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

Rockweler Rockgardens

Lists Of Rock Plants

A NEW type of gardening, like any new subject, seems, when we first come into contact with it, more difficult than it really is. The beginner at rock gardening, receiving his first catalog of rock garden plants, or even scanning the list of rock plants in a general catalog, may feel somewhat overwhelmed by the number of imposing, unfamiliar names, most of which have no English synonyms.

Be not disheartened! As you proceed, the tangle will begin to straighten itself out. The successes will so greatly outnumber any probable failures that the latter will seem insignificant; and both your skill and your enthusiasm will grow with every new plant.

The lists which follow do not begin to cover all the rock plants available, but they provide ample material for a start. Those who wish to follow further the fascinating game of rock gardening will find many other flowers and shrubs described in such works as Mrs. Wilder's entrancing book "Adventures in My Garden and Rock Garden," and Mr. Durand's "Taming the Wildings."

LISTS OF ROCK PLANTS

TWENTY-FIVE EASILY GROWN, FOR GENERAL USE

(Those in CAPITALS are often used in the hardy border, but are excellent in the rock garden.)
Adonis: easily grown, buttercup-like plants.Ajuga: rampant growers; keep from small plants.

ALYSSUM: easy and satisfactory; many varieties; use several. Anemone: species are choice for the rock garden: (Japanese varieties too large).
ARABIS: easy and satisfactory; use several sorts. Aubrietia: Rockcress; fine for all purposes; easy from seed. Campanula: many dwarf sorts; indispensable for summer. Dianthus: many species; among the easiest and best of all rock plants. Ferns: all do well, but stick to small species except in large gardens. Gypsophila: include repans in your first order; try others. Helianthemum: the ''Rock Rose"; evergreen and indispensable for late summer color. IBERIS: Hardy Candytuft; also evergreen and shrubby; a sure bet; both these and the Rock Roses are easy from seed. IRIS: dwarf species, such as tectorum, cristat, gracilipes, pumila hybrids, and others.
Lychnis: alpina, and other dwarf sorts; easy from seed.