Planting ideas for a "pile of rocks"

Andrea B.

Hi, would appreciate some low maintenance planting ideas for a pile of rocks.
Basically, the pile is north-facing and about 10feet high. It is a slope, so does get light.
There are pockets of earth within and already weeds and brambles starting.
Would love something/s pretty that could be planted within pockets that would climb/spread and take precedence, but with a low maintenance?
Any thoughts, names, times to plant?
many thanks

looksee

First of all get rid of the brambles - treat with a systemic weedkiller and make sure they are dead or you will be forever trying to sort them out of the plants.

As for the rest, on a north-facing site I would suggest getting some ferns going - easy ones like harts tongue will seed themselves after a couple of years, and create an attractive background. Wild strawberries are also very satisfactory in that they have a long flowering season and carry flowers and fruit from spring to autumn. Wild violets would also be happy in good pockets of soil, and would spread, also primroses. A small vinca would be happy in a shady spot, and you could put in a few bulbs in prepared areas, small alliums, and Irish bluebells.

What I am suggesting is simple woodland plants that are happy in shade and in minimum soil.

tara m

Erigeron karvinskianus would be nice, a tough little daisy which carpets with bloom in summer - there's a few in the rock garden at Mucross House - they would look great with the ferns!