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Plant list: Alpines
Alpines are generally small plants that like a spot in full sun and well-drained soil. But you don't need a rockery to grow them in. You can make a special bed or use containers
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Latin name: | | Gentiana |
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Common name: | | Gentian |
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Type of plant: | | Perennials, annuals, biennials. |
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Hardiness: | | Hardy |
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Flower colour: | | Blue and yellow |
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Leaf colour: | | Dark green |
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Height and spread: | | 5cm to 1m x 15cm to 1.5m (2in to 3ft x 6in to 5ft) |
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Description: | | Some are evergreen and most have beautiful blue flowers, often a tubular or trumpet shape. Some will tolerate shade and several require acid, humus-rich soil.
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Latin name: | | Dianthus |
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Common name: | | Pink |
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Type of plant: | | Perennial commonly grown as annual |
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Hardiness: | | Hardy |
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Flower colour: | | Pink and white |
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Leaf colour: | | Grey-green |
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Height and spread: | | 8cm to 10cm x 20cm (3in to 4in x 8in) |
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Description: | | Evergreen perennials that form cushions or matts of small leaves. The flowers are single, semi-double or double and are borne on the end of delicate stems. Most prefer a limey soil and all do best in full sun.
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Latin name: | | Saxifraga |
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Common name: | | Saxifrage |
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Type of plant: | | Perennial |
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Hardiness: | | Hardy |
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Flower colour: | | White and pink |
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Leaf colour: | | Mid-green |
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Height and spread: | | 10cm to 15cm x 10cm to 30cm (4in to 6in x 4in to 1ft) |
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Description: | | Evergreen perennials that form tight cushions of leaves above which the upward-facing flowers appear on tiny stems, giving the impression the whiole mound is in flower. Needs free-draining soil and shade from the midday sun.
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Latin name: | | Lewisia |
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Common name: | | Bitter root |
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Type of plant: | | Perennial |
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Hardiness: | | Hardy |
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Flower colour: | | Pink (or white) |
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Leaf colour: | | Mid-green |
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Height and spread: | | 4cm to 15cm x 10cm to 15cm (1.5in to 6in x 4in to 6in) |
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Description: | | One of the showiest plants for the rock garden, with large flowers and many petals appearing on stems above a rosette of leaves. The evergreen types need partial shade and most prefer acid soil.
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Latin name: | | Aubrieta |
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Common name: | | Aubrieta |
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Type of plant: | | Perennial |
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Hardiness: | | Hardy |
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Flower colour: | | Violet and pinky-blue |
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Leaf colour: | | Soft green |
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Height and spread: | | 5cm to 10cm x 20cm to 30cm (2in to 4in x 8in to 1ft) |
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Description: | | Vigorous evergreens, some are trailing, others form mounds. The leaves are rounded and the flowers are large, single and bell-shaped, and appear on short flowering spikes. Prefers full sun and well-drained soil.
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