Flower gardens can be quiet places for relaxation and renewal. To help create a more zen-like atmosphere, a few well-placed rocks among the flowers will do the trick. Why rocks? Because they are Nature’s most enduring material and add a still presence to the landscape. They are a solid counterbalance to short-lived flower displays. And more important, rocks serve as warming spots for butterflies, our flower pollinators, to bask on in the summer sun.
There are many ways to combine rocks with flowers. Traditional rock gardens are one example, but there are other design options. You can simply place one or more large rocks within a flower bed, or at its edges, or both. Flowers that drape over the stones are a definite eye catcher. Or plant a large group of tall-growing flowers behind a large rock or low-growing ones at its base. You can also set several long, narrow stones vertically within a flower bed to act as dramatic “standing stones.” All of these approaches highlight the contrast of hard rock and soft flowers. Rocks ground us and flowers elevate us. It is this dynamic juxtaposition that makes this arrangement so compelling.
I prefer to collect and use rocks from a garden’s site rather than bring them in from somewhere else. These native rocks resonate with the land. I know it is not always possible to do this, but it is a good practice if you have a lot of stone at hand. It may sound odd, but I believe rock energy is palpable—I have turned away certain rocks if they do not seem “comfortable” in a garden.
The low-growing, soft blue blossoms of floss flower (Ageratum houstonianum) contrast well with the light-colored rock behind them. Ageratum adds a fuzzy blue accent next to ‘Titan Apricot’ annual vinca (Catharanthus roseus ‘Titan Apricot’), as shown here. I often plant these annual flowers together because both are deer resistant and bloom from late spring to first frost in a sunny location.
Pink New Guinea impatiens, a strong performing annual, crowd together next to a craggy rock. The soft blossoms blend well with the hard stone. The thin-bladed grass on the right is ‘Evergold’ sedge.
Rocky sites do not deter the common orange daylily (Hemerocallis fulva). This summer-flowering perennial is native to Asia, and it is tolerant of any soil. It is easy to grow and naturalizes, so you may see it blooming along roadsides. Grows up to 4 feet tall. Zones 2–9.
The bright golden-yellow flowers of the perennial ‘Zagreb’ threadleaf tickseed (Coreopsis verticillata ‘Zagreb’) are borne on slender green stems, growing to 12 inches high. The dainty flowers continuously bloom from early summer through fall. The finely cut foliage of this hardy plant makes an interesting contrast with rocks in a sunny garden. Zones 3–9.
Plant your rocks as you would your flowers, and at least one-quarter of a rock should be buried. Through careful selection and placement of solid, natural rocks you can create a garden that helps us view Nature—and our time with her—a little differently. As Lily Tomlin said, “For fast acting relief, slow down.” Rocks remind us to slow down.
The dark pink, candelabra-like flowers of Japanese primrose (Primula japonica) thrive in wet, shady spaces in the landscape. These blooms are held 12 to 18 inches above the lettuce-like foliage and look wonderful when they flower in mid-May. They are especially vibrant when contrasted with ferns and large rocks or along streams. They are hardy in zones 4–8. I took this photo at the Elisabeth C. Miller Botanical Garden in Seattle, Washington.
Graceful Diamond Frost® euphorbia (Euphorbia Diamond Frost®) sports small, airy, white flowers that bloom nonstop from spring through September. This drought-tolerant annual thrives in sun and partial shade. It stands 12 to 18 inches high. Excellent against mossy rocks, as shown here. It’s deer resistant, too.