Alpines

How to Grow Alpines

Alpines are delightful, compact plants known for their vibrant, abundant flowers. Originating from mountainous regions, they are naturally cold-hardy and easy to grow if provided with sharply draining compost and careful watering to avoid overwatering.

Their small size makes them perfect for containers and small gardens. With a wide variety available, they are ideal for building a diverse collection.

What are Alpines?

Alpines are plants that originate high in the mountains, usually above the treeline. They have to be tough to live in these extreme locations, surviving cold temperatures, lack of water, strong winds, harsh sun and thin, rocky soil. They tend to be low growing and produce bright flowers in a wide choice of colours.

Most alpines are perennials that live for several years, but there are also some alpine bulbs and even dwarf shrubs. 

Many small plants are often sold as alpines, even if they don’t originate in alpine areas.

Choosing Alpines

With their compact size, alpines are perfect for small gardens and containers, allowing you to create a vibrant display in minimal space. Their hardiness and resilience make them well-suited to cold, exposed locations.

Most alpines thrive in dry, rocky conditions, so they require gritty, free-draining soil. This makes them ideal for containers, gravel gardens, raised beds, rock gardens, rocky crevices, dry-stone walls, or spaces between paving.

Alpines dislike heavy, damp soil, particularly in winter. If your garden has heavy clay or tends to be waterlogged, it’s best to grow them in containers.

Always check plant labels to ensure your chosen alpines are suited to your specific conditions.

Where to Plant Alpines

Good drainage is essential for alpines. Always plant them in soil or compost that drains quickly and doesn’t retain water. Use raised beds, rock gardens, or gravel gardens, as these usually provide ideal conditions. Containers are also a great option if filled with free-draining compost.

Ensure containers have drainage holes and prevent blockages by raising them off the ground on ‘feet’ or bricks. In damp areas of the UK, it’s wise to move containers into the rain shadow of a wall over winter to protect them from excessive wetness.

Most alpines prefer plenty of sunlight, but there are varieties suited to shadier spots. Always check plant labels to ensure you select the right ones for your location.

When to plant

Alpines are best planted in Spring and Autumn however they can also be planted during summer months too but will require additional water when planting and check plants daily so they don't be come too dry.

Ongoing Care

Alpine plants are typically resilient and hardy, thriving in rockeries once they’ve established themselves. However, container-grown alpines will require repotting every few years into fresh soil to maintain healthy roots and overall plant vitality.

Watering

While many alpines are drought-tolerant in their natural high-altitude habitats, where temperatures are cooler, they may require more frequent watering in warmer climates like our gardens. This is especially true during hot, dry spells and for newly planted alpines in rockeries that haven't fully established. Container plants, in particular, are more prone to drying out, as the compost can lose moisture quickly.

Compost, whether homemade garden compost or commercial seed/potting compost, plays a role in water retention. Garden compost, made from decomposed plant matter, improves soil structure and water-holding capacity. Seed or potting composts, often peat-free, are used for growing seedlings or container plants and typically contain ingredients like loam, composted bark, coir, and sand, though you can mix your own.

As alpines mature and develop deeper root systems in the rockery, their need for additional watering diminishes.

Fertilisers

Fertilisers are concentrated sources of plant nutrients, usually in compact form such as pellets, granules, powders or liquids. They are used to improve plant growth and yields.

Weeding

Weed alpine collections regularly, otherwise these compact plants can quickly get overwhelmed by stronger-growing weeds. Keep the gravel mulch topped up to deter the germination is the process.

Mulching

Adding a layer of gravel or grit to the surface of the soil or compost offers several benefits:

• It prevents lower leaves from coming into contact with damp soil or compost, reducing the risk of rot.
• It enhances the aesthetic appeal, mimicking the plant's natural growing environment.
• It prevents rain from splashing mud onto flowers and leaves at ground level.
• It helps suppress weed seed germination.
• It acts as a deterrent to slugs and snails, which are attracted to the soft young shoots of alpines.

Deadheading 

Most alpines will flower for longer if deadheaded regularly, but this is often impractical with such small plants.
 

Pruning and training

Most alpines stay compact and don’t need pruning. More vigorous spreaders can be trimmed back lightly after flowering if necessary.