Alpines & Succulents
Tough, Beautiful Outdoor Plants
If you’re looking for outdoor plants that are both eye-catching and low-maintenance, alpines and succulents are a perfect match. These plants may come from harsh environments, but they thrive in gardens when given the right conditions and they reward gardeners with unique shapes, textures, and seasonal colour.
Perfect for rockeries or creative containers such as an old kitchen sink, alpines are hardy, drought-tolerant plants that prefer well-drained, relatively poor soil and require very little maintenance.
We stock a wide range of alpines throughout the year, and they remain a firm favourite with our customers. Succulent varieties such as Sempervivums and Sedums are especially valued for their ability to cope with dry conditions, storing water in their fleshy leaves to see them through periods of drought.
What Are Alpine Plants?
Alpine plants naturally grow in mountainous regions where conditions are cold, windy, and often rocky, because of this, they tend to be:
- Compact and low growing
- Hardy and cold-tolerant
- Well suited to poor, well-drained soil
Popular alpine plants include saxifraga, alpine phlox, and dwarf campanula. Many alpines produce surprisingly bright flowers in spring and early summer, making them ideal for rock gardens, gravel beds, or raised borders.
Saxifraga
Saxifraga is a classic and much-loved plant in the alpine garden, forming neat cushions of evergreen rosettes, it nestles naturally into crevices between stones where drainage is good and soil is poor. In spring and early summer, delicate star-shaped flowers rise on slender stems above the foliage, bringing soft splashes of white, pink, or red that contrast beautifully with gravel and rock.
Pulsatilla
Pulsatillas are excellent plants for alpine gardens, valued for their early spring blooms, compact habit, and ability to thrive in well-drained, rocky soils. They produce delicate, cup-shaped flowers in shades of purple, pink, or white, often emerging before most other alpine plants and providing early colour in the garden.
What Are Succulents?
Succulents are plants that store water in their leaves, stems, or roots. This allows them to survive dry conditions and makes them excellent choices for gardeners who want drought-tolerant plants.
Outdoor-hardy succulents include:
- Sempervivum
- Sedum
- Delosperma
These plants are known for their sculptural forms and often change colour with the seasons, especially in cooler weather.
Why Alpines and Succulents Work Well Outdoors
Both alpines and succulents prefer similar growing conditions:
- Excellent drainage (this is essential)
- Plenty of sunlight
- Minimal watering once established
They are perfect for rock gardens, troughs, crevices, and sloped areas where water drains quickly, because they stay relatively small, they also work well in containers and small garden spaces.
Planting and Care Tips
Soil: Use gritty, free-draining soil, adding sand or gravel helps prevent root rot.
Sun: Most alpines and succulents prefer full sun or light shade.
Watering: Water sparingly, overwatering is the most common cause of problems.
Winter care: Many alpines are frost-hardy, and hardy succulents can survive cold winters if kept dry.
Designing with Alpines and Succulents
These plants shine when planted in natural-looking arrangements. Mix different textures, such as spiky succulents, cushion-forming alpines, and trailing plants to create visual interest. Stones and gravel not only look great but also help keep soil dry around the plants.
Alpines and succulents prove that tough plants can still be beautiful. With minimal care, they provide year-round structure, seasonal colour, and a unique character that stands out in any outdoor space. Whether you’re creating a rock garden or just filling a sunny corner, these plants are a reliable and rewarding choice.
