Rock Garden Plants (11 Perennials For Your Rock Garden)


If you have a rocky landscape or you like rock gardens, you’ll need some plants that thrive in such an environment. Luckily, there are plenty of low-maintenance, drought-tolerant perennials that will work great.

So, what are some good rock garden plants? Some good rock garden plants include American Alumroot, Betony, Carpet Daisy, Curly Sedge, Dwarf Plumbago, Echeveria, Heartleaf Ginger, Persian Onion, Peruvian Daffodil, Purple Prairie Clover, and Woolly Yarrow.

Some of these plants can tolerate intense cold (well below freezing), but some do not tolerate frost or freezing temperatures. Check the details below (USDA Zone Hardiness) before you decide on a plant.

In this article, we’ll take a closer look at 11 rock garden plants, all of which are low-maintenance, drought-tolerant perennials. You’ll find information on care including soil pH and moisture, required sunlight, mature size, and propagation methods.

Let’s get started.


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Rock Garden Plants (11 Perennials For Your Rock Garden)

There are lots of rock garden plants to choose from – here is a list of 10 to start:

  • American Alumroot
  • Betony
  • Carpet Daisy
  • Curly Sedge
  • Dwarf Plumbago
  • Echeveria
  • Heartleaf Ginger
  • Persian Onion
  • Peruvian Daffodil
  • Purple Prairie Clover
  • Woolly Yarrow

We’ll begin with Alumroot.

American Alumroot

American Alumroot (Heuchera americana), also known as Coral Bells or Rock Geranium, is a drought tolerant perennial that produces small, showy, bell-shaped flowers in spring or summer (they can be green, orange, purple/lavender, or cream/tan).

American Alumroot
American Alumroot (Corals Bells or Rock Geranium) produces bell-shaped flowers.

American Alumroot needs well-draining soil with moderate moisture levels. It is sensitive to over watering.

American Alumroot prefers full sun, but it can tolerate partial shade. It prefers slightly acidic soil (pH below 6.0).

American Alumroot can tolerate cold conditions. As an outdoor plant, it is hardy to Zone 4a (as cold as -30 degrees Fahrenheit or –34 degrees Celsius).

This plant grows to a height of 1 to 3 feet, with a width of 12 to 18 inches.

You can propagate American Alumroot by division or by seed.

You can learn more about American Alumroot from the North Carolina State University Plant Toolbox.

You can find American Alumroot from Forest Farm.

Betony

Betony (Betonica officinalis), also known as Bishop’s Wort, is a drought tolerant perennial that produces small, showy, bell-shaped flowers in summer or fall (they can be purple/lavender or red/burgundy).

Betony
Betony (Bishop’s Wort) is a drought tolerant perennial with bell-shaped flowers.

Betony needs well-draining soil with moderate moisture levels. It is sensitive to over watering.

Betony prefers full sun, but it can tolerate partial shade. It prefers slightly acidic to slightly alkaline soil (pH of 6.0 to 8.0).

Betony can tolerate cold conditions. As an outdoor plant, it is hardy to Zone 4a (as cold as -30 degrees Fahrenheit or –34 degrees Celsius).

This plant grows to a height of 18 to 24 inches, with a width of 12 to 24 inches.

You can propagate Betony by seed.

You can learn more about Betony from the North Carolina State University Plant Toolbox.

You can find Betony from Heritage Flower Farm.

Carpet Daisy

Carpet Daisy (Calyptocarpus vialis), also known as Lawnflower or Horseherb, is a drought tolerant perennial that produces tiny yellow-gold flowers in spring, summer, or fall.

Carpet Daisy needs well-draining soil with moderate moisture levels. It is sensitive to over watering.

Carpet Daisy prefers full sun, but it can tolerate partial or full shade. It prefers slightly acidic to slightly alkaline soil (pH of 6.0 to 8.0).

Carpet Daisy can tolerate somewhat cold conditions. As an outdoor plant, it is hardy to Zone 7a (as cold as 0 degrees Fahrenheit or -18 degrees Celsius).

This plant grows to a height of 6 to 12 inches, with a width of 6 to 12 inches.

You can propagate Carpet Daisy by division, root cuttings, or by seed.

You can learn more about Carpet Daisy from the North Carolina State University Plant Toolbox.

You can find Carpet Daisy from Campbell’s.

Curly Sedge

Curly Sedge (Carex albula), also known as New Zealand Sedge, is a drought tolerant perennial that produces copper brown flowers (although the plant is more desired for its leaf appearance).

Curly Sedge
Curly Sedge (New Zealand Sedge) is a drought tolerant perennial with copper brown flowers.

Curly Sedge needs well-draining soil with moderate moisture levels. It is sensitive to over watering.

Curly Sedge prefers full sun, but it can tolerate partial shade. It prefers slightly acidic to slightly alkaline soil (pH of 6.0 to 8.0).

Curly Sedge can tolerate cold conditions. As an outdoor plant, it is hardy to Zone 7a (as cold as 0 degrees Fahrenheit or –18 degrees Celsius).

This plant grows to a height of 10 to 18 inches, with a width of 12 to 18 inches.

You can propagate Curly Sedge by division or by seed.

You can learn more about Curly Sedge from the North Carolina State University Plant Toolbox.

You can find Curly Sedge from Forest Farm.

Dwarf Plumbago

Dwarf Plumbago (Ceratostigma plumbaginoides), also known as Leadwort, is a drought tolerant perennial that produces small, showy, blue flowers in summer to fall.

Dwarf Plumbago
Dwarf Plumbago (Leadwort) produces small, showy, blue flowers for your rock garden.

Dwarf Plumbago needs well-draining soil with moderate moisture levels. It is sensitive to over watering.

Dwarf Plumbago prefers full sun, but it can tolerate partial shade. It prefers slightly acidic to slightly alkaline soil (pH of 6.0 to 8.0).

Dwarf Plumbago can tolerate somewhat cold conditions. As an outdoor plant, it is hardy to Zone 5a (as cold as -20 degrees Fahrenheit or –29 degrees Celsius).

This plant grows to a height of 6 to 8 inches, with a width of 5 to 20 inches.

You can propagate Dwarf Plumbago by division, leaf cuttings, root cuttings, or by seed.

You can learn more about Dwarf Plumbago from the North Carolina State University Plant Toolbox.

You can find Dwarf Plumbago from Greenwood Nursery.

Echeveria

Echeveria, also known as Mexican Rosettes, is a drought tolerant perennial succulent that produces small, showy flowers that are pink, orange, or gold in summer to fall.

Echeveria
Echeveria (Mexican Rosette) is a succulent with showy flowers.

Echeveria needs well-draining soil with moderate to dry moisture levels. It is sensitive to over watering.

Echeveria prefers full sun, but it can tolerate partial shade. It prefers slightly to somewhat acidic soil (pH of 5.5 to 6.5).

Echeveria cannot tolerate cold conditions. As an outdoor plant, it is hardy to Zone 9a (as cold as 20 degrees Fahrenheit or –7 degrees Celsius).

This plant grows to a height of 1 to 12 inches, with a width of 2 to 12 inches.

You can propagate Echeveria by division, leaf cuttings, or stem cuttings.

You can learn more about Echeveria from the North Carolina State University Plant Toolbox.

You can find Echeveria from Succulent Market.

Heartleaf Ginger

Heartleaf Ginger (Hexastylis arifolia), also known as Wild Ginger, is a drought tolerant perennial that produces small, jug-shaped flowers (hidden under its speckled leaves) in spring (they can be red/burgundy or brown/copper).

heartleaf ginger
Heartleaf Ginger (Wild Ginger) produces small, jug-shaped flowers under its speckled leaves.

Heartleaf Ginger needs well-draining soil with moderate moisture levels. It is sensitive to over watering.

Heartleaf Ginger prefers partial shade or dappled sunlight. It prefers slightly acidic to slightly alkaline soil (pH of 6.0 to 8.0).

Heartleaf Ginger can tolerate cold conditions. As an outdoor plant, it is hardy to Zone 5a (as cold as -20 degrees Fahrenheit or –7 degrees Celsius).

This plant grows to a height of 6 inches, with a width of 12 to 24 inches.

You can propagate Heartleaf Ginger by division or by seed.

You can learn more about Heartleaf Ginger from the North Carolina State University Plant Toolbox.

You can find Heartleaf Ginger from TN Nursery.

Persian Onion

Persian Onion (Allium aflatunense), also known as Ornamental Onion, is a drought tolerant perennial bulb that produces small, showy, fragrant, purple or lavender flowers in spring.

Persian Onion
Persian Onion (Ornamental Onion) is a drought tolerant bulb with fragrant purple flowers.

