This article was originally published on the web on thealpinegarden.com however that website is defunct at May 2015. The copyright is with the original owners of thealpinegarden.com

Plants suitable for a Trough Garden

a joint venture with the Alpine & Rock Garden Resources Web Site of Duncan McAlpine

The following list of plants has been suggested by Duncan. Whilst I would not disagree with the validity of their claim to be suitable candidates for a trough garden, what may be "Suitable in Seattle" (sounds like a good name for a film that!), may not respond so readily in San Antonio or Salford. I would advise you therefore to check the hardiness requirements of the plants you would like to grow, with your local nurseryman. He will advise you of their suitability for your environment.

It may well, in time, be possible to list a more comprehensive database of trough plants which is interactive. You know the sort of thing....select a colour, a height, a flowering season etc. and up comes a selection for you to choose from. This is quite an ambitious project but as the site is ever-expanding, who knows what the future will bring. In the meantime you will have to read up in your alpine books for full descriptions of those listed.

ALYSSUM CAESPITOSUM
ANDROSACE CARNEA HYB. "LAVENDER GLOW"
ANDROSACE CARNEA X PYRENAICA
ANDROSACE CARNEA X PYRENAICA "CALLISTO"
ANDROSACE CARNEA X PYRENAICA "JUPITER"
ANDROSACE CARNEA X PYRENAICA "MARS"
ANDROSACE CARNEA X PYRENAICA "MILLSTREAM"
ANDROSACE CARNEA X PYRENAICA "VENUS"
ANDROSACE CYLINDRICA
ANDROSACE CYLINDRICA X HIRTELLA
ANDROSACE CYLINDRICA X PYRENAICA
ANDROSACE HEDRAEANTHA
ANDROSACE HIRTELLA
ANDROSACE CHAMAEJASME V. LEHMANNIANA
ANDROSACE MUCRONIFOLIA
ANDROSACE PUBESCENS
ANDROSACE PYRENAICA
ANDROSACE SEMPERVIVOIDES "GREYSTONE"
ANDROSACE STRIGILLOSA
ANDROSACE VANDELLII
ANDROSACE VILLOSA
ANEMONE DRUMMONDII
ANEMONE xLESSERI
AQUILEGIA JONESII
AQUILEGIA SCOPULORUM
ARABIS MICROPHYLLA
ARENARIA TETRAQUETRA GRANATENSIS
ARTEMISIA CAUCASICA SSP CAUCASICA
ARTEMISIA GLACIALIS
ASPERULA GUSSONII
ASTER STRACHEYI
ASTILBE GLABERRIMA "SAXATILIS"

BESSEYA ALPINA
BOLAX GLEBARIA NANA

CALANDRINIA CAESPITOSA
CALANDRINIA SERICEA [MONTIOPSIS SERICEA]
CAMPANULA ALPESTRIS
C.ALLIONII
CAMPANULA ALPINA
CAMPANULA "BUMBLEBEE" {C.PIPERI "MT. TAHOMA" X C.LASSIOCARPA}
CAMPANULA CARPATICA "GRAHAM GIANT"
CAMPANULA CHAMISSONIS
CAMPANULA CHAMISSONIS "OYOBENII"
CAMPANULA CHORUHENSIS
CAMPANULA COCHLEARIFOLIA "ELIZABETH OLIVER"
CAMPANULA x HAYLODGENSIS {C.CARPATICA X C.COCHLEARIFOLIA}
CAMPANULA HAKKIARICA
CAMPANULA HERCEGOVINA "NANA"
CAMPANULA "LYNCHMERE" {C.ELATINES X C.ROTUNDIFOLIA}
CAMPANULA "MAI BLYTH"
CAMPANULA PERSICIFOLIA V. PLANIFLORA {C.NITIDA}
CAMPANULA PERSICIFOLIA V. PLANIFLORA "ALBA"
CAMPANULA PIPERI ALBA "TOWNSEND RIDGE"
CAMPANULA PIPERI "MARMOT PASS"
CAMPANULA PIPERI "MT. TAHOMA"
CAMPANULA PIPERI "TOWNSEND VIOLET"
CAMPANULA PULLA
CAMPANULA x PULLOIDES {C.CARPATICA X C.PULLA}
CAMPANULA PSEUDO-RAINERI
CAMPANULA RAINERI
CAMPANULA ROTUNDIFOLIA SSP. ARCTICA "MT.JOTUNHEIMEN"
CAMPANULA SAXIFRAGA
CAMPANULA SCABRELLA
CAMPANULA SCABRELLA "IRONSTONE"
CAMPANULA SHETLERI
CAMPANULA TOMMASINIANA
CAMPANULA TRIDENTATA
CAMPANULA "WARLEY WHITE"
CHAENORHINUM GLAREOSUM
CLAYTONIA MEGARHIZA V. NIVALIS
CLEMATIS MARMORARIA

