33 Best Rock Garden Plants That Thrive in Sun or Shade

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A rock garden—sometimes known as a rockery or alpine garden—is a planting area designed with a hardscape featuring a selection of gravels, rocks, or boulders. It typically includes a softscape of perennial and annual plants suitable for a rocky substrate, sometimes with no soil.

The beauty of a well-planned rock garden is the rocks and plants work together to enhance the total impact; it’s organized but, when done well, looks natural and not forced.

When arranging plants with rocks, you can get a natural look by not planting in rows or patterns; instead, use a variety of plants and different heights, like perennials, ornamental grasses, small shrubs, and creeping groundcovers to balance the hardness of the rocks. Also, consider giving the rock garden contrast with outcroppings of tall plants along a plant border, shoots of whispy texture, or a small burst of color with seasonal flowers.

“Rock garden plants” are not a botanical classification, although many are succulents. They share specific characteristics, including drought resistance, a preference for good drainage, and a compact growth habit. Here are some of the best plants for a rock garden, from small to large varieties.

Tip

To choose the right plants, be mindful of your rock garden conditions such as sun or shade, damp or dry. Group specimens with similar growing requirements.

• 01of 33Yellow AlyssumPin The Spruce / Evgeniya VlasovaYellow alyssum (Aurinia saxatilis) is a low-growing, spreading plant that sprouts clusters of small yellow flowers in April and May. It thrives in poor soil and is considered drought-tolerant.
  • USDA Growing Zones: 3 to 7
  • Color Varieties: Yellow
  • Sun Exposure: Full sun
  • Soil Needs: Dry, average to sandy, well-draining
• 02of 33Ice PlantPin The Spruce / Evgeniya VlasovaThe purple ice plant (Delosperma cooperi) is often used as a spreading ground cover, and it can flower all summer long. The plant is tolerant of heat and drought, though it will die if it does not have good drainage.
  • USDA Growing Zones: 6 to 10
  • Color Varieties: Red-purple
  • Sun Exposure: Full sun
  • Soil Needs: Average to poor, dry, well-draining
• 03of 33Angelina StonecropPin The Spruce / Evgeniya VlasovaAngelina stonecrop (Sedum rupestre ‘Angelina’) is a spreading ground cover that grows quickly to form a mat that is only around 6 inches tall. The more sun the plant gets, the more golden its foliage turns. It produces small, star-shaped yellow blooms in early to mid-summer.
  • USDA Growing Zones: 5 to 8
  • Color Varieties: Yellow
  • Sun Exposure: Full sun
  • Soil Needs: Average, dry to medium moisture, well-draining
• 04of 33Dragon’s Blood StonecropPin  Nahhan / Getty Images Some small rock garden plants are creepers, including dragon’s blood stonecrop (Sedum spurium). This plant can tolerate some drought, as well as shallow, rocky soil. Butterflies tend to like its tiny pinkish-red flowers.
  • USDA Growing Zones: 4 to 9
  • Color Varieties: Pink
  • Sun Exposure: Full sun
  • Soil Needs: Average, acidic, dry to medium moisture, well-draining
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• 05of 33Hens and Chicks (Sempervivum tectorum)Pin The Spruce / David BeaulieuHens and Chicks (Sempervivum tectorum) is a mat-forming succulent that produces rosette clusters. The parent rosettes are called the “hens,” and the smaller offshoot rosettes are the “chicks.” The plant grows well in rock gardens, as well as in stone walls or between garden stepping stones.
  • USDA Growing Zones: 3 to 8
  • Color Varieties: Red-purple
  • Sun Exposure: Full sun
  • Soil Needs: Average, dry to medium moisture, well-draining
• 06of 33Creeping ThymePin The Spruce / Evgeniya VlasovaCreeping thyme (Thymus serpyllum) is aromatic like an edible herb, but it’s mainly grown as a ground cover or to fill in space between stepping stones. The plant will cascade over rocks and low stone walls in a rock garden to soften the setting. It readily grows in nutrient-poor soil as long as it has good drainage.
  • USDA Growing Zones: 4 to 8
  • Color Varieties: Pink
  • Sun Exposure: Full sun
  • Soil Needs: Average, dry to medium moisture, well-draining
• 07of 33Blue Fescue GrassPin The Spruce / K. DaveBlue fescue (Festuca glauca) is an ornamental grass grown for its blue-tinted foliage and yellowish-green flowers. It produces its best foliage in full sun but can tolerate a little shade, too. The plant grows to a height and spread of about a foot.
  • USDA Growing Zones: 4 to 8
  • Color Varieties: Light green to yellow
  • Sun Exposure: Full sun
