Ivydene Gardens Stage 2 - Infill Plants Index Gallery:
Alpine - Alpine Shrubs and Conifers - Page 2 on Alpine Conifers

Botanical Plant Name

with link to
UK or
European Union
mail-order supplier for you to contact to buy this plant

Flower Colour

Sun Aspect of Full Sun,
Part Shade, Full Shade

with link to external website for photo/data

Flowering Months

with row in each month that it flowers in that colour in
STAGE 4A
12 BLOOM COLOURS PER MONTH INDEX GALLERY/

with link to
USA or
Canada
mail-order supplier

Height with Spacings or Width (W) in inches (cms)

1 inch =
2.5 cms
12 inches = 30 cms
40 inches = 100 cms

Foliage Colour


with row in relevant pages that it has foliage of that colour in
STAGE 4B
12 FOLIAGE COLOURS PER MONTH INDEX GALLERY
or
Background Colour nearest to middle-aged leaf colour from 212 foliage colours /

followed by
Soil Moisture:-
Dry,
Moist,
Wet

with link to Australia or New Zealand mail-order supplier

with data for rows in
STAGE 4C CULTIVATION, POSITION, USE GALLERY and
STAGE 4D
SHAPE, FORM INDEX GALLERY
Pages

Plant Type is:-

A for Aquatic
Ann for Annual / Biennial

Ba for Bamboo

Bu for Bulb

Cl for Climber

Co for Conifer

F for Fern

G for Grass

H for Herb

P for Perennial

Rh for Rhodo-dendron, Azalea, Camellia

Ro for Rose

Sh for Shrub

So for Soft Fruit

To for Top Fruit

Tr for Tree

V for Vegetable

W for Wildflower

followed by:-
E for Evergreen,
D for Deciduous,
H for Herbaceous,
Alpine for being an Alpine as well as being 1 of above Plant Type /

 

Acid for Acidic,
Alk for Alkaline,
Any for AnySoil

 

with links to
STAGE 2 INFILL PLANT INDEX GALLERIES
1, 2, 3 and
STAGE 3
ALL PLANTS INDEX GALLERIES
1, 2 pages
 

Comments

A plant of first-class merit, suggested as 'First Choices'

Adjacent Planting

Plant Associations

It is sad to reflect that in England so few gardens open to the public label their plants or label them so that the label is visible when that plant is in flower, so that visitors can identify; and then later locate and purchase that plant.

Few mail-order nurseries provide the detail as shown in my rose or heather galleries.

If you want to sell a product, it is best to display it. When I sold my Transit van, I removed its signage, cleaned it and took photos of the inside and outside before putting them onto an advert in Autotrader amongst more than 2000 other Transit vans - it was sold in 20 minutes.

If mail-order nurseries could put photos to the same complexity from start of the year to its end with the different foliage colours and stages of flowering on Wikimedia Commons, then the world could view the plant before buying it, and idiots like me would have valid material to work with.

I have been in the trade (until ill health forced my Sole Trader retirement in 2013) working in designing, constructing and maintaining private gardens for decades and since 2005 when this site was started, I have asked any nursery in the world to supply photos. R.V. Roger in Yorkshire allowed me to use his photos from his website in 2007 and when I got a camera to spend 5 days in July 2014 at my expense taking photos of his roses growing in his nursery field, whilst his staff was propagating them. I gave him a copy of those photos.

A choice of Dwarf Trees and Conifer

True alpine regions are beyond the tree line, and any specimens seen in nature are usually isolated, dwarfed by wind and weather and often distorted. This does not mean that it is wrong to introduce trees and conifers into the garden conception of the rock garden, but it does indicate that their use should be rather sparing, and preferably lower down than on the sky-line.

Of true dwarfs, there are few among the trees, and only 2 kinds are suggested here. Some of the loveliest trees for the rock garden can be drawn from the dwarf Japanese Maples, Acer palmatum vars., notable for their finely shaped and coloured foliage. Care is needed, however, for, although they are slow-growing, some of them can attain to 15-20 feet = 180-240 inches = 450-600 cms in time, and such specimens can spoil the rock garden with their spreading roots and overhanging shade.

Acer palmatum dissectum (Japanese Maple)

Supplier in UK
Supplier in USA - MrMaple.com is a family run Japanese Maple Mail-order nursery based out of Western North Carolina. We graft and propagate over 1000 selections of Japanese maples.

Dwarf Tree

For the smaller rock garden, it is as well to concentrate on the dissectum forms, which make mushroom-shaped small trees and will take many years to grow beyond 48 inches (120 cms). In the larger rock garden, it is possible to introduce the septemlobum forms, of which osakazubi is probably the finest for colour.

These dwarf maples, while normally hardy, do need positions well sheltered from the colder drying north and east winds, especially when planted in the east and north of Britain.

MrMaple is a member of the Maple Society and
International Plant Propagators Society

Acer palmatum 'Dissectum Garnet'

Français : Érable palmé (cultivar) à l'arboretum de la Vallée-aux-Loups (Hauts-de-Seine, France). By Liné1 via Wikimedia Commons.

Betula nana (Mountain Birch, Dwarf Birch in Birch Wildflower Family)

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Supplier in USA

Dwarf Tree

Betula nana is a genuine dwarf Birch of the northern reaches of Europe and Asia, usually growing with upright stems in bushy manner 24-48 inches (60-120 cms) tall, with tiny, dark glossy green rounded and toothed leaves, and will grow elegantly in a moist part of the rock garden.

There is also Betula nana 'Glengarry' - A dwarf, spreading Birch, golden leaves in autumn.

Miniforest.com in USA:-

"LiveScale©Choice Trees and Shrubs for Miniature Gardens and Bonsai Enthusiasts

Effective for Garden Railroads, Bonsai, Saikei, rock gardens, troughs and windowbox scenes. Our division of size is based on the International Conifer Guide. Miniature is under 3 feet in 10-15 years. Dwarf is under 6 feet in 10-15 years. Intermediate is 15 feet in 10-15 years. Large is more than 15-20 feet in 10-15 years. We have taken the liberty to apply this division to shrubs and broad leaf trees."

Betula nana photographed on a hike north of the village Upernavik Kujalleq and north-east of the mountain Kingigtoq, Greenland. By Kim Hansen via Wikimedia Commons.

Dwarf Conifers

The planting of dwarf conifers in the rock garden is a matter of personal taste, and when attempted, should be done with caution. The difficuly is that many so-called slow-growing and dwarf conifers do make surprising growth in 10-15 years, and when a conifer begins to dwarf the scale of the rock garden, it becomes a blot on the landscape.

The true dwarfs that remain dwarf can do much to enhance the rock garden scene. If however, the deceptive dwarfs - usually termed slow-growing in catalogues - are to be planted, it must be with the firm determination to root them out as soon as they begin to get too big. The perfect cone-shaped Picea albertiana conica is perfectly charming in its youth, but is no joke when it reaches 72-144 inches (180-360 cms) as it is capable of doing in 15-20 years.

Conifers may be broadly divided into those of

• upright growth, with cone, pyramidal, columnar or spire-like shape;
• the rounded, globose or bun-shaped; and
• the prostrate of low spreading growth, broader than tall.

Since it is, in part, for their shapeliness that they are grown, their placing should receive much thought. It is usually more effective to plant erect-growing conifers on ledges, in pockets or in terraces against a background of rock, rather than on the sky-line.

Conifers look better planted within the rock garden than out at the boundaries. In the case of real dwarfs, it is often effective to make a group planting either of a kind or of contrasting shapes and foliage colours.

The prostrate varieties of conifers can be effectively used to spread their branches over wide stones on ledges or terraces. Used low down in the rock garden, they help to make a rock garden or outcrop look as if it did actually grow out of the soil.

It is with these principles in mind that the following short list of suitable conifers is suggested. The average rock garden soil compost suits, where drainage is good. After planting, young conifers should have their foliage syringed once or twice daily when dry weather comes in the spring and early summer, for drying winds and drought are lethal to these plants.

Chamaecyparis lawsoniana v. ellwoodii. (Lawson False, Ellwood Cypress)

Supplier in UK
 

Beautiful,dense, fine feathery blue-grey foliage, slenderly pyramidal at first, more columnar as it ages. Often characterized as slow-growing, but can reach 6 feet = 72 inches = 180 cms in 7 years, and 180 inches (450 cms) in 20, so only really suitable for large rock gardens. Can be readily propagated, however, from cuttings, yielding replacements for overgrown specimens.

Chamaecyparis lawsoniana is poisonous.

Chamaecyparis lawsoniana: Female (pollen) cones. By Sten Porse via Wikimedia Commons.

Chamaecyparis lawsoniana minima aurea

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Supplier in USA

Chamaecyparis lawsoniana 'Minima Glauca'

Supplier in UK
 

Compact, broadly rounded and conical, with fans of soft gold foliage twisted sideways, growing to 72 inches (180 cms) tall, 84-96 inches (210-240 cms) wide at the base in time, so needs adequate room.
Chamaecyparis lawsoniana minima glauca is bluish-grey in foliage, and subject to the same defect of growing too big for most home rock gardens in time.

Chamaecyparis lawsoniana: Male (pollen) cones. By Sten Porse via Wikimedia Commons.

Chamaecyparis lawsoniana nana

Rounded conical, with rich green foliage, and slow-growing to 48 inches (120 cms).

Chamaecyparis 'Pygmaea Argentea'

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Supplier in USA

Low, semi-globose habit, with dark blue-green foliage, tipped silver when young; growing slowly to 24-36 inches (60-90 cms) with as much spread.

Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Caespitosa'

Supplier in New Zealand

Chamaecyparis obtusa nana

Supplier in UK
Supplier in USA

Chamaecyparis obtusa pygmaea

Supplier in UK
Supplier in USA
Supplier in Australia, who grows more than 600 varieties of conifers

Bun-shaped cushion of dense tufted rich green foliage, and a true miniature not growing more than 4-6 inches (10-15 cms) high in 12 years.
Chamaecyparis obtusa nana, compact and very dwarf, with rich green leaves in fan-like whorls; and
Chamaecyparis obtusa pygmaea, low-growing, with looser fans of bright green, are both good dwarfs, growing well under 12 inches (30 cms), even after many years.

First Choices

The purpose of the American Conifer Society is to promote the use of conifers in the garden and landscape and to educate the public about their care and preservation.

Chamaecyparis pisifera
'Filifera Nana'

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Supplier in Australia
Supplier in Canada
Supplier in Poland
Supplier in New Zealand
Supplier in Germany - Bruns has 320 highly skilled and experienced members of staff.
You will be inspired by our projects and references.
In our plant information section you can access descriptions of more than 4000 plant species.

Low, rounded, wide dome-like hummock of thread-like green foliage, growing very slowly to 12-18 inches (30-45 cms), with 15-21 inches (38-53 cms) spread at the base.

First Choices

Sawara Cypress var. 'Filifera Nana' (Chamaecyparis pisifera 'Filifera Nana'). By Athantor via Wikimedia Commons.

Chamaecyparis thyoides 'Ericoides'

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Supplier in USA

Pyramidal, compact, greyish-green foliage, tending to turn bronzy in winter; slow-growing but ultimately reaching 48-72 inches (120-180 cms), and 48 inches (120 cms) spread at base.

Cryptomeria japonica
albo-variegata

Good dwarf, roughly outlined bush form, with green foliage with leaves at tips of shoots white; 24-36 inches (60-90 cms) tall in time. Likes moist soil, out of hot sun.

Cryptomeria japonica
bandai-sugi

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Supplier in USA

Irregularly pyramidal, with greyish-green foliage retaining its colour the year round; 48-72 inches (120-180 cms) tall, 36-48 inches (90-120 cms) spread in 15-20 years. Likes moist soil.

Juniperus communis 'Compressa'

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Supplier in USA

Erect, closely packed, elliptical cone-shaped pillar of fine blue-grey foliage, taking very many years to reach 24 inches (60 cms), a height not often exceeded. Poisonous Plant.

First choice for trough gardens, and all small rock gardens.

Juniperus communis hornibrookii (Juniperus communis prostrata)

Supplier in UK
Supplier in New Zealand

Attractive, creeping mat-like variety, with grey-green foliage, rarely more than 12 inches (30 cms) high, but spreading up to 72 inches (180 cms) unless checked. Poisonous Plant.

First Choices

Juniperus horizontalis procumbens nana

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Supplier in USA

Flat, wide-spreading, fresh green foliage, rarely more than to 18 inches (45 cms) high, but can spread 72-96 inches (180-240 cms) wide.

Juniperus sabina tamariscifolia

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Supplier in USA

Prostrate-growing, slowly, with branches in wide-spreading tiers of feathery lightish green foliage. May reach 36 inches (90 cms) high with a 72-96 inch (180-240 cms) spread in 20 years. Poisonous Plant.

Picea abies 'Gregoryana'

Supplier in UK
 

Picea abies humilis

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Supplier in USA

Godd dwarf, dense, hummock-shaped, broad-based, with needle-like, grey-green leaves, radiating spirally on shoots; very slow-growing to 18 inches (45 cms) high, with up to 24 inches (60 cms) spread.
Picea abies humilis is even more dwarf and slow-growing, dense cushion-like growth.

First Choices

Picea abies 'Albertiana conica'

Pleasing conical shape, down to the gound, with closely packed heads of lightish green needle-like leaves, but can outgrow small rock gardens in 10-15 years, and look dominatingly out of place.

Pinus sylvestris 'Pygmaea' (Pigmy Scots Pine)

Supplier in Canada

Dwarf, low rounded bush form of the Scots Pine, with somewhat shaggy grey-green leaves, growing slowly to 6 inches (90 cms) in time.

Two Needle Pines by Swindon & District Bonsai

Pinus sylvestris 'Beauvronensis'

Supplier in USA

Pinus sylvestris beauvronensis is similar but taller - growing eventually to 54 inches (135 cms), with a spread of 60-72 inches (150-180 cms).

Taxus baccata 'Adpressa Aurea'

Supplier in UK
 

A dwarf, bush-like yew, with golden-green foliage, growing to 48-72 inches (120-180 cms), and spreading somewhat wider, in about 12 years.

Taxus baccata fastigiata standishii

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Supplier in USA

Although growing to 48-60 inches (120-150 cms) tall in time, remains a narrow pillar, less than 12 inches (30 cms) through, with bright gold foliage. Planted low in a rock garden, it is always attractive.

The following is from the Royal Horticultural Society advice on Yew:-
Taxus baccata ‘Standishii’ AGM: (female) is a slow-growing selection of ‘Fastigiata’. It is ideal for a sunny site, has a columnar habit with golden yellow leaves. It will eventually reach a height of 1.5m (5ft) by 60cm (2ft) wide. A useful cultivar for creating an ‘exclamation mark’ in the garden.

First Choices

Taxus baccata 'Fastigiata' in the Arboretum de Chèvreloup in Rocquencourt. By Matthieu Sontag via Wikimedia Commons.

Taxus baccata pygmaea

Supplier in UK
 

Dwarf, egg-shaped bush, with green foliage, growing to 18 inches (45 cms) high, 12 inches (30 cms) through.

First Choices

Thuja occidentalis ellwangeriana 'Rheingold'

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Supplier in USA

Conical, upright habit, with beautiful golden foliage that turns bronze in winter, growing to about 36 inches (90 cms) in 10 years. Easily propagated from cuttings.

First Choices

Thuja orientalis 'Minima Glauca' (Platycladus orientalis redirected from Thuja orientalis)

Supplier in Australia
Supplier in USA

Completely dwarf, globose in shape, with minute grey-green leaves, turning bronze in winter, up to 9 inches (23 cms) tall.

First Choices

Thuja plicata 'Hillerieri'

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Supplier in USA

Dwarf with densley packed branchlets, sometimes modified into slender, whippy tip shoots; growing slowly up to about 24 inches (60 cms).

The Rhododendron Species Foundation & Botanical Garden is in Washington, USA:-

"The Rhododendron Species Foundation & Botanical Garden is a non-profit membership organization dedicated to the conservation, public display, and distribution of Rhododendron species. Home to one of the largest collections of species rhododendrons in the world, the garden displays over 700 of the more than 1,000 species found in the wilds of North America, Europe, and Asia, as well as the tropical regions of southeast Asia and northern Australia. Conservation has come to be of primary importance in recent years with the destruction of Rhododendron habitat in many areas of the world."

Slow Growing and Dwarf Conifers from The Gardeners Guild - The Trade Network for Qualified Gardeners (The Gardeners Guild is a national trade network for professionally qualified gardeners. Our members are self-employed gardeners who offer garden and grounds maintenance as part of their services.):-

There are so many conifers to choose from it is difficult to know where to begin. With so much choice comes variety with many different shapes, colours and sizes. The cheapest conifers are often the conifers that grow most quickly but these can quickly get out of hand. Below is a list of dwarf and slow growing conifers ideal for specific positions in your garden where the size of the mature plant needs to be predictable.

Abies

• Abies balsamea - ‘Nana’
• Abies koreana - ‘Compact dwarf’
• Abies koreana - 'Nana'
• Abies koreana - 'Oberon'
• Abies koreana - 'Silberlocke'
• Abies nordmanniana - 'Golden Spreader'

Chamaecyparis lawsoniana

• Chamaecyparis lawsoniana - ‘Aurea Densa’
• Chamaecyparis lawsoniana - 'Cream Glow'
• Chamaecyparis lawsoniana - ‘Ellwoodii’
• Chamaectparis lawsoniana - ‘Ellwoods Gold’
• Chamaecyparis lawsoniana - ‘Ellwoods Gold Pillar’
• Chamaecyparis lawsoniana - ‘Ellwoods Pillar’
• Chamaecyparis lawsoniana - ‘Ellwoods Treasure’
• Chamaecyparis lawsoniana - ‘Gimbornii’
• Chamaecyparis lawsoniana - 'Gnome'
• Chamaecyparis lawsoniana - 'Golden Pot'
• Chamaecyparis lawsoniana - ‘Green Globe’
• Chamaecyparis lawsoniana - ‘Minima Aurea’
• Chamaecyparis lawsoniana - ‘Minima Glauca’
• Chamaecyparis lawsoniana - ‘Nana Albospica’
• Chamaecyparis lawsoniana - 'Nymph'
• Chamaecyparis lawsoniana - ‘Pygmaea Argentea’
• Chamaecyparis lawsoniana - ‘Silver Threads’
• Chamaecyparis lawsoniana - ‘Snow White’
• Chamaecyparis lawsoniana - ‘Springtime’

