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, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 2A, 2B, 3A, 3B |
Exposure | Full Sun |
Season of Interest | Spring (Late) Summer (Early,Mid,Late) |
Water Needs | Low, Average |
Maintenance | Low |
Soil Type | Loam |
Soil Ph | Alkaline, Neutral |
Soil Drainage | Well-Drained |
Characteristics | Dried Arrangements, Cut Flowers, Fragrant, Plant of Merit, Showy |
Tolerance | Deer, Drought |
Attracts | Butterflies |
Landscaping Ideas | Beds and Borders |
Garden Styles | Gravel and Rock Garden |
Great Plant Combination Ideas with Origanum - Oregano Great Plant Combination Ideas with Tagetes - Marigold Great Plant Combination Ideas with Thymus - Thyme Great Plant Combination Ideas with Lavandula - Lavender Great Plant Combination Ideas with Vinca - Periwinkle
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.
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) |
Water Needs | Low, Average |
Maintenance | Low |
Soil Type | Loam |
Soil Ph | Alkaline, Neutral |
Soil Drainage | Well-Drained |
Characteristics | Dried Arrangements, Cut Flowers, Fragrant, Plant of Merit, Showy |
Tolerance | Deer, Drought |
Attracts | Butterflies |
Landscaping Ideas | Beds and Borders |
Garden Styles | Gravel and Rock Garden |
Great Plant Combination Ideas with Origanum - Oregano Great Plant Combination Ideas with Tagetes - Marigold Great Plant Combination Ideas with Thymus - Thyme Great Plant Combination Ideas with Lavandula - Lavender Great Plant Combination Ideas with Vinca - Periwinkle
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Tagetes patula Bonanza™ Deep Orange (French Marigold)
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Origanum vulgare 'Variegata' (Oregano)
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Thymus serpyllum (Creeping Thyme)
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Thymus vulgaris (Common Thyme)
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Origanum vulgare (Oregano)
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Lavandula angustifolia 'Hidcote' (Lavender)
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Vinca minor 'Ralph Shugert' (Lesser Periwinkle)
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