Alpines
Alpines are a small herbaceous perennial plant that form a cushion or low spreading carpet of often tiny little pretty coloured flowers. Alpines are best used among gravel or rocks that mimic their natural habitat, and with the right growing conditions, will thrive without too much care and attention. At Thompson's we grow our own Alpine plants, so this means we can offer you greater choice of quality outdoor plants for your rockery gardens and containers. Our web shop offers only a small selection of the Alpine plants that we grow, to see our full range, please visit us at your local branch of Thompson's.
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How to Plant an Alpine Trough
Alpine troughs are compact, easy to plant and very low-maintenance, so they’re perfect for gardeners short on time or space. As the name suggests, alpine plants come from mountain regions, so they’re used to tough conditions. Planting an alpine trough is a great way to appreciate these fascinating plants and provide long-lasting interest for a pot on a patio or balcony. Here’s how it’s done.
What you’ll need to plant an alpine trough
- A shallow container or trough with good drainage holes
- Loam-based compost such as John Innes no 2
- Horticultural grit
- Rocks for decoration if available
- Alpine plants
How to plant an alpine trough
- Choose a sunny spot for your alpine trough; some alpines tolerate light shade.
- Ensure good drainage; elevate the trough on pot feet and cover drainage holes with pot shards or shade netting.
- Fill the trough with a 50/50 mix of loam-based compost and horticultural grit, leaving 2cm below the lip.
- Arrange rocks in the compost to mimic a mountainous landscape.
- Plant alpines among the rocks. Top-dress with grit to retain moisture, suppress weeds, and prevent mud splashes.
Caring for alpine plants
Most alpines are reasonably drought-tolerant but water the containers during long dry periods to stop the compost from drying out completely. Deadhead plants after they have flowered.
In winter, move the trough into the rain-shadow of a house to shelter it from excessive winter rain.
Plants for an alpine trough
There’s a wide range of alpine plants to choose from. Here are a few of our favourites:
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Armeria (sea thrift): Pretty pink flowers bob on slender stems above a mat of evergreen grass-like foliage. Deadhead faded flowers to keep it flowering.
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Phlox douglasii: A semi-evergreen creeping phlox with small leaves, covered in a mass of bright pink flowers in late spring and early summer.
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Sedum cauticola (stonecrop): A low, spreading sedum with small rounded blue-green leaves and clusters of small pink flowers in autumn.
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Saxifraga (saxifrage): Rosettes of fleshy leaves form mats, with clusters of small pink or white flowers float above the leaves on wiry stems. Good for shady spots.
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Lewisia: Colourful star-shaped flowers in late spring and early summer. It prefers damper soil to most other alpines.
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Sempervivums: Evergreen succulents come in a wide range of colours and sizes, forming rosettes of fleshy leaves. Very tough and easy to grow.
It's fun starting on a new project this summer. Gardening relieves stress and is healthy at the same time. We have a great range of alpines and other plants in our centre, so visit us soon and get some inspiration for your next gardening project!
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Shop Alpines at Thompson's
For a diverse selection of high-quality alpines, explore Thompson's webshop, where you’ll find a curated range perfect for starting your alpine trough. If you’re looking for more variety and personalized advice, visit your local Thompson's branch, where you can browse the full range and get expert guidance to help you choose the best plants for your garden.