  • Soil Needs: Average, dry to medium moisture, well-draining
• 08of 33Snow-in-SummerPin The Spruce / Evgeniya VlasovaSnow-in-summer (Cerastium tomentosum) gets its name from its pristine white flowers that bloom in early summer and blanket the ground like a fresh snowfall. The plant is low-growing and can thrive in poor rocky or sandy soil, though it must have good drainage.
  • USDA Growing Zones: 3 to 7
  • Color Varieties: White
  • Sun Exposure: Full sun
  • Soil Needs: Sandy, dry, well-draining
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• 09of 33CandytuftPin The Spruce / Kara RileyCandytuft (Iberis sempervirens), with its showy flowers that bloom in mid-spring, is commonly used in rock gardens or as edging. Although its petals form a pretty pattern, the flowers tend to have a rather unpleasant aroma. Still, this plant is tolerant of drought and can even handle being grown in a little shade.
  • USDA Growing Zones: 3 to 8
  • Color Varieties: White, pink
  • Sun Exposure: Full sun
  • Soil Needs: Medium moisture, well-draining
• 10of 33AjugaPin The Spruce / K. DaveAjuga (Ajuga reptans) is a rapidly spreading, mat-forming ground cover, and it can become invasive under optimal growing conditions. On the plus side, it can fill in somewhat shady areas where other plants won’t grow. Avoid planting ajuga next to lawns where it can spread. Instead, keep the plant contained in a rock garden or even a pot.
  • USDA Growing Zones: 3 to 10
  • Color Varieties: Blue, violet
  • Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
  • Soil Needs: Average, medium moisture, well-draining
• 11of 33Creeping PhloxPin The Spruce / Evgeniya VlasovaCreeping phlox (Phlox subulata) is a ground-hugging plant that’s frequently seen in rock gardens or filling in crevices in stone walls, or cascading down slopes. It grows well in sandy or gravelly soil and can tolerate heat and drought better than some of the other phlox species.
  • USDA Growing Zones: 3 to 9
  • Color Varieties: Red, purple, pink, blue, white
  • Sun Exposure: Full sun
  • Soil Needs: Humusy, medium moisture, well-draining
• 12of 33Pasque FlowerPin The Spruce / Evgeniya VlasovaPasque flower (Pulsatilla vulgaris) is a low-growing, clump-forming plant. It is an early bloomer in the spring, bringing color to the landscape. It prefers a well-draining sandy or humus soil and can handle light shade.
  • USDA Growing Zones: 4 to 8
  • Color Varieties: Purple, white
  • Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
  • Soil Needs: Humus, gritty, medium moisture, well-draining
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• 13of 33Reticulated IrisPin The Spruce / Evgeniya VlasovaThe reticulated iris (Iris reticulata) is another early bloomer in the spring. As it’s a small flower, growing only about 6 inches tall, it’s best planted in masses to maximize visual impact. Moreover, it’s important that the bulbs rest in fairly dry soil during their summer dormancy, making the plant ideal for a well-draining rock garden.
  • USDA Growing Zones: 5 to 9
  • Color Varieties: Blue, purple
  • Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
  • Soil Needs: Average, medium moisture, well-draining
• 14of 33Wood SpurgePin The Spruce / Evgeniya VlasovaWith its purple-tinged foliage, wood spurge (Euphorbia amygdaloides) can make a colorful impact in a rock garden. The plant is tolerant of poor soil but needs good drainage. It can handle some shade, especially in the afternoon, but too much shade can cause the plant to lose its shape.
  • USDA Growing Zones: 6 to 8
  • Color Varieties: Yellow
  • Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
  • Soil Needs: Average, dry to medium moisture, well-draining
• 15of 33Moonbeam CoreopsisPin The Spruce / Letícia AlmeidaMoonbeam coreopsis (Coreopsis verticillata ‘Moonbeam’) is a perennial flower from the aster family. It thrives in poor sandy or rocky soil and can tolerate some drought, heat, and humidity. It’s popular as a border planting, but its growing requirements also make it a prime candidate for a rock garden.
  • USDA Growing Zones: 3 to 9
  • Color Varieties: Yellow
  • Sun Exposure: Full sun
  • Soil Needs: Average, dry to medium moisture, well-draining
• 16of 33LavenderPin The Spruce / Phoebe CheongWith its aromatic foliage and pretty blooms, lavender (Lavandula spp.) is popular and versatile in the garden. Use the plant in a rock garden, herb garden, or even as edging or a low hedge. It prefers light, somewhat infertile soil with good drainage.
  • USDA Growing Zones: 5 to 8
  • Color Varieties: Purple
  • Sun Exposure: Full sun
  • Soil Needs: Average, dry to medium moisture, alkaline, well-draining
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• 17of 33YarrowPin The Spruce / Adrienne LegaultA flowering perennial, yarrow (Achillea millefolium) is popular as an edging plant or in a rock garden. It grows well in average garden soil but can tolerate poor soil and drought. The plant can be an aggressive spreader, so it’s best in a contained area. A taller plant in the garden, it works well against structures such as fencing or planted in the rear of the garden bed.
  • USDA Growing Zones: 3 to 9
  • Color Varieties: White, yellow, pink, red
  • Sun Exposure: Full sun
  • Soil Needs: Lean, dry to medium moisture, well-draining
• 18of 33Autumn Joy SedumPin The Spruce / Leticia AlmeidaAutumn joy (Hylotelephium ‘Herbstfreude’) will tolerate loamy, well-draining soil, but it thrives in soil that’s sandy or gravelly. The plant doesn’t need much water and has excellent drought tolerance. It grows to about 2 feet tall and produces tiny flowers that go from pinkish to reddish in the fall.
  • USDA Growing Zones: 3 to 9
  • Color Varieties: Pink, red, purple
  • Sun Exposure: Full sun
  • Soil Needs: Average, dry to medium moisture, well-draining
• 19of 33Spiked SpeedwellPin The Spruce / Evgeniya VlasovaSpiked speedwell (Veronica spicata ‘Royal Candles’) is a compact perennial flower that’s good for rock gardens, foundation plantings, flower beds, borders, and more. The plant grows best with regular moisture and good drainage. But it does not like soggy soil.
  • USDA Growing Zones: 3 to 8
  • Color Varieties: Blue-purple
  • Sun Exposure: Full sun
  • Soil Needs: Average, medium moisture, well-draining
• 20of 33ColumbinePin The Spruce / Adrienne LegaultColumbine (Aquilegia spp.) is a perennial wildflower with many cultivars. Its flowers, which attract hummingbirds, are a fascinating shape said to resemble a jester’s cap. Once established, columbine is drought-tolerant, making it a suitable rock garden plant. Columbines spread easily from seed so cutting and removing the seed heads following bloom will keep this plant in place in the garden.
  • USDA Growing Zones: 3 to 9
  • Color Varieties: Red, pink, yellow, white, blue, purple
  • Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
  • Soil Needs: Average, medium moisture, well-draining
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• 21of 33ConeflowerPin The Spruce / Adrienne LegaultThe coneflower (Echinacea spp.) is a daisy-like perennial that is hardy and long-blooming. It’s adaptable to many growing conditions, including sandy, rocky, and clay soils. The plant is drought-tolerant, though it prefers some moisture in the soil. Many cultivars are available on the market today in a wide variety of bloom colors. Growing up to 3′ high, this taller plant also works well as background for smaller, low growing plants in the rock garden.
  • USDA Growing Zones: 3 to 9
  • Color Varieties: Pink, purple, red, white
  • Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
  • Soil Needs: Average, dry to medium moisture, well-draining
• 22of 33Purple Fountain GrassPin The Spruce / Autumn WoodPurple fountain grass (Pennisetum setaceum ‘Rubrum’) is an ornamental grass that is often grown as an annual outside of its hardiness zones. It grows best in full sun but can tolerate a little shade. Gardeners use purple fountain grass both as a standalone specimen plant, as well as in groupings for greater impact.
  • USDA Growing Zones: 9 to 10
  • Color Varieties: Purple
  • Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
  • Soil Needs: Average, medium moisture, well-draining
• 23of 33Blue Rug JuniperPin The Spruce / Autumn WoodBlue rug juniper (Juniperus horizontalis ‘Wiltonii’) is a ground-hugging needled evergreen known for its green to blue-green foliage. It thrives on sunny slopes and prefers fast drainage. The plant can tolerate a variety of soil types and growing conditions but thrives in soil that’s sandy and on the drier side.
  • USDA Growing Zones: 3 to 9
  • Color Varieties: Nonflowering
  • Sun Exposure: Full sun
  • Soil Needs: Average, dry to medium moisture, well-draining
• 24of 33Shasta DaisyPin The Spruce / Autumn WoodThe Shasta daisy (Leucanthemum x superbum) is a low-maintenance perennial flower. It blooms for most of the summer, adding appeal to borders, gardens, and containers. The plant tolerates a little shade in hot conditions, but wet soil can kill it.
  • USDA Growing Zones: 5 to 9
  • Color Varieties: White and yellow
  • Sun Exposure: Full sun
  • Soil Needs: Average, dry to medium moisture, well-draining
