Crevice Plants

Dwarf forms of many rock garden plants make wonderful crevice plants.  Crevices are those intriguing gaps between rocks where plants can grow while seeming to defy all odds.  In rock gardens, we often intentionally create small spaces between rocks in which to tuck our plant treasures.  Alpines and other rock garden plants are ideally suited to grow in these spaces as they often do in nature.

  

Creeping thyme and other mat forming perennials were tucked in the crevices between the rocks of this water feature where they could spill over the rocks and enhance the naturalistic feel of the garden.


This small crevice garden was built with mounded well-drained soil in which we placed rows of thin, flat rocks pitched almost vertically to create planting crevices and niches. It is planted with alpines and other small plants including Sempervivum 'Spumanti', Draba sp., Alpine Toadflax (Linaria alpina), Greek Yarrow (Achillea ageratifolia), Lewisia pygmaea, Sedum hispanicum and Jovibarba hirta.

The red succulent rosettes of these Jovibarba heuffelli have grown to fill the narrow space between two rocks.  

  

The small Androsace brigantiaca which might be easily overrun by larger plants and is instead featured when planted in this narrow crevice .

Mat forming plants such as Azorella trifurcata 'Nana' creep down vertical spaces between rocks, stabilizing the soil on the steep slopes.

The green cushion forming Scleranthus uniflorus was intentionally planted in the crevice while the white flowering Androsace septentrionalis is a volunteer, creating an attractive combination.  Seeds naturally lodge in crevices and young plants are nurtured where rocks and soil meet.

  

This Sandia Mountain Heuchera (Heuchera pulchella) is striking in the crevice between two rocks.  When creating a rock garden, rocks are sometimes intentionally split to create a planting crevice. 

  

Hens and Chicks (Sempervivum sp) adapt well to crevice plantings and are sometimes planted alongside more delicate plants to provide shelter and help prevent soil erosion until the smaller plant is fully established.

Greek native Pterocephalus perennis grows happily among the rocks, creeping into the narrow crevice at front.

Pyrenean Saxifrage hybrid (Saxifraga x longifolia) grows in a narrow fissure between rocks.  The name Saxifraga means "rock breaker" in Latin and Saxifrages often grow in crevices in their native alpine habitats. 

Keep in mind that it is important to take into account the scale of the garden when selecting plants.  Large plants will quickly overwhelm a large space while small plants can easily get lost.

The following is a list of examples of plants that will work well in crevice plantings.  Plants that tolerate drought and a more sunny, exposed location are marked with an asterisk.

Achillea ageratifolia* - Greek Yarrow

Aethionema schistosum* - Persian Rockcress

Alyssum saxatilis*

Androsace sarmentosa

Antennaria media* - Pussytoes

Aquilegia jonesii – Columbine

Arenaria alfacarens* - Sandwort

Armeria sp* - Thrift

Asplenium scolopendrium ‘Laceratum Kaye’

Azorella trifurcata

Campanula sp - Alpine bellflowers

Cerastium alpinum ssp lanatum* - Alpine Mouse Ears

Chiastophyllum oppostifolium

Delosperma sp – Hardy Iceplant

Dianthus sp * - Rock garden pinks

Draba sp

Dudleya calcicola *

Erinus alpinus – Fairy Foxglove

Eriogonum sp (smaller) * - Buckwheat

Gypsophila aretoides *

Heuchera pulchella

Heuchera abramsii

Heuchera rubescens

Jovibarba sp *

Lewisia sp *

Linaria alpina,

Penstemon (smaller mat formers) *

Petrophytum caespitosum – Rock Spirea

Petropyhtum cinarescens

Primula saxatilis – Rock Primula

Raoulia australis

Saponaria – Soapwort

Silver and cushion Saxifrages

Scleranthus uniflorus

Sedum sp (smaller)*

Sempervivum sp* - Hens and Chicks

Silene acaulis – Moss Campion

Silene petersonii* - Peterson’s Catchfly

Telesonix jamesii

Thymus neiceffi and other creeping thymes*

Veronica oltensis – Thymeleaf Speedwell

  

* Drought Tolerant