Persian Onion needs well-draining soil with moderate to dry moisture levels. It is sensitive to over watering.

Persian Onion prefers full sun, but it can tolerate partial shade. It prefers slightly to somewhat acidic soil (pH of 5.5 to 6.5).

Persian Onion can tolerate severe cold conditions. As an outdoor plant, it is hardy to Zone 4a (as cold as -30 degrees Fahrenheit or –34 degrees Celsius).

This plant grows to a height of 24 to 36 inches, with a width of 4 to 6 inches.

You can propagate Persian Onion by division.

You can learn more about Persian Onion from the North Carolina State University Plant Toolbox.

You can find Persian Onion from Fedco Seeds.

Peruvian Daffodil

Peruvian Daffodil (Hymenocallis), also known as Basket Flower or Spider Lily, is a drought tolerant perennial that produces showy, funnel-shaped flowers in summer (they can be white, cream/tan, or gold/yellow).

Peruvian Daffodil
Peruvian Daffodil (Basket Flower or Spider Lily) produces showy, funnel-shaped flowers in summer.

Peruvian Daffodil needs well-draining soil with moderate moisture levels. It is sensitive to over watering.

Peruvian Daffodil prefers full sun, but it can tolerate partial shade. It prefers slightly acidic to slightly alkaline soil (pH of 6.0 to 8.0).

Peruvian Daffodil can tolerate extreme cold conditions. As an outdoor plant, it is hardy to Zone 2a (as cold as -50 degrees Fahrenheit or –46 degrees Celsius).

This plant grows to a height of 18 to 24 inches, with a width of 12 to 24 inches.

You can propagate Peruvian Daffodil by offsets in spring.

You can learn more about Peruvian Daffodil from the North Carolina State University Plant Toolbox.

You can find Peruvian Daffodil from American Meadows.

Purple Prairie Clover

Purple Prairie Clover (Dalea purpurea) is a drought tolerant perennial that produces small, showy, flowers in summer (they can be pink or purple/lavender).

Purple Prairie Clover
Purple Prairie Clover is a drought tolerant perennial that fits well in a rock garden.

Purple Prairie Clover needs well-draining soil with moderate moisture levels. It is sensitive to over watering.

Purple Prairie Clover prefers full sun, but it can tolerate partial shade. It prefers slightly acidic to slightly alkaline soil (pH of 6.0 to 8.0).

Purple Prairie Clover can tolerate cold conditions. As an outdoor plant, it is hardy to Zone 3a (as cold as -40 degrees Fahrenheit or –40 degrees Celsius).

This plant grows to a height of 1 to 3 feet, with a width of 12 to 18 inches.

You can propagate Purple Prairie Clover by seed.

You can learn more about Purple Prairie Clover from the North Carolina State University Plant Toolbox.

You can find Purple Prairie Clover from Prairie Nursery.

Woolly Yarrow

Woolly Yarrow (Achillea tomentosa) is a drought tolerant perennial that produces dense clusters of small yellow flowers from spring to summer.

Woolly Yarrow
Woolly Yarrow is a drought tolerant perennial with dense clusters of small yellow flowers.

Woolly Yarrow needs well-draining soil with moderate to dry moisture levels. It is sensitive to over watering.

Woolly Yarrow needs full sun. It prefers slightly acidic to slightly alkaline soil (pH of 6.0 to 8.0).

Woolly Yarrow can tolerate somewhat cold conditions. As an outdoor plant, it is hardy to Zone 3a (as cold as -40 degrees Fahrenheit or –40 degrees Celsius).

This plant grows to a height of 6 to 8 inches, with a width of 8 to 18 inches.

You can propagate Woolly Yarrow by division, stem cuttings, or by seed.

You can learn more about Woolly Yarrow from the North Carolina State University Plant Toolbox.

You can find Woolly Yarrow from Heritage Flower Farm.

Conclusion

Now you have a list of 11 low-maintenance, drought-tolerant plants that can find a home in your rock garden. If you live in an area with cold winters, pick ones that can survive your USDA Hardiness Zone!

I hope you found this article helpful.  If so, please share it with someone who can use the information.

For a themed garden, you could try a French garden, a Greek garden, or a Japanese garden.

If you have limited space to plant, you might also want to check out these articles:


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Jon M

Hi, I'm Jon. Let's solve your gardening problems, spend more time growing, and get the best harvest every year!

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