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• 25of 33Black-Eyed SusanPin The Spruce / Autumn WoodBlack-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) is a daisy-like perennial flower. It grows best in moist, organically rich soil but tolerates most conditions as long as it has good drainage. Because it blooms in its first season when planted from seed, the plant is often grown as an annual outside of its hardiness zones.
  • USDA Growing Zones: 3 to 7
  • Color Varieties: Yellow, yellow-orange
  • Sun Exposure: Full sun
  • Soil Needs: Average, medium moisture, well-draining
• 26of 33Perennial SalviaPin The Spruce / Krystal SlagleMost varieties of perennial salvia (Salvia spp.) prefer a sunny spot with good drainage. They can tolerate many soil types, including the conditions of a rock garden. As a bonus, salvia’s colorful flowers tend to attract many pollinators.
  • USDA Growing Zones: 4 to 10 (depends on variety)
  • Color Varieties: Pink, purple, green, blue, yellow, white
  • Sun Exposure: Full sun
  • Soil Needs: Average, dry to medium moisture, well-draining
• 27of 33Six Hills Giant CatmintPin The Spruce / Evgeniya VlasovaSix hills giant (Nepeta ‘Six Hills Giant’) is a perfect rock garden plant, as it craves well-draining soil and tolerates dry areas. It grows to about 3 feet tall with a spread of roughly 4 feet. But the plant doesn’t care for high heat and humidity, so it might need some afternoon shade in warmer climates.
  • USDA Growing Zones: 4 to 7
  • Color Varieties: Blue, purple, white
  • Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
  • Soil Needs: Average, dry to medium moisture, well-draining
• 28of 33Russian SagePin   The Spruce / Leticia AlmeidaRussian sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia) has a delicate appearance, but, at around 3 to 5 feet, it offers some height for the back of a border or the center of an island garden. The plant has excellent drought tolerance, and it flowers best in full sun. As a member of the mint family, Russian sage spreads by runners. Pull up suckers early in the spring from areas where you don’t want it.
  • USDA Growing Zones: 5 to 9
  • Color Varieties: Blue, purple
  • Sun Exposure: Full sun
  • Soil Needs: Average, dry to medium moisture, well-draining
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• 29of 33Mugo PinePin The Spruce / Evgeniya VlasovaMugo pine (Pinus mugo) is a spreading evergreen shrub that grows to around 15 to 20 feet tall and 25 to 30 feet wide. It likes well-draining, sandy soil, and it can even somewhat tolerate clay. A young plant needs regular watering, but once mature it is moderately drought-tolerant.
  • USDA Growing Zones: 2 to 7
  • Color Varieties: Nonflowering
  • Sun Exposure: Full sun
  • Soil Needs: Loamy, medium moisture, well-draining
• 30of 33Rockspray CotoneasterPin The Spruce / Leticia AlmeidaRockspray cotoneaster (Cotoneaster horizontalis) is a flowering deciduous shrub with reddish leaves and bright red berries. It’s a hardy plant that can tolerate poor soil conditions. Once established, it even can handle some drought.
  • USDA Growing Zones: 5 to 7
  • Color Varieties: Pink
  • Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
  • Soil Needs: Loamy, moist, well-draining
• 31of 33Lamb’s EarPin The Spruce / Adrienne LegaultLamb’s ear (Stachys byzantina) is an herbaceous perennial grown for the texture of its leaves, which are thick, fuzzy, and velvety like the ear of a lamb. The plant is often used as a flower border. Plus, its tolerance for drought and poor soil makes it a good rock garden plant. The spiky blooms attract pollinators.
  • USDA Growing Zones: 4 to 8
  • Color Varieties: Pink-purple
  • Sun Exposure: Full sun
  • Soil Needs: Average, dry to medium moisture, well-draining
• 32of 33Maiden GrassPin The Spruce / K. DaveMaiden grass (Miscanthus sinensis ‘Gracillimus’) is a perennial ornamental grass with good drought tolerance. The clump-forming grass can reach around 4 to 7 feet tall and 3 to 6 feet wide, providing height and texture to a garden.
  • USDA Growing Zones: 5 to 9
  • Color Varieties: Copper to silver
  • Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
  • Soil Needs: Average, medium moisture, well-draining
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• 33of 33Rugosa RosePin The Spruce / Autumn WoodRugosa rose (Rosa rugosa) is a sprawling, thorny, flowering shrub. It prefers loamy soil but can adapt to clay, sandy, or gravelly varieties. Good air circulation and avoiding wet soil are key for the plant to remain healthy. Heavy annual pruning is needed to keep this shrub in a pleasing shape. Blooming throughout the warm weather months, Rugosa roses are highly fragrant with the scent of old-world roses.
  • USDA Growing Zones: 2 to 7
  • Color Varieties: Pink, white
  • Sun Exposure: Full sun
  • Soil Needs: Loamy, moist, slightly acidic, well-draining