DELOSPERMA ASHTONII
DELOSPERMA CONGESTUM
DELOSPERMA SP. AFF. DELEEUWIAE
DELOSPERMA SPECIES- WHITE
DOUGLASIA IDAHOENSIS
DOUGLASIA LAEVIGATA v. LAEVIGATA
DOUGLASIA LAEVIGATA V. LAEVIGATA "PACKWOOD"
DOUGLASIA LAEVIGATA V. CILIOLATA
DOUGLASIA MONTANA
DOUGLASIA NIVALIS
DRABA ACAULIS
DRABA DEDEANA
DRABA OREIBATA
DRACOCEPHALUM AFF: DISCOLOR [JJH]
DRACOCEPHALUM AFF PAULSENII
DUDLEYA CYMOSA SSP. PUMILA

EDRAIANTHUS GRAMINIFOLIUS
EDRAIANTHUS GRAMINIFOLIUS SSP. NIVEUS ["ALBUS"]
EDRAIANTHUS PUMILIO
ERIGERON AUREUS
ERIGERON CHRYSOPSIDIS "GRAND RIDGE"
ERIGERON COMPOSITUS "PINK FORMS"
ERIGERON COMPOSITUS "MT. ADAMS DWARF"
ERIGERON "GOAT ROCKS" {E.AUREUS X E.COMPOSITUS}
ERIGERON LEIOMERUS
ERIGERON OREGANUS
ERIOGONUM KENNEDYI V. ALPIGENUM {NNS-}
ERIOGONUM PANGUICENSE V. ALPESTRE
ERIOGONUM OVALIFOLIUM

GENTIANA ACAULIS
GENTIANA AFFINIS V. OVATA
GENTIANA NEWBERRYI
GENTIANA PARADOXA
GENTIANA VERNA
GENISTA DELPHINENSIS
GYPSOPHILA ARETIOIDES
GYPSOPHILA CERASTIOIDES
GYPSOPHILA LIBANOTICA
GYPSOPHILA NANA

HAPLOPAPPUS LYALLII
HELICHRYSUM PAGOPHILUM
HELICHRYSUM PAGOPHYLLUM
HELICHRYSUM SESSILIOIDES
HEUCHERA ELEGANS
HEUCHERA PULCHELLA
HOSTA "LEMON\LIME"
HOSTA VENUSTA "PORTER"
HUTCHINSIA ALPINA

IRIS PUMILA "ATRO-VIOLACEA"
IRIS SUAVEOLENS V. RUBROMARGINATA
KECKIELLA CORYMBOSA
LEONTOPODIUM OCHROLEUCUM
LEUCANTHEMOPSIS RADICANS
LEWISIA COLUMBIANA V. COLUMBIANA "ALBA"
LEWISIA COLUMBIANA V. RUPICOLA "SADDLE MT. FORM"
LEWISIA COTYLEDON V. HECKNERI
LEWISIA COTYLEDON "REGENBOGEN STRAIN"
LEWISIA "GEORGE HENLEY" [L.COLUMBIANA X L.COTYLEDON]
LEWISIA LONGIPETALA
LEWISIA "NORMA JEAN' [L.COLUMBIANA ALBA X L.COTY.V.HECKNERI]
LEWISIA REDIVIVA
LEWISIA REDIVIVA V. MINOR
LEWISIA TWEEDYI

MINUARTIA SAXIFRAGA SSP. TMOLEA
MORISIA HYPOGAEA
MORISIA MONANTHOS
PARRRYA NUDICAULIS
PENSTEMON CAESPITOSUS "ALBUS"
PENSTEMON DAVIDSONII V. DAVIDSONII "MT. ADAMS DWARF"
PENