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| Lewisia cotyledon is a North American native that has been bred into some great colors, hot pink is one of them. Lewisias grow best in lime free gritty soil. | Gentiana acaulis is a classic alpine from the Alps. It is surprisingly tractable. This photo was taken an hour or two before magic time in the rock garden. |
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| Penstemon is a large American genus containing many good rock garden plants. Penstemon rupicola has not been so easy to please here. Interesting to note that this vibrant color, as well as the color of the Himilayan Poppy (Meconopsis blue) probably serves to cut through fog.... a not unlikely condition at the time of bloom in both native habitats. | Loiseleuria procumbens hails from the roof of New England among other places. The "Alpine Azalea" is a tiny mat forming shrub with loads of potential. I think highly acidic soil is part of the key to growing it in the garden. |
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| Petrophytum caespitosum is a small shrub that conforms tightly to the limestone upon which it grows. It can live a very long time and could be extremely difficult to re-site, so plan accordingly if you wish to plant one. North American native. | Astragalus simplicifolius and a few other tiny Vetches like it are rarely grown in rock gardens but, have a look, this little thing is pretty showy. North American native. |
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| Penstemon uintahensis is a nice one. It is appropriate for an alpine garden collection of small plants. | Primula rusbyi from the southwestern United States is a lovely and growable wildflower. |
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| Penstemon virens is widespread in the Rockies. It will also grow well in the east. | Ramonda serbica is a hardy relative of the African Violets often grown on windowsills. It is eastern European. |
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| Cacti require careful siting in order to thrive in our relatively wet climate. The blooms can be spectacular yet short lived.This is Echinocereus triglochidiatus. | This is a Coryphantha vivipara. |
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| Perhaps the ultimate combination of alpine compactness and growability comes in the Saxifraga species and hybrids. | This is a Saxifraga Frederici-Augusti. The genus is most varied in Eur-Asia. For the sake of simplicity: The Saxifragas generally prefer the north side of the rock, the cacti; the south. |
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