Chamaecyparis obtusa

• Chamaecyparis obtusa - 'Aurea'
• Chamaecyparis obtusa - 'Confucius'
• Chamaecyparis obtusa - ‘Karamachiba’
• Chamaecyparis obtusa - 'Kosteri'
• Chamaecyparis obtusa - ‘Nana Aurea’
• Chamaecyparis obtusa - ‘Nana Gracillis’
• Chamaecyparis obtusa - 'Nana Lutea'
• Chamaecyparis obtusa - ‘Templehof’
• Chamaecyparis obtusa - 'Tonia'

Chamaecyparis pisifera

• Chamaecyparis pisifera - ‘Boulevard’
• Chamaecyparis pisifera - 'Curly Tops'
• Chamaecyparis pisifera - 'Devon Cream'
• Chamaecyparis pisifera - 'Honiton Lace'
• Chamaecyparis pisifera - ‘Nana’
• Chamaecyparis pisifera - ‘Nana Aureovariegata’
• Chamaecyparis pisifera - 'Plumosa Aurea Nana'
• Chamaecyparis pisifera - 'Compressa'
• Chamaecyparis pisifera -‘Plumosa Juniperoides’
• Chamaecyparis pisifera - ‘Sungold’

Chamaecyparis thoides

• Chamaecyparis thyoides - ‘Andelyensis’
• Chamaecyparis thyoides - ‘Rubicon’
• Chamaecyparis thyoides - 'Top Point'

Cryptomeria japonica

• Cryptomeria japonica - 'Compressa'
• Cryptomeria japonica - ‘Golden Promise’
• Cryptomeria japonica - ‘Vilmoriniana’

Juniperus chinensis

• Juniperus chinensis - ‘Pyramidalis’

Juniperus communis

• Juniperus communis - 'Brynhyfryd Gold'
• Juniperus communis- ‘Compressa’
• Juniperus communis - ’Gold Cone’

Juniperus Squamata

• Juniperus squamata - 'Blue Star'

Picea abies

• Picea abies ‘Hystrix'
• Picea abies ‘Little Gem'
• Picea abies - ‘Nidiformis’
• Picea abies - ‘Remontii’

Picea glauca

• Picea glauca - 'Alberta Blue'
• Picea glauca - ‘Albertiana Conica’
• Picea glauca ‘Albertiana Globe’
• Picea glauca - 'JW Daisy's White'
• Picea glauca - 'Laurin'
• Picea glauca - 'Sanders Blue'

Picea mariana

• Picea mariana - 'Nana'

Picea Pungens

• Picea Pungens - 'Globosa'

Pinus densiflora

• Pinus densiflora - 'Alice Verdake'
• Pinus densiflora - ‘Umbraculifera’

Pinus leucodermis

• Pinus leucodermis - ‘Compact Gem’
• Pinus leucodermis - 'Smidtii'

Pinus mugo

• Pinus mugo - ‘Gnom’
• Pinus mugo - 'Hibernica'
• Pinus mugo - 'Humpy'
• Pinus mugo - 'Lodge Hill'
• Pinus mugo - ‘Mops’
• Pinus mugo - 'Ophir'
• Pinus mugo - 'Pumilo'

Pinus parviflora

• Pinus parviflora - ‘Adcocks Dwarf’
• Pinus parviflora - ‘Glauca’

Pinus sylvestrus

• Pinus sylvestrus - ‘Fastigiata’

Podocarpus

• Podocarpus - ‘Blaze’
• Podocarpus - ‘County Park Fire’
• Podocarpus - ‘Cover Girl’
• Podocarpus - ‘Kilworth Cream’
• Podocarpus - 'Otari'
• Podocarpus - 'Prince'
• Podocarpus - ‘Red Tip’

Taxus baccata

• Taxus baccata - ‘Aureomarginata’
• Taxus baccata - ‘Fastigiata Aurea’

Thuja occidentalis

• Thuja occidentalis - 'Amber Glow'
• Thuja occidentalis - ‘Danica’
• Thuja occientalis - ‘Hetz Midget’
• Thuja occidentalis - ‘Rheingold’
• Thuja occidentalis - 'Sunkist'
• Thuja occidentalis - ‘Teddy’
• Thuja occidentalis - ‘Tiny Tim’
• Thuja occidentalis - ' Trompenburg'

Thuja orientalis

• Thuja orientalis - ‘Aurea Nana’
• Thuja orientalis - ‘Autumn Glow’
• Thuja orientalis - 'Minima’

Tsuga Canadensis

• Tsuga canadensis - 'Fantana’
• Tsuga canadensis - 'Jeddolah’ "

Find Me Plants in the UK has the page with links to these Plant Top Tens Pages:-

"Welcome to FindMePlants at a glance plant listings. These listings exist as an add-on to our plant finder and provide the gardener with plant suggestions for very particular - usually difficult - conditions. Click on the links below to view our top ten planting suggestions. Or if you are looking for the best way to find the ideal plants for your particular garden, give our Plant Finder a try.

• Low maintenance tough shrubs for dry sandy soil & full Sun
•  
• Drought tolerant herbaceous plants for dry sandy soil & sunny exposed locations
•  
• Drought tolerant ground cover for dry sandy soil & sunny exposed locations
•  
• Acid tolerant shrubs for border & specimen planting
•  
• Acid tolerant herbaceous flowering plants for herbaceous planting & mixed borders
•  
• Acid tolerant ground cover plants for low borders and mixed planting
•  
• Clay tolerant herbaceous flowering plants for herbaceous borders & mixed planting
•  
• Clay tolerant trees and shrubs for heavy problem soils
•  
• Clay tolerant low maintenance ground cover plants for borders and problem areas
•  
• Shrubs that will tolerate shallow chalk or alkaline soils in exposed locations
•  
• Herbaceous plants and flowers that will tolerate shallow chalk or alkaline soils
•  
• Low growing ground cover plants that will tolerate shallow chalk or alkaline soils
•  
• Shrubs that can tolerate very exposed coastal planting conditions
•  
• Herbaceous flowers, ground cover and architectural plants that will tolerate exposed coastal planting
•  
• Fast growing shrubs that will provide privacy and quick screening
•  
• Low growing shrubs to cover the ground in full sun on hot dry soil
•  
• Evergreen low growing shrubs to cover the ground in part sun or shade
•  
• Shade tolerant shrubs for mixed border, woodland or specimen planting
•  
• Herbaceous flowering plants that will flourish in shade and suit borders or planting under trees
•  
• Ground cover and low growing plants for Shade
•  
• Shrubs with scented blossom for mixed borders, wall planting and as specimen plants
•  
• Herbaceous flowering plants and herbs with scented blossom
•  
• Climbers with scented blossom for training up walls or pergolas
•  
• Trees that will flourish in wet and occasionally water logged soil
•  
• Grasses for dry sandy soils and sunny hot planting locations
•  
• Herbaceous flowers and herbs with attractive scented foliage
•  
• Shrubs with impressive ornamental fruit for winter colour
•  
• Herbaceous plants that will tolerate wet and occasionally water logged soil
•  
• Drought tolerant herbaceous plants for dry soils in full sun
•  
• Herbaceous flowering plants for compacted and waterlogged heavy clay soil
•  
• Shrubs that will flourish on well drained acid soils
•  
• Shrubs that will tolerate heavy clay soils
•  
• Summer flowering nectar rich shrubs to attract bees and other insects
•  
• Trees that will tolerate shallow chalk or alkaline soils in exposed locations
•  
• Herbaceous perennials with aromatic foliage
•  
• Herbaceous perennials for winter foliage impact
•  
• Plants For Hot Dry Sun And Dry Droughty Soils
•  
• Trees & Shrubs For Acid Soils
•  
• Herbaceous Plants for Heavy Clay
•  
• Trees & Shrubs For Heavy Clay
•  
• Trees & Shrubs For Alkaline, Chalky Soils
•  
• Herbaceous Perennials For Chalky Alkaline Soils
•  
• Plants For Extreme Coastal Conditions
•  
• Plants For Screening
•  
• Drought Tolerant Trees And Shrubs For Dry Sandy Soil And Full Sun
•  
• Drought Tolerant Herbaceous Plants For Dry Sandy Soil & Sunny Exposed Locations"

Glendoick in Scotland with its Garden:-

"You can see one of the finest collections of rhododendrons and azaleas, primula, meconopsis, kalmia and sorbus in our woodland garden, peat garden and nursery.

Many of the Rhododendron and azalea species and hybrids have been introduced from the wild or bred by the Cox family and the gardens boast a huge range of plants from as far afield as Chile, Tasmania and Tibet.

Three New waterfall viewing platforms have been built in the woodland gardens. You can also take a glimpse into the fascinating world of hybridising in the walled garden where you'll find new as yet unnamed hybrids from the Glendoick breeding programme trial beds.

Peter and Kenneth Cox have written numerous books on rhododendrons and gardens. Kenneth Cox's book Scotland for Gardeners describes 500 of Scotland's finest gardens:-

PUBLICATIONS BY Peter Cox

• Modern Rhododendrons, Nelson 1956. Euan H.M. Cox and Peter A. Cox.

• Modern Shrubs, Nelson 1958. Euan H.M. Cox and Peter A. Cox.

• Modern Trees, Nelson 1961. Euan H.M. Cox and Peter A. Cox.

• The Royal Horticultural Society's Wisley Handbook Rhododendrons, Peter Cox. 5th Editions-first published 1971.

• Dwarf Rhododendrons, Batsford, 1973, Peter A. Cox

• The Larger Species of Rhododendron, Batsford, 1979, 1981, Peter A. Cox.

• The Smaller Rhododendrons, Batsford 1985 Peter Cox- cultivation information and species and hybrid descriptions.

• The Larger Rhododendron Species Batsford 1990. Updated version of The larger Species.

• Encyclopedia of Rhododendron Hybrids- 1988. Peter & Kenneth Cox. 

• Cox's Guide to Choosing Rhododendrons 1990. Peter & Kenneth Cox. 

• The Encyclopedia of Rhododendron Species Glendoick Publishing 1997 

• Seeds of Adventure ACC 2008 (with Sir Peter Hutchison). Lavishly Illustrated account of 20 plant hunting expeditions.

PUBLICATIONS by Kenneth Cox

• The Encyclopedia of Rhododendron Hybrids Batsford 1988 (With Peter A. Cox)

• A Plantsman's Guide to Rhododendrons Ward Lock 1989

• Cox's Guide to Choosing Rhododendrons Batsford 1990 (with Peter Cox)

• The Encyclopedia of Rhododendron Species Glendoick Publications 1997, 2nd ed. 2001 (with Peter Cox)

• Rhododendrons, A Hamlyn Care Manual. Hamlyn 1998. Translated in French, Dutch, Swedish, Danish.

• Riddle of the Tsangpo Gorges by Frank Kingdon Ward. New Edition, ed. Kenneth Cox, Antique Collector's Club 2001, 2007

• Glendoick, A Guide Glendoick Publishing 2005, 2010, 2014

• Rhododendrons and Azaleas: A Colour Guide Crowood Press 2005, 2014

• Garden Plants for Scotland Frances Lincoln 2008 (with Raoul Curtis Machin), New Edition 2015.

• Scotland for Gardeners Birlinn  2009   Garden Media Guild  Inspirational Book of the Year 2009, new edition 2014

• Fruit and Vegetables for Scotland  (with Caroline Beaton) Birlinn 2012  Garden Reference Book of the Year 2012, 2014"

 

My name is Innes Hogg and my wife, Nicola, and I run Craigiehall Nursery, a small nursery in southern Scotland specialising in alpine and rock plants. We operate our nursery entirely on our own, without help. We propagate and grow every plant we sell. We are growers, not traders.

We have been in business on this site growing and selling alpine plants for over 28 years. We have both been in horticulture for over 35 years and each of us has a Diploma in Horticulture. For many years we concentrated on growing alpine plants wholesale for other nurseries and garden centres but we now grow a selected range of plants for sale exclusively through this website. I think this makes us unique - for other nurseries a website is simply another revenue stream, for us, it is our only income. Please note - the nursery does not open to the public.

We grow a very wide range of alpine and rock garden plants - we have over 500 different varieties on the nursery. Some are quite common, others much less so, but they are all good plants. Some of our range can be more of a challenge to the grower and gardener but the majority stand a very good chance (with a little care and 'gardening') of succeeding in most gardens. We aim to grow plants that you will enjoy and have success with, not difficult, expensive rarities. Our online Plant Shop describes all our plants and offers tips on how to grow them. We don't grow large numbers of any single plant - we try to produce small, succesive batches so we can offer a wide range at all times.

We mostly propagate from cuttings - it's often the only way to raise all the better, named forms and all the variegated, coloured leaved plants which add colour to our gardens. This requires skill and great attention to detail - exactly what we are good at. We also grow some things from divisions and some from seed but avoid the very easy (and cheaper) seed-raised varieties that are widely available. 

When I say, "grow", I mean just that - we keep our own stock (mother) plants from which we take cuttings (or save seeds from) and root, pot, water and care for every single plant we sell. We do not buy plants to resell nor do we buy plants to simply pot up and sell. This means we know about every plant we grow and it allows us to offer a selection far beyond what is available in any garden centre. Everything we do is 'hand-crafted'.

Many nurseries specialise in certain plants - we don't, we like to offer a wide range of alpine plants (and only alpine plants). We have collected an excellent range of Helianthemum; we grow many of the better Saxifraga; we have a wide range of named Sempervivum which we grow to the highest standards and we always have a good range of honest (at long last an honest plant that does what it says on the tin!!!), reliable alpines for garden planting. We don't do cheap and cheerful. We are able to offer some plants which are often hard to find - Erigeron 'Canary Bird', our range of Saxifraga oppositifolia and an eclectic range of range of less readily available, but desirable plants. All packed up with great care and delivered your home.

We mix our own special peat-free compost for almost all our range. We do still use some peat - the few acid-loving plants we grow don't do so well in our peat-free mix - but we're working towards being entirely peat-free and we're almost there. We also include a good proportion of high quality, sterilised loam (soil) in our potting mixes - the plants like it and it really does improve the plants' ability to establish in the garden. Whilst on about 'green' issues, we minimise pesticide use and reduce, re-use and recycle wherever possible. If you order plants they may well arrive in reused boxes and packaging so don't be excited (or alarmed) if a box of Finest Scotch Whisky arrives! 

Everything we grow spends a good part of its life outside to give a good, well-grown, hardy plant, but given our location we can't over-winter every plant outside, though many will. We have several polytunnels we use but they are completely unheated, well ventilated even in winter and act only to keep the winter rain and snow off those plants which need it. It's not that the plants are in any way tender, but at the early stages of a plants' life they do need a certain amount of protection. That is why nurseries are called nurseries after all - to nurse things. We also like to send plants which are thriving, not simply clinging on to life just because they can and a little winter protection helps us do that for early spring orders.

And we're not in this to make a fortune. Just as well, eh?  We started off with nothing - and we still have most of it left!  

Happy gardening!

 Innes and Nicola Hogg - Trading in partnership as Craigiehall Nursery, Carnwath, Lanark, South Lanarkshire, ML11 8LH" 

"When the stones are in place and the soil filled in and firmed, it is timely to consider the foundation plantings. These are the plants that are likely to remain with us many years, even a lifetime, and by their permanence vitally and everlastingly influence the character and appeal of the garden and its setting.

In the rock garden these plants are the dwarf alpine shrub and conifers. They are in the nature of living furnishings, and

• by their shape and habit can do much to clothe the bare rawness of rocks,
• soften harsh lines,
• give a year-round interest to the rock garden scene,
• strike a note of accent here,
• lend harmony there, and
• provide floral or foliage colour too.

These plants are usually the first to go in;

• the deciduous shrubs may be planted from late October to March whenever the weather is mild enough, and the soil can be worked and trodden on without being puddled or unduly compacted;
• the evergreen shrubs and conifers may be planted in September to early November if the ground is ready for them, but otherwise should be planted in April-May just before their new growth starts.

The technique of planting is similar to that for other trees and shrubs. A planting hole should be made at least half as wide again as the present spread of the roots of the plant, with a rounded base like an inverted saucer. Most dwarf shrubs can be set with their lowest shoots or branches just resting on the soil surface, but conifers and plants on a single stem should be placed so that the soil reaches only to the soil mark on their stems made by the nursery planting.

Soil is sifted in and firmed with finger pressure to the roots, and pressed down when completed without making it ironhard. Evergreens and conifers provided with roots in a soil ball only need to have the outer wrapping of hesian or polythene removed. Plants out of pots need drainage crocks removed with a pointed stick, and any roots wrapped around the inside wall of the pot should be straightened out with a minimum disturbance of the soil. After planting, a careful soaking of the soil will help further to settle it to the roots."

Ivydene Gardens Stage 2 - Infill Plants Index Gallery:
Alpine - Alpine Shrubs and Conifers - Page 2 on Alpine Conifers

STAGE 2
INFILL PLANT INDEX GALLERY 1 PAGES

Site Map

STAGE 1 GARDEN STYLE INDEX GALLERY PAGES Links to pages in Table alongside on the left with Garden Design Topic Pages

Website Structure Explanation and User Guidelines

Plant Type
 

STAGE 2 INFILL PLANT INDEX GALLERIES 1, 2, 3 with its Cultivation Requirements

Alpines for Rock Garden (See Rock Garden Plant Flowers)

Alpine Shrubs and Conifers

The Alpine Meadow
Page 1
Page 2
Page 3

The Alpine Border
1, 2

Alpine Plants for a Purpose

The Alpines that Dislike Lime 1, 2

Alpines and Walls
Dry Sunny Walls 1a, b
Tops of Walls 2a, b
Dry Shady and Conifers 3a, b

Alpines and
Paving
1, 2

Sink and Trough gardens
1, 2

Aquatic
(Water Plants) for

Anti-erosion River-bank

Marginal Plants (Bog Garden Plants)
1, 2

Oxy-genating Weeds

Water Lilies

Floating Plants

Water-side Plants
and Plants for Dry Margins next to a Pond
1, 2

Wildlife Pond Plants

Annual for

----------------

Exposed Sites

Sheltered Sites with Green-house Annuals from 1916

Extra Poor Soil with Half-Hardy Annuals from 1916

Very Rich Soil with Biennials from 1916

Gap-filling in Mixed Borders with Hardy Annuals from 1916

Patio Con-tainers

Cut Flowers
1, 2, 3 Ever-lasting Flowers with Red Flowers from 1916

Attract-ing bene-ficial insects
1, 2

Scent / Fra-grance with Annuals for Cool or Shady Places from 1916

Low-allergen Gardens for Hay Fever Sufferers

Annual Plant Pairing Ideas and Colour Schemes with Annuals
1, 2

Low-Growing Annuals
1, 2

Medium-Growing Annuals

Tall-Growing Annuals with White Flowers from 1916

Black or Brown Flowers

Blue to Purple Flowers

Green Flowers with Annuals and Biennials from 1916

Red to Pink Flowers and Cut Flowers
Page
1, 2, 3

White Flowers
1, 2

Yellow or Orange Flowers
1, 2

Dec-orative Foliage

Moist Soil

Shade
1, 2

House-plants with Yellow Flowers from 1916

Edging Beds

Hanging Baskets

Vining Annuals

Bedding for

Spring Bedding

Summer Bedding

Autumn/ Winter Bedding

Bedding for Light Sandy Soil

Bedding for Acid Soil

Bedding for Chalky Soil

Bedding for Clay Soil

Black Flowers

Blue Flowers

Orange Flowers

Pink Flowers

Long Flowering

Coloured Leaves

Attract-ive to Wildlife including Bees, Butterflies and Moths

Purple Flowers

Red Flowers

White Flowers

Yellow Flowers

Multi-Coloured Flowers

Aromatic Foliage or Scented Flowers

Bedding Plant Use

Flowers with 2 Petals

Flowers with 3 Petals

Flowers with
4 Petals

Flowers with 5 Petals

Flowers with 6 Petals

Flowers with more than 6 Petals

Use in Hanging Baskets

Flower Simple Shape

Shape of
Stars

Shape of
Bowls, Cups and Saucers

Shape of
Globes, Goblets and Chalices

Shape of
Trumpets and Funnels

Shape of
Bells, Thimbles and Urns

Use in Pots and Troughs

Flower Elabo-rated Shape

Shape of
Tubes, Lips and Lobes

Shape of
Slippers, Spurs and Lockets

Shape of
Hats, Hoods and Helmets

Use in
Screen-ing

Use in
Window Boxes

Shape of
Stand-ards, Wings and Keels

Shape of
Discs and Florets

Shape of
Pin-Cushions and Tufts

Shape of
Rosettes, Buttons and Pompons

Use in Bedding Out

Use in
Filling In

Biennial for

Cottage and Other Gardens
1, 2

Cut Flower with Biennials for Rock Work from 1916

Patio Con-tainers with Biennials for Pots in Green-house / Con-servatory

Bene-ficial to Wildlife with Purple and Blue Flowers from 1916

Scent with Biennials for Sunny Banks or Borders from 1916

Bulb for
--------------
Explan-ation Intro to Bulbs
--------------
725 Blue, White, Yellow, Unusual Colour, or Red-Purple-Pink flowering Bulbs in each month they flower.

Indoor Bulbs for
Dec-ember
January
February

Indoor Bulbs for
March
April
May

Indoor
Bulbs for
June
July
August

Indoor Bulbs for Sep-tember
October
November

Bulbs in Window-boxes
1, 2

Bulbs in the Border

Bulbs natural-ised in Grass

Any Plant Type (some grown in Cool Green-house) Bloom-ing in
Dec-Jan
Feb-Mar

Any Plant Type (some grown in Cool Green-house) Bloom-ing in
Apr-May
Jun-Aug 1, 2, 3, 4

Any Plant Type (some grown in Cool Green-house) Bloom-ing in
Sep-Oct
Nov-Dec

Any Plant Type Blooming in Smallest of Gardens

Bulbs for the Bulb Frame

Bulbs in the Wood-land Garden

Bulbs in the Rock Garden

Bulbs in Green-house or Stove

Achi-menes, Alocasias, Amorpho-phalluses, Aris-aemas, Arums, Begonias, Bomar-eas, Calad-iums

Clivias,
Colo-casias, Crinums, Cyclam-ens, Cyrt-anthuses, Euchar-ises, Urceo-charis, Eurycles

Freesias, Gloxinias, Hae-manthus, Hipp-eastrums

Lachen-alias, Nerines, Lycorises, Pen-cratiums, Hymen-ocallises, Richardias, Sprekelias, Tuberoses, Vallotas, Watsonias, Zephy-ranthes

Bulbs in Bowls

Bulbs in the Alpine House

Hardy Bulbs

Aconitum, Allium, Alstroe-meria, Anemone 1, 1a

Amaryllis, Antheri-cum, Antholy-zas, Apios, Arisaema, Arum, Aspho-deline,

Aspho-delus, Belam-canda, Bloom-eria, Brodiae, Bulbo-codium

Calo-chorti, Cyclo-bothras, Camassia, Col-chicum, Con-vallaria,
Forcing Lily of the Valley, Corydalis, Crinum, Crosmia, Mon-tbretia , Crocus

Cyclamen, Dicentra, Dierama, Eranthis, Eremurus, Ery-thrnium, Eucomis

Fritillaria, Funkia, Gal-anthus, Galtonia, Gladiolus, Hemero-callis

Hya-cinth, Hya-cinths in Pots,
Scilla, Pusch-kinia, Chion-odoxa, Chiono-scilla, Muscari

Iris,
Kniphofia, Lapey-rousia, Leucojum

Lilium,

Lilium in Pots, Malvastrum, Merendera, Milla, Narcissus, Narcissi in Pots

Orni-thogalum, Oxalis, Paeonia, Ran-unculus, Romulea, Sanguin-aria,
Stern-bergia,
Schi-zostylis, Teco-philaea, Trillium

Tulip,
Zephy-ranthus

Half-Hardy Bulbs

Acidan-thera, Albuca, Alstroe-meri, Andro-stephium, Bassers, Boussing-aultias, Bravoas, Cypellas, Dahlias, Galaxis,
Geis-sorhizas, Hesper-anthas

Gladioli, Ixias,
Sparaxises, Babianas, Morphixias, Tritonias

Ixio-lirions, Moraeas, Orni-thogal-ums, Oxalises, Phaedra-nassas,
Pan-cratiums, Tigridias, Zephyr-anthes, Cooper-ias

Bulbs for Bedding

Plant each Bedding Plant with a Ground, Edging or Dot Plant for
Spring
1, 2
or
Summer
1, 2

Climber 3 sector Vertical Plant System with

----------
Choosing the right Plant

1a.
The Base -
Base of Wall Plants

1b.
Annuals

1c.
Herbs and Vege-tables

1d.
Cut
flowers, Cut Foliage

1e.
Scented flower or foliage

1f.
Foliage use only

2a. 1,2,3,4
The Prime - Wall Shrubs

2b.
Fruit trees

3a.
The Higher Reaches -
House-wall Ramblers

3b. 1,2
Non-House-Wall - Climbing Twiners

3c.
Non-House-Wall - Self-clinging Climbers

Raised
Bed for Wheel-chair Users

Plants for Wildlife-Use as well

Fastest Covering

Least prot-ruding growth when fan-trained

1, 2
Evergreen

Use as
Hedge

Exposed Positions

Use as Ground-cover

1,2
Ornam-ental Fruit

Scented Flowers

1, 2
Autumn Foliage Colour

Winter Bark

Winter and Early Spring Flowers

Summer Colour or Shape of Foliage

Edible Fruit

Needs Conserv-atory or Green-house

Large
Pots and Con-tainers
1, 2

Cut Flowers

Attractive to Bees

Climber - Simple Flower Shape

Stars

Bowls, Cups and Saucers

Globes, Goblets and Chalices

Trumpets and Funnels

Salver-form

Bells, Thimbles and Urns

Climber - Elabo-rated Flower Shape

Tubes, Lips and Straps

Slippers, Spurs and Lockets

Hats, Hoods and Helmets

Stand-ards, Wings and Keels

Disks and Florets

Pin-cushions, Tufts, Petal-less and Cushions

Umbels, Buttons and Pompoms

Site design and content copyright ©April 2016.
Top menus revised June 2018. Chris Garnons-Williams.

DISCLAIMER: Links to external sites are provided as a courtesy to visitors. Ivydene Horticultural Services are not responsible for the content and/or quality of external web sites linked from this site.  

Ivydene
Horticultural
Services

Scented Flora of the World by Roy Genders - was first published in 1977 and this paperback edition was published on 1 August 1994 ISBN 0 7090 5440 8:-
This comprehensive book looks at scented flowers and leaves of plants from all over the world. The work has been prepared to the standards of the Index Kewensis, and is filled with the most interesting facts about the scented flora of the world.

I am using the above book from someone who took 30 years to compile it from notes made of his detailed observations of growing plants in preference to
The RHS Companion to Scented Plants Hardcover – 16 Oct 2014 by Stephen Lacey (Author), Andrew Lawson (Photographer) ISBN 978-0-7112-3574-8 even though this is the only major reference work on scent and scented plants which is endorsed by the Royal Horticultural Society. See reasons for stopping infilling of previous Sense of Fragrance section on 28/07/2016 at end of Sense of Fragrance from Stephen Lacey Page.

The Propagation of Alpines by Lawrence D. Hills. Published in 1950 by Faber and Faber Limited describes every method of propagation for 2,500 species. Unlike modern books published since 1980, this one states exactly what to do and is precisely what you require if you want to increase your alpines.

STAGE 4C CULTIVATION, POSITION, USE GALLERY

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STAGE 1
GARDEN STYLE INDEX GALLERY

Fragrant Plants adds the use of another of your 5 senses in your garden:-
Sense of Fragrance from Roy Genders

Fragrant Plants:-
Trees and Shrubs with Scented Flowers
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

Trees and Shrubs with Scented Leaves
1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Trees and Shrubs with Aromatic Bark
1, 2, 3

Shrubs bearing Scented Flowers for an
Acid Soil
1, 2, 3, 4

Shrubs bearing Scented Flowers for a
Chalky or Limestone Soil
1, 2, 3, 4

Shrubs bearing Scented leaves for a
Sandy Soil
1, 2, 3

Herbaceous Plants with Scented Flowers
1, 2, 3

Herbaceous Plants with Scented Leaves
1, 2, 3

Annual and Biennial Plants with Scented Flowers or Leaves
1, 2

Bulbs and Corms with Scented Flowers
1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Scented Plants of Climbing and Trailing Habit
1, 2, 3

Winter-flowering Plants with Scented Flowers
1, 2

Night-scented Flowering Plants
1, 2

Scented Aquatic Plants
1

Plants with Scented Fruits
1

Plants with Scented Roots
1, 2

Trees and Shrubs with Scented Wood
1

Trees and Shrubs with Scented Gums
1

Scented Cacti and Succulents
1

Plants bearing Flowers or Leaves of Unpleasant Smell
1, 2
 

STAGE 2
INFILL PLANT INDEX GALLERY 3

Fan-trained Shape

From Rhododendrons, boxwood, azaleas, clematis, novelties, bay trees, hardy plants, evergreens : novelties bulbs, cannas novelties, palms, araucarias, ferns, vines, orchids, flowering shrubs, ornamental grasses and trees book, via Wikimedia Commons

Ramblers Scramblers & Twiners by Michael Jefferson-Brown (ISBN 0 - 7153 - 0942 - 0) describes how to choose, plant and nurture over 500 high-performance climbing plants and wall shrubs, so that more can be made of your garden if you think not just laterally on the ground but use the vertical support structures including the house as well.

The Gardener's Illustrated Encyclopedia of Climbers & Wall Shrubs - A Guide to more than 2000 varieties including Roses, Clematis and Fruit Trees by Brian Davis. (ISBN 0-670-82929-3) provides the lists for 'Choosing the right Shrub or Climber' together with Average Height and Spread after 5 years, 10 years and 20 years.