Cold Comfort Corner: Rock That Rockery

At this time of year, many of our customers are looking for plants to fill big gaps in their gardens. But spare a thought for the small plants that can be just as satisfying to grow in their own way.

Perhaps you have got a small rockery, an area where you would like to develop a gravel garden or even some largish sinks you want to fill? Plants that are happy in dryish soil and like the sun are ideal for this sort of situation. If these areas are situated near your house, even better, because you will get the chance to appreciate their delicate features. Below, I have described some of my favourites that you might like to try.

Anthyllis Vulneraria Coccineum

Anthyllis Vulneraria Coccineum

If you love the wild yellow coltsfoot on the cliffs of Pembrokeshire, then this is a great plant to try. It is exactly the same as the wild version, but it has stunning bright orangey-red flowers. It will grow into a substantial spreading mat, making a lovely circle of flame-coloured flowers. It is hardy through the winter and each year will get bigger.

Silene Uniflora – Sea Campion

This is another wild flower that adapts really well to a rockery or gravel garden. It has pale, silvery leaves and white flowers in spring. It will cover a wide area and, even when not flowering, the foliage provides a beautiful, silvery sheen to your gravel. It’s completely hardy and shrugs off wind, rain and slugs.

Silene Urbium – London Pride

This is a much maligned plant that was hugely fashionable 30  years ago. It is actually excellent for a rockery where nothing much else likes to grow. It will spread strongly to cover a multitude of sins and in summer has a lot of pretty, foamy white flowers. It isn’t invasive and can easily be pulled out if it goes too far. It’s easy to grow and tolerant of sun and shade.

Osteospermum

This is a slightly bigger plant that tolerates dry conditions very well. Its leaf is unremarkable, but throughout the summer it will send out big daisy-like flowers with a remarkable dark purple reverse and a white face. It will not produce huge numbers of flowers, but just when you think it has stopped flowering, off it goes again.

Zaluzianskya Ovata – Night Phlox

This plant is impossibly pretty with white flowers which have dark pink backs. The flowers come out in sunlight and are also scented, particularly at night – hence the name. It is hardy in Pembrokeshire. The only thing that keeps it from being completely perfect is that it tends to get a bit woody as it gets older, but it redeems itself by being extremely easy to take cuttings from.

Why not give a few of these a try? They are all currently available at Cold Comfort Plants. For more details go to www.coldcomfortplants.com or feel free to email judy.rumbelow@gmail.com for more information.

Zaluzianskya Ovata – Night Phlox