Flowers and Herbs for a Rock Garden

Plant Combinations, Rock Garden Ideas, Herb Garden Ideas, Summer Gardens

This charming rock garden combines easy-to-grow annuals, perennials, and herbs in a pretty mix of forms and colors. Blooming for months, the bright orange flowers of Tagetes patula (Marigold) are beautifully combined with the variegated foliage of Origanum vulgare ‘Variegata’ (Oregano) and Vinca minor ‘Ralph Shugert’ (Lesser Periwinkle).

The highly popular Lavandula angustifolia ‘Hidcote’ (English Lavender ) adds a wonderful fragrance to the planting. This free-flowering variety is prized by most gardeners for its long-lasting and delightful scent as well as the fashion in which its dark purple flower spikes beautifully contrast with its blue-green evergreen foliage.

Thymus serpyllum (Creeping Thyme) is a dwarf, aromatic shrub forming a low cushion of tiny, pointed, glossy blue-green leaves. Blooming profusely from early to mid-summer, it features clusters of tiny, deep pink-purplish flowers. It is ideal for filling in crevices in rock gardens and a good choice for ground cover in sunny sites.

Rich in nectar, most plants attract bees, butterflies, and other pollinating insects.

All plants are deer-resistant, drought-tolerant, and low maintenance. Some make lovely fresh bouquets to be enjoyed at home and others will give a magnificent taste to your cuisine.

Garden Information

Hardiness	5 - 8
Heat Zones	5 - 8
Climate Zones	2, 2A, 2B, 3, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Exposure	Full Sun
Season of Interest	Spring (Late), Summer (Early, Mid, Late)
Maintenance	Low
Water Needs	Low, Average
Soil Type	Loam
Soil pH	Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage	Well-Drained
Characteristics	Dried Arrangements, Cut Flowers, Fragrant, Plant of Merit, Showy
Tolerance	Drought, Deer
Attracts	Butterflies
Landscaping Ideas	Beds And Borders
Garden Styles	Gravel and Rock Garden

Plants In This Garden

Tagetes patula Bonanza™ Deep Orange (French Marigold)

Free flowering, Tagetes patula Bonanza™ Deep Orange (French Marigold) is a compact, bushy annual boasting large, double-crested deep orange flowers, 2-3 in. across (5-7 cm). Blooming from late spring to late summer, the showy blossoms generously cover the finely divided aromatic foliage.

Hardiness	2 - 11
Plant type	Annuals
Seasons	Spring (Late), Summer (Early, Mid, Late)
Height	10" - 1' (25cm - 30cm)
Spread	6" - 8" (15cm - 20cm)

Origanum vulgare 'Variegata' (Oregano)

Noted for its lovely variegated foliage, Origanum vulgare ‘Variegata’ (Oregano) is a bushy, woody-based perennial forming a clump of wiry stems clothed with small, aromatic leaves edged with creamy-white. The leaves are pleasantly aromatic and good for cooking meat, fish and pasta.

Hardiness	4 - 8
Plant type	Herbs, Perennials
Seasons	Summer (Mid, Late), Fall
Height	10" - 1' (25cm - 30cm)
Spread	1' - 2' (30cm - 60cm)

Thymus serpyllum (Creeping Thyme)

Primarily used as a ground cover, Thymus serpyllum (Creeping Thyme) is a dwarf, aromatic shrub forming a low cushion of tiny, pointed, glossy blue-green leaves that turn bronze in the fall. Blooming profusely from early to mid-summer, it features clusters of tiny, deep pink-purplish flowers. Rich in nectar, they attract butterflies.

Hardiness	4 - 9
Plant type	Shrubs
Seasons	Summer (Early, Mid)
Height	2" - 3" (5cm - 8cm)
Spread	10" - 1' (25cm - 30cm)

Thymus vulgaris (Common Thyme)

Thymus vulgaris (Common Thyme) is a dwarf, aromatic shrub primarily grown as a culinary herb in herb gardens. It forms a low cushion of branching, woody stems clothed with small, linear to ovate, dark gray-green leaves. The leaves are highly aromatic and are frequently used fresh or dried as a seasoning in a variety of culinary applications

Hardiness	5 - 9
Plant type	Herbs, Shrubs
Seasons	Spring (Early, Mid, Late), Summer (Early, Mid, Late), Fall, Winter
Height	6" - 1' (15cm - 30cm)
Spread	6" - 1' (15cm - 30cm)

Origanum vulgare (Oregano)

Origanum vulgare (Oregano) is a bushy, rhizomatous, woody-based perennial with square stems clothed with small, aromatic, rounded to ovate leaves. Each leaf is covered with many glands, which, when broken, exude the familiar fragrance of this herb.

Hardiness	4 - 8
Plant type	Herbs, Perennials
Seasons	Summer (Mid, Late), Fall
Height	1' - 3' (30cm - 90cm)
Spread	1' - 2' (30cm - 60cm)

Lavandula angustifolia 'Hidcote' (Lavender)

Highly popular, English Lavender ‘Hidcote’ is a free flowering variety that is prized by most gardeners for its long-lasting and delightful scent as well as the fashion in which its dark purple flower spikes beautifully contrast with its blue-green evergreen foliage. Hidcote is a perfect choice for low hedges, edging or creating borders. Excellent for crafts and dried flowers as they retain their color.

Hardiness	5 - 9
Plant type	Herbs, Shrubs
Seasons	Spring (Late), Summer (Early, Mid)
Height	1' - 2' (30cm - 60cm)
Spread	1' - 2' (30cm - 60cm)

Vinca minor 'Ralph Shugert' (Lesser Periwinkle)

Award-winning Vinca minor ‘Ralph Shugert’ (Lesser Periwinkle) is an evergreen, trailing shrub with glossy dark green leaves adorned with narrow white edges, and large, bright violet-blue flowers from mid-spring to early summer. Borne over a long period, they continue to flower intermittently throughout summer into fall and are valuable for enlivening dark areas.

Hardiness	4 - 9
Plant type	Perennials, Shrubs
Seasons	Spring (Early, Mid, Late), Summer (Early, Mid, Late), Fall, Winter
Height	4" - 6" (10cm - 15cm)
Spread	1' - 2' (30cm - 60cm)

How Many Plants Do I Need?

Explore Great Plant Combination Ideas

Lavandula (Lavender) Origanum (Oregano) Tagetes (Marigold) Thymus (Thyme) Vinca (Periwinkle)

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Alternative Plants to Consider

Thymus x citriodorus (Lemon Thyme)

Lavandula angustifolia ‘Munstead’ (Lavender)

Thymus serpyllum ‘Pink Chintz’ (Creeping Thyme)

Origanum vulgare ‘Country Cream’ (Oregano)

Vinca minor ‘Bowles’s Variety’ (Lesser Periwinkle)

Tagetes patula ‘Hero Orange’ (French Marigold)

Marta Jonina, Shutterstock

While every effort has been made to describe these plants accurately, please keep in mind that height, bloom time, and color may differ in various climates. The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources.