If your garden has rocky soil, you’ll want to find some good plants for rocky soil. Read on to find out what plants grow best in this type of soil. Some examples of plants that thrive in rocky soil are lavender, sedum, rhododendrons, and euphorbia. You can also try some herbs, like chives and dill, if you have some time.
Rhododendrons
When choosing plants for rocky soil, consider what conditions they will thrive in. Plants should be planted at least two to three inches deep, and the soil around the roots should be firmed. Water the plants thoroughly after planting to promote rapid root growth. Do not use mushroom manure or bonemeal in the soil, but use a liquid transplant fertilizer. In addition to adding nutrients to the soil, consider incorporating companion plants.
As rhododendrons are native to mountainous regions, they can grow in rocky soil. This is because dead plant debris decays and turns into humus, a porous organic substance with slight water retention properties. This substance enables rhododendrons to grow in rocky crevices and other unsuitable conditions. The roots of rhododendrons may grow several feet away from the soil, looking for moisture and nutrients within the humus.
If you want to grow rhododendrons in your garden, make sure they are protected from hot afternoon sun. While they will tolerate hot temperatures, they will not thrive in overly-hot soil. They prefer cooler alpine climates, low woodland settings, and rock-filled locations. If the soil around the roots becomes too hot, young rhododendrons may die. If you have rocky soil in your garden, try planting rhododendrons on the southeastern or eastern slopes of your property.
Euphorbia
Euphorbia is a native plant of Australia. Most varieties are drought-tolerant and deer-resistant, but some are invasive and require special attention. Euphorbias require pruning, so be sure to use gloves when working with them. Pruning them by hand is not recommended, as the sap can cause skin irritation and even be poisonous if consumed. Pruning this plant also helps preserve the sharpness of your pruning tools.
The Evergreen Spurge, also known as Tasmanian Tiger, grows to a height of three feet and is a beautiful plant in its own right. The flowers are surrounded by narrow, green bracts. These flowers bloom in early spring and last throughout summer. A good plant to grow in your garden if you’re considering a low-maintenance option, euphorbias will survive in even the most difficult soil.
Despite its guttural common name and elegant Latin name, the plant’s sap is toxic if ingested. Though it may cause minor skin irritation, it can also lead to severe dermatitis in susceptible individuals. For this reason, be sure to wear gloves when working with euphorbias, and never get the sap on your skin or eyes. If you’re not sure whether to plant euphorbia in your garden, check out the following plants:
Succulents
If you’ve got a rocky soil garden, consider planting an Aloe. This succulent has a distinctive architectural quality that will add architectural interest to your rock garden. Its long, slender stems are covered in yellow blooms, which are accompanied by a red heart-shaped fruit. Most Aloe bloom in winter, but some will bloom throughout the year. Euphorbia leucodendron is another succulent with architectural appeal. They’re heat and drought resistant and have shallow root systems. These succulents will need full sun, but they can also tolerate partial shade. Depending on the climate of your region, you might want to plant a Senecious in white or green leaves.
A rock garden should also be well-drained for optimal growth. Rocks don’t hold onto water and drain very well, which is crucial for succulents. The soil needs to have good drainage, but rock gardens shouldn’t be soggy or wet that their roots rot. You can install a berm or add a top dressing, such as pea gravel or decomposed granite. This will allow the succulent to maintain its moisture levels and avoid rotting.
Lavender
The flowering season of lavender varies, depending on the cultivar and variety. For instance, lavender angustifolia blooms one month earlier than lavender x intermedia. Other lavenders bloom only during the summer, while stoechas flower all year long under favorable conditions. The flowering season of lavender is typically late spring through mid-summer. Here’s some information to get you started.
Before planting lavender, make sure your soil is not too wet or too rocky. You’ll want to add some sand or grit to the soil, so it will drain well. But first, test the drainage of your soil by watering your lavender a few times. If the soil retains water, it will rot the roots. Soaking it too deeply may result in an overgrown lavender plant.
The drought-tolerant nature of lavender allows it to grow in rocky soil. In Michigan, it receives enough rain without needing any supplemental irrigation. Grand Haven, Michigan, for example, receives about 2.5 inches of rainfall each month from May through October. In contrast, lavender grows in the Provence region of southern France, where rainfall averages only 1.8 to three inches per year. In July, that’s the only month that lavender gets less than an inch of rain.
Baby’s breath
Once established, Baby’s breath needs little maintenance. It needs adequate light and drainage. There are usually no serious problems with pests or diseases with this plant. However, if you want to protect your new plant from ants, you should take some precautions. Here are a few things to do. First, water only when necessary. After that, baby’s breath will need only a light pruning once a year to maintain its shape.
Baby’s breath likes full sun. If it’s grown in rocky soil, it may need to be staked because it grows so quickly. After the danger of frost has passed, you can plant the plant. However, don’t wait until it’s too late. Plant it once the danger of frost is over. It will be more successful if you stake it in its early stages.
Seeds of baby’s breath should be planted in light potting mix. Cover them with seed starting formula. Start seedlings indoors about six to eight weeks before the last frost date. They will sprout leaves within 10-14 days. If you don’t have rocky soil, you can plant the seeds outdoors. If you don’t have the time to start a new plant, you can always propagate it by cuttings. The cuttings should be 3 to 5 inches long. You’ll need to replant them outside when they’ve developed two sets of leaves.
Wood spurge
Best wood spurge plants for rocky soil should be grown in partial shade and regular water. Its foliage is chartreuse or purple-green, and the flowers are insignificant. In the spring, it produces tiny white flowers. These plants have fine stems and whorls of leaves. The plant is also edible and is used to make wine. However, it’s not a great plant for rocky soil.
Wood spurge is a fast-growing herbaceous perennial shrub or ground cover. It has brilliant yellow/green blooms in the Spring. It grows in rounded mounds and produces new plants by runners. In the garden, plant plants 18 inches apart to encourage healthy growth. To grow in rocky soil, choose the best variety with the correct soil type and watering requirements. This plant is hardy in zones 3 through 10 and tolerates poor soil.
In Oregon, the wood spurge thrives in understory areas and is not susceptible to winterkill. It doesn’t lose its waxy, dark green leaves. Despite its similarities to wood spurge, this plant does reduce the diversity of forest ecosystems. In addition to being invasive, spurge laurel is a common weed in Oregon forestlands, and it’s been found to be highly damaging.
Sweet alyssum
In the spring, sweet alyssum seeds can be planted outdoors. This is not a good plant for rocky soil, as its short germination period means it may not thrive until fall. Sweet alyssum plants are small and grow four to six inches tall. They grow in mounds up to twelve inches in diameter, and can be grown alongside other plants.
If you want to grow your sweet alyssum in containers, you should plant them in a high-quality potting mix. You should give them six to twelve inches of space, and you can snip off the spent flowers after they finish blooming. Newer varieties don’t need deadheading, but older cultivars will need pruning back to half in midsummer. Even though sweet alyssum is a moderate feeder, you should add water-soluble fertilizer every month.
If your sweet alyssum is infested by aphids, you should remove them. The worms, which live in the soil, can cause the plant to wilt and stunt its growth. To remove aphids, clean the plant thoroughly and apply neem oil to the soil. Then, wait for the plant to recover.