ALPINE GARDEN
What is an alpine garden?
Alpine gardens have been around for centuries where gardeners attempt to replicate high elevation environments to grow unique plants found high above the timber line. In modern times, the alpine garden plant category has grown to include arid plants, geophytes, dwarf conifers, reseeding annuals, and anything requiring good drainage. Alpine gardens, rock gardens, gravel gardens, and crevice gardens are all very similar in design and often lumped into the same group.
This particular garden was designed with conifers and any plant needing good drainage in mind. Boulders were piled then buried in native loam soil that had been amended with sand and gravel to make water drain faster than the surrounding land. This typical design helps mimic soils found in mountain ranges by adding mineral, rocky components while leaving deep cracks and pockets of rich soil. The entire garden was then top dressed with four inches of pea gravel. The pea gravel acts as a mulch, keep moisture locked below the surface while also preventing sunlight from reaching the most aggressive weed seeds.
Management of this style of garden is all about controlling organic matter and nutrients. Leaves and other rotting plant debris bring moisture to the surface, allowing for weed seeds to germinate and take over. The plants present in this garden also don’t tolerate being covered in debris for longer than a few days, so every fall any dead plant matter is meticulously removed and composted. Disturbing the surface of the gravel also causes challenges, as any soil able to receive sunlight will often germinate weeds too. Any exposed soil is top dressed with more gravel, and any new plantings are bare rooted by washing the potting soil from the roots to allow for faster establishment and prevention of weeds germinating in the crown of the plant.
1) Arid plant, 2) Mediterranean plant, 3) Geophyte, 4) Grass, 5) Cactus, 6) Dwarf Conifer, 7) True alpine pincushion plant
Alpine Garden Plants
Alpine plants come in all shapes and sizes. While true alpines come from above the timber line, ‘alpine’ in the garden world generally refers to plants that can be grown in rock gardens. Ground covers, cushion plants, reseeding annuals, arid plants, and even geophytes are groups of typical alpine garden plants. The one thing they all have in common is the need for good drainage to keep water from drowning the roots. These plants are adapted to extremes, with deep root systems that love to squeeze between rock crevices. Some have adapted to go dormant during the hottest parts of the year, regrowing when weather cools. Many also travel around the garden by way of seed or spreading then rooting in place, making alpine gardens dynamic and ever changing.
Arid plant: native to ecosystems characterized by low annual precipitation, deserts and steppes.
Cushion plant: low-mounding plant usually from an adaptation to strong wind and low temperatures.
Geophyte: a plant that survives using the help of an underground storage organ. This includes rhizomes, bulbs, tubers, corms, and tap roots.
Reseeding annual: plant that only lives and flowers for one growing season. Seed often gets widely distributed by wind, water, or exploding seed capsules.
True alpine: plant typically found at high elevations. Usually small and low growing, forming mounds or cushions over time. Ecosystem subject to strong winds and drastic changes in temperature.
Wildlife
The Alpine Garden is a great spot to view all kinds of wildlife including hummingbirds, chipmunks, and diverse insect pollinators.
The unique plants and structure of this garden attracts creatures not normally found around the rest of the arboretum.
A layer of early spring flowering bulbs also provides nectar long before other gardens are awake.
History
The Alpine Garden was established in 2014 as an entryway to the Jacobson Conifer Collection. Hypertufa troughs of various sizes were created to border the walkway that leads up to the iconic Jones Memorial Gazebo. The garden was originally designed and installed by Pam Maurer, owner of Evergreen Gardens, Ames, and Ed Rinderspacher, owner of Rindy Tree and Turf Care, West Branch. In 2024 the garden was renovated by staff, adding both a larger footprint, more garden beds, and many more plant varieties from around the world.
Click the image below for a gallery of photographs from the garden:
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Plant Lists:
Arid Plants:
Agastache ‘Kudos Gold’ – Kudos gold hummingbird mint
Agastache ‘Kudos Mandarin’ – Kudos mandarín hummingbird mint
Agastache rupestris – Licorice mint
Artemisia schmidtiana ‘Silver Mound’ – Silver mound wormwood
Artemisia pycnocephala – Coastal sagewort
Berlandiera lyrata – Chocolate flower
Ceratostigma plumabaginoides – Blue-flowered leadwort
Delosperma ‘Alan’s Apricot’ – Alan’s apricot ice plant
Diascia integérrima ‘Coral Canyon’ – Coral canyon twinspur
Echium ‘Red Feathers’ – Red feathers echium
Ipomopsis rubra – Texas plume
Kniphofia ‘Fire Dance’ – Fire dance red hot poker
Kniphofia triangularis – Dwarf red hot poker
Penstemon barbatus ‘Elfin Pink’ – Elfin pink scarlet bugler
Penstemon barbatus ‘Rubycunda’ – Rubycunda scarlet bugler
Penstemon clutei – Sunset crater beardtongue
Penstemon palmeri – Palmer’s penstemon
Penstemon richardsonii – cutleaf beardtongue
Penstemon x mexicali ‘Pike’s Peak Purple’ – Pike’s Peak purple penstemon
Scutellaria ‘Dark Violet’ – Dark violet skullcap
Scutellaria brittonii – Britton’s skullcap
Sedum ‘Kay’s Little Joy’ – Kay’s little joy stonecrop
Sedum ‘Lemon Ball’ – Lemon ball stonecrop
Sempervivum ‘Edge of Night’ – Edge of night hens and chicks
Sempervivum ‘Forest Frost’ – Forest frost hens and chicks
Sempervivum ‘Gazelle’ – Gazelle hens and chicks
Sempervivum ‘Pilioseum’ – Pilioseum hens and chicks
Sempervivum ‘Red Purple’ – Red Purple hens and chicks
Sempervivum ‘Rubikon Improved’ – Rubikon improved hens and chicks
Veronica ‘Blue Reflection’ – Blue reflection speedwell
Veronica ‘Crystal River’ – Crystal river speedwell
Veronica ‘Snowmass’ – Snowmass speedwell
Veronica liwanensis – Turkish speedwell
Veronica oltensis – Thyme-leaf speedwell
Veronica pectinata – Wooly speedwell
Yucca filamentosa ‘Excalibur’ – Excalibur Adam’s needle
Zauschneria canum var. latifolium ‘Northfolk Coral’ – Northfork coral hummingbird trumpet
Zauschneria canum var. latifolium ‘Sky Island Orange’ – Sky island orange himmingbird trumpet
Zauschneria garrettii ‘Orange Carpet’ – Orange carpet hummingbird trumpet
Zauschneria latifolia ‘Wendy’s Peach Surprise’ – Wendy’s peach surprise hummingbird trumpet
Zauschneria x californica ‘Stardust’ – Stardust hummingbird trumpet
Geophytes:
Allium ‘Pincushion’ – Pincushion ornamental onion
Allium atropupureum – Flowering onion
Allium caeruleum – Flowering onion
Allium cernuum – Nodding onion
Allium cowanii – Ornamental onion
Allium flavum – Yellow-flowered garlic
Allium karataviense – Turkistan onion
Allium scenescens subsp. glaucum – Smooth broadleaved chives
Allium schoenoprasum ‘Shining Star’ – Shining star chives
Allium sphaerocephalon – Flowering onion
Crocosmia ‘Emily McKenzie’ – Emily McKenzie montbretia
Crocosmia ‘George Davidson’ – George Davidson montbretia
Crocosmia ‘Lucifer’ – Lucifer montbretia
Crocus chrysanthus ‘Goldilocks’ – Goldilocks crocus
Crocus minimus ‘Spring Beauty’ – Spring beauty crocus
Crocus ‘Ard Schenck’ – Ard Schenck crocus
Crocus ‘Blue Pearl’ – Blue Pearl crocus
Crocus tommasinianus ‘Barr’s Purple’ – Barr’s purple crocus
Crocus tommasinianus ‘Hummingbird’ – Hummingbird crocus
Eremurus ‘Apricot Amber’ – Apricot amber foxtail lily
Eremurus ‘Barely Pink’ – Barely pink foxtail lily
Eremurus ‘Orange Marmalade’ – Orange marmalade foxtail lily
Eremurus ‘Pretty in Pink’ – Pretty in pink foxtail lily
Eremurus ‘Romance’ – Romance foxtail lily
Eremurus ‘Spring Valley Splendor’ – Spring Valley Splendor foxtail lily
Galanthus elwesii – Greater snowdrop
Galanthus nivalis – Snowdrop
Ipheion uniflorum – Spring starflower
Iris ‘Branded’ – Branded bearded iris
Iris ‘Chili Powder’ – Chili powder bearded iris
Iris ‘Icing’ – Icing bearded iris
Iris ‘Jungle Prince’ – Jungle prince bearded iris
Iris ‘Mini Me’ – Mini me bearded iris
Iris ‘Negra Modelo’ – Megra modelo bearded iris
Iris ‘Netted Gold’ – Netted gold bearded iris
Iris ‘Pinkster’ – Pinkster bearded iris
Iris ‘Rose City’ – Rose city bearded iris
Iris ‘Silver Ice’ – Silver ice bearded iris
Iris ‘Speckled Spring’ – Speckled spring bearded iris
Iris ‘Velvet Intrigue’ – Velvet intrigue bearded iris
Iris reticulata ‘Angela’ – Angela rock garden iris
Iris reticulata ‘Clairette’ – Clairette rock garden iris
Iris reticulata ‘Harmony’ – Harmony rock garden iris
Iris reticulata ‘J.S. Dijt’ – J.S. Dijt rock garden iris
Iris reticulata ‘Natascha’ – Natascha rock garden iris
Iris reticulata ‘Painted Lady’ – Painted lady rock garden iris
Leucojum aestivum – Summer snowflake
Muscari armeniacum ‘Atlantic’ – Atlantic grape hyacinth
Muscari armeniacum ‘Paradoxum’ – Paradoxum grape hyacinth
Narcissus ‘Blushing Lady’ – Blushing lady jonquilla daffodil
Narcissus ‘Minnow’ – Minnow tazetta daffodil
Narcissus ‘Pheasant’s Eye’ – Pheasant’s eye jonquilla daffodil
Narcissus ‘Sailboat’ – Sailboat jonquilla daffodil
Scilla bifolia ‘Rosea’ – Rosea squill
Mediterranean Plants:
Catananche caerulea – Cupid’s dart
Centranthus ruber – Jupiter’s beard
Dianthus ‘Coconut Punch’ – Coconut punch dianthus
Dianthus ‘Frost Fire’ – Frost fire dianthus
Eryngium planum – Sea holly
Eryngium planum ‘White Glitter’ – White glitter sea holly
Iberis sempervirens ‘Little Gem’ – Little gem candytuft
Lavandula ’SuperBlue’ – Super blue English lavender
Limonium gmelinii ‘Dazzle Rocks’ – Dazzle rocks sea lavender
Limonium latifolium – Sea lavender
Linum flavum – Yellow flax
Linum thracicum – Yellow flax
Origanum ‘Amethyst Falls’ – Amethyst falls ornamental oregano
Phlomis rasseliana – Turkish sage
Ruta graveolens ‘Variegata’ – Variegated rue
Saponaria ocymoides – Rock soapwort
Sideritis syriaca – Ironwort
Stachys monieri ‘Hummelo’ – Hummelo betony
Teucrim cossonii – Creeping germander
Verbascum phoeniceum ‘Rosetta’ – Rosetta purple mullein
Native:
Antennaria neglecta – Field pussytoes
Antennaria plantiginifolia – plantain-leaf pussytoes
Arisaema triphyllum – Jack in the pulpit
Baptisia australis var. minor – Dwarf blue false indigo
Baptisia tinctoria – Yellow wild indigo
Callirhoe involucrata – Winecups
Campunala rotunifolia – Common harebell
Liatris aspera – Rough blazingstar
Monarda austroappalachiana – Bee balm
Phlox pilosa – Prairie phlox
Pulsatilla patens – Pasqueflower
Pycnanthemum pilosum – Hairy mountainmint
Sisyrinchium angustifolium – Blue-eyed grass
Zinnia grandiflora – Plains zinnia
Reseeding Annuals:
Consolida ajacis – Giant larkspur
Corydalis aurea – Golden corydalis
Eschscholzia californica – California poppy
Euphorbia marginata – Snow on the mountain
Helenium annuum ‘Dakota Gold’ – Dakota gold sneezeweed
Nigella ‘Albion Black Pod’ – Albion black pod love-in-a-mist
True Alpine:
Alchemilla alpina – Alpine lady’s mantle
Antennaria parvifolia ‘McClintock’ – McClintock small-leaf pussytoes
Arabis ‘Limedrop’ – Limedrop rockcress
Cerastium tomentosum – Snow-in-summer
Globularia cordifolia – Heart-leaved globe daisy
Penstemon procerus – Littleflower penstemon
Penstemon strictus – Rocky Mountain penstemon
Stachys lavandulifolia – Pink cotton lamb’s ear
Other:
Crambe maritima – Sea kale
Phlox subulata ‘Purple Beauty’ – Purple beauty creeping phlox
Phlox subulata ‘Snowflake’ – Snowflake creeping phlox
Phlox ‘Violet Pinwheels’ – Violet pinwheels creeping phlox
Plantago major ‘Purple Perversion’ – Purple perversion plantain
Plantago major ‘Variegata’ – Variegated plantain
Prunella laciniata – Cutleaf self-heal
Pulsatilla vulgaris – Pasqueflower
Pycnanthemum beadlei – Beadle’s mountainmint
Pycnanthemum curvipes – Stone mountainmint
Pycnanthemum incanum – Hoary mountainmint
Salvia ‘Rose Marvel’ – Rose marvel meadow sage
Seseli elatum ssp. osseum – Mountain fennel
Silene dioica ‘Ray’s Golden’ – Ray’s golden campion
Veronica prostrata ‘Aztec Gold’ – Aztec gold rock speedwell
Non-coniferous woody plants:
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi ‘Squeek Point’ – Squeek point kinnikinnick
Buxus microphylla var. koreana – Korean boxwood
Daphne ‘Lawrence Crocker’ – Lawrence Crocker daphne
Quercus prinoides – Dwarf chinquapin oak
Quercus rubra – Northern red oak
Salix humilis – Prairie willow
Salix humilis var. tristis – Littleleaf prairie willow
Conifers:
Ginkgo biloba ‘Robbie’s Twist’ – Robbie’s twist maidenhair tree
Juniperus horizontalis ‘Mother Lode’ – Mother lode creeping juniper
Picea abies ‘Glimra’ – Glimra dwarf Norway spruce
Picea abies ‘Humilis’ – Humilis dwarf Norway spruce
Picea abies ‘Lemonade’ – Lemonade dwarf Norway spruce
Picea abies ‘Nidiformis’ – Bird’s nest spruce
Picea abies ‘Pusch’ – Pusch dwarf Norway spruce
Picea abies ‘Vermont Gold’ – Vermont gold dwarf Norway spruce
Picea abies ‘Will’s Zwerg’ – Will’s zwerg dwarf Norway spruce
Picea glauca ‘Ducharme’ – Ducharme dwarf white spruce
Picea glauca ‘Echiniformis’ – Hedgehog white spruce
Picea pungens ‘Prostrata’ – Weeping blue spruce
Picea omorika ‘Pendula Bruns’ – Bruns weeping Serbian spruce
Pinus aristata ‘Sherwood Compact’ – Sherwood compact bristlecone pine
Pinus banksiana ‘Uncle Fogy’ – Uncle Fogy Jack pine
Pinus bungeana ‘Compacta’ – Compact lacebark pine
Pinus bungeana ‘Silver Ghost’ – Silver ghost lacebark pine
Pinus cembra var. sibirica – Siberian pine
Pinus contorta ‘Mt. Hood Marble’ – Mt. Hood marble lodgepole pine
Pinus contorta ‘Taylor’s Sunburst’ – Taylor’s sunburst lodgepole pine
Pinus densiflora ‘Rata’ – Rata Japanese red pine
Pinus mugo – Mountain pine
Pinus mugo ‘Prostrata’ – Prostrate mountain pine
Pinus mugo ‘Slowmound’ – Slowmound mountain pine
Pinus mugo ‘Teeny’ – Teeny mountain pine
Pinus nigra ‘Komet’ – Comet Austrian pine
Pinus parviflora ‘Bergman’ – Bergman Japanese white pine
Pinus parviflora ‘Gimborn’s Pyramid’ – Gimborn’s pyramid Japanese white pine
Pinus parviflora ‘Goldilocks’ – Goldilocks Japanese white pine
Pinus parviflora ‘Tamaysima’ – Tamaysima Japanese white pine
Pinus parviflora ‘Tanima no yuki’ – Tanima no yuki Japanese white pine
Pinus ponderosa ‘Mary Ann Heacock’ – Mary Ann Heacock ponderosa pine
Pinus strobus ‘Coney Island’ – Coney Island eastern white pine
Pinus strobus ‘Minuta’ – Minuta eastern white pine
Pinus strobus ‘Resek WitchesBroom’ – Resek witchesbroom eastern white pine
Pinus sylvestris ‘Hillside Creeper’ – Hillside creeper scots pine
Taxodium distichum ‘Gee Wiz’ – Gee wiz bald cypress
Taxodium distichum ‘Little Leaf’ – Little leaf bald cypress
Thuja occidentalis ‘Filiformis’ – Threadleaf arborvitae
Thuja occidentalis ‘Golden Tuffet’ – Golden tuffet arborvitae
Tsuga canadensis ‘Cole’s Prostrate’ – Cole’s prostrate Eastern hemlock
Tsuga diversifolia ‘Loowit’ – Loowit northern Japanese hemlock
Tsuga diversifolia – Northern Japanese hemlock