the botanists, and for materials for his own rock garden pick and choose where he pleases. He must keep in mind, nevertheless, that if he is thus going to let down the bars in one direction, they must be rigidly kept up in the other— no plants which do not look well and suitable should be admitted ; and on this basis some of the alpines themselves will be excluded.

WHAT PLANTS ARE SUITABLE?

What checks and balances, then, are to be used in determining what shall and what shall not be allowed in the rock garden? What must a plant do, or be, to pass the gardener's scrutiny, and be permitted to join the company of the elect?

There are, I think, three tests which, used together, will come very near to sorting out the desirables from the undesirables.

Size. To begin with, we come back to one of the principles already discussed; i.e., the necessity for maintaining proportion throughout the designing and planting of the rock garden.

We are speaking now of the plants which are to be set out among or against the rocks, not of such evergreens or shrubs as may be used as part of the design or structure of the rock garden, or in creating the setting for it. In a natural garden, where the stones may weigh many tons each, or in an artificial garden built on a very large scale, one may use taller plants, and still have them remain in proportion, than in a small rock garden such as the suburban home owner may have at his disposal. For the large rock garden, habit of growth and character will be the deciding points, rather than size.

For the small or moderate-sized rock garden, few if any plants should be employed which attain a height of over ten or twelve inches, and it is desirable to keep the majority of them well below this. Some shrubs and trees, not over three feet tall, and preferably not over two, may be allowed; but even so, they will require careful placing. A few, but very few, exceptions may be permitted without spoiling the general effect. Our native wild columbine, for instance, attains a eight of two feet; but it is preeminently a rock plant, and because of its graceful and dainty growth, does not give the impression of size and bulk which would be presented by most garden perennials which grow this tall. If these taller-growing things are kept down in the valleys, and not permitted on the heights, their beauty may be admitted without throwing the picture out of proportion.