April Plant of the Month - Spring flowering Alpines
Now that the Snowdrops and Daffodils and all the lovely early colour are starting to fade the next group of flowers are starting to emerge. The Spring flowering alpines are a wonderful group of plants that provide a great range of colour in the garden. Most people when they think of alpines, think that they need specialist greenhouses or purpose built rockeries, but most of our well known alpines have very little requirements, simply give them a sunny position in the garden and a free-draining soil and they will thrive.
Alpines are low-growing and provide excellent ground cover, and will fill out any spot in the sun given a chance. Think of Aubrieta growing in the crevices of walls or Saxifrages filling an old sink and you’ve got the idea.
We have some lovely varieties in stock at the moment, Saxifraga Touran Red gives a beautiful cushion-like effect with beautiful daisy-like flowers, it enjoys full sun and a free draining soil. Aubrieta is probably the best known of all the alpines and is a real performer in the garden. Masses of blue flowers appear in March and April and it comes in a range of shades of blue and some have lovely variegated foliage. Remember to trim this back after flowering to keep it tidy.
Arenaria Montana White Blizzard is another beauty as is Arabis Rose Delight. Primula denticulata is a lovely low growing primula with drumstick-like flowers and comes in white, pink and lilac. Dianthus deltoids Flashing Lights and Dianthus dianturi Twinkle would also be excellent varieties to consider.
Alpines need very little care which is what makes them so useful in the garden, a sunny spot and a free draining soil is the main requirement and they will give you years of enjoyment.
Alpines are low-growing and provide excellent ground cover, and will fill out any spot in the sun given a chance. Think of Aubrieta growing in the crevices of walls or Saxifrages filling an old sink and you’ve got the idea.
We have some lovely varieties in stock at the moment, Saxifraga Touran Red gives a beautiful cushion-like effect with beautiful daisy-like flowers, it enjoys full sun and a free draining soil. Aubrieta is probably the best known of all the alpines and is a real performer in the garden. Masses of blue flowers appear in March and April and it comes in a range of shades of blue and some have lovely variegated foliage. Remember to trim this back after flowering to keep it tidy.
Arenaria Montana White Blizzard is another beauty as is Arabis Rose Delight. Primula denticulata is a lovely low growing primula with drumstick-like flowers and comes in white, pink and lilac. Dianthus deltoids Flashing Lights and Dianthus dianturi Twinkle would also be excellent varieties to consider.
Alpines need very little care which is what makes them so useful in the garden, a sunny spot and a free draining soil is the main requirement and they will give you years of enjoyment.
Until next time!
Marianne Caplice, Horticulturalist & Garden Centre Manager at Powerscourt Garden Pavilion 
