Ground cover plants are cushion plants whose shoots remain very short and can often cover larger areas within a short period of time. Many of the high mountain species that are suitable as stone plants belong to this group, because their prostrate growth means an adaptation to the adverse living conditions in the mountains. At this point we will show you the most beautiful flowering ground cover plants for your home rock garden.
Which ground cover plants are suitable for the rock garden?
Popular flowering ground cover plants for the rock garden include Alpine edelweiss, alyssum, man's shield, cat's paw, goose cress, carnations, blue cushions, hornwort, gentian and cushion phlox. These ensure a variety of colors and different flowering times in the garden.
Alpine Edelweiss (Leontopodium alpinum)
In addition to the gentian, the edelweiss is the typical mountain plant and should not be missing in any classic rock garden. Gentians, saxifrages, houseleeks, bluebells and primroses are particularly suitable as plant neighbors.
Stonewort (Alyssum)
Alyssum is a well-known spring bloomer and forms dense cushions on the ground. The yellow flowers grow in dense umbels and should be cut back after flowering. A tried and tested variety, for example, is Alyssum montanum 'Berggold', which grows up to 15 centimeters high and produces a dense carpet of light yellow flowers.
Man's Shield (Androsace)
The white-flowering Androsace carnea or the purple-pink-flowering Androsace lanuginosa are particularly easy to keep. This cushion plant remains very low and forms rather loose grassy cushions, but is quite vigorous. However, the species Androsace helvetica and Androsace alpina, which are native to Switzerland, are somewhat difficult to care for and are therefore not recommended for beginners.
Cat's paw (Antennaria)
Cat's paws form dense, silver-gray carpets that are filled with delicate, strawflower-like flower umbels between May and June. They are particularly suitable for overgrowing flower bulbs.
Goose cress (Arabis)
The different types of goose cress are also a must for the rock garden. A particularly beautiful ground cover is the Arabis ferdinandi-coburgi 'Variegata', which grows up to five centimeters high with its white flowers and variegated white leaves.
Carnations (Armenia)
Carnations form dense, grass-like cushions over which white or pink flowers appear during the flowering period between May and July.
Blue cushion (Aubrieta)
This ground cover produces an abundance of flowers in blue, pink or red. Flowering time is between April and May.
Hornwort (Cerastium)
The white-flowering hornwort forms a silvery carpet and can quickly become a weed due to its strong growth.
Gentian (Gentiana)
Some gentian species form flat, either loose or dense cushions with shoots resting on the ground. The funnel-shaped flowers in blue, pink, purple, white or yellow can be seen between April and November, depending on the species and variety. Stemless gentian is particularly recommended as a ground cover, for example the varieties 'Coelestina', 'Frei', 'Alba' or 'JP Dark Blue'.
Upholstered Phlox (Phlox)
The cushion phlox with its needle-like, densely packed leaves forms dense, flat cushions. The pretty flowers appear between May and June. Phlox is one of the typical rock garden plants, although some dwarf species can also be cultivated very well in pots.
Tip
When planting the rock garden, make sure to choose plants with different flowering times. This makes the area look interesting all year round.
