Easy Reliable Alpines - Part 1

Rob Potterton, from Potterton's Nursery based in Lincolnshire shares his love of these alpine plants and advises on which to choose - 02 April 2026

I have written two articles in previous newsletters covering the ways to grow Alpines, Bulbs and Woodland plants in the garden.

The following article is a response to the many enquiries I have had since, requesting a list of suitable Alpines. The plants I have selected are hardy, easy and should be grown in well-drained soil with good light & ventilation.

 

Armeria juniperifolia ‘Bevans Variety’  

 

 

Armeria is a British native and can be found growing on coastlines & cliffs, it is commonly referred to as “Sea Thrift”, whilst not strictly an alpine it does enjoy the same conditions. The selected form produces a profusion of sessile dark pink, double flowers in spring & early summer. It forms an evergreen, slow growing tight hummock and is especially good for salt laden, seaside gardens.

 

Campanula garganica ‘Dickson’s Gold’

 

 

 

There are many Campanula species & hybrids, often too large for the alpine garden. This selection is a perfect for use in troughs, as the heart shaped, serrated edges leaves are yellow throughout summer and yellow-green in winter. It produces numerous pale, lavender-blue, starry flowers in June to August. Raised by Mr S Dickson of Ponteland, Northumberland.

 

Chrysanthemum weyrichii

 

 

 

 A fairly new plant to me but one that catches the eye. It has short, stiff 10 to 15cm stems bearing relatively large, lilac flowers in May & June, above a low growing, mat forming foliage. A truly dwarf & compact Chrysanthemum species for the alpine garden & rockery.

 

Draba rigida var bryoides compact 

 

 

 

One of my favourite alpines that slowly produces tight, compact domes of green rosettes, covered by many soft yellow flowers on short stems in April & May. Thoroughly hardy in a well-drained soil with good light. The photograph is of our 55 year old specimen in the garden.

 

Dryas octopetala ‘Minor’

 

 

 

Dryas are ground coverers, most species will cover vast areas but my selection is suitable for the rockery or gravel bed. It is slowly growing & compact, evergreen mats of shiny green, small, oak-like leaves covered with many large, beautiful white flowers on short stems in summer.

 

 Erigeron aureus ‘Canary Bird’ 

 

 

 

Tight mounds of dark green spathulate leaves below short 5cm stems of beautiful and numerous, light yellow daisy-like flowers from late spring. It can flower intermittently through till autumn and grows very well here in a hot, south facing raised bed.

 

Erodium ‘Fran's Delight’ 

 

 

 

We grow many fine, compact Erodium but this is my favourite as it can produce flowers from March through to October. Evergreen grey-green leaves with a succession of large, bright mauve-pink flowers with grey blotches on upper petals. Whilst compact for an Erodium it is never-the-less, a big plant by alpine standards and is only suitable for a rockery or border.

 

Gentiana acaulis

 

 

One of the gems of the Alps, a classical alpine with beautiful large blue, trumpet-shaped flowers up to 10cm tall, above a compact mound of dark green, evergreen, glossy leaves. Slow growing and long lived for a neutral to alkaline soil, good light and ventilation raised bed, trough, rockery, crevice or pot culture. Flowering in April to May and often throws a few more flowers in autumn as the temperatures cool.

Website: www.pottertons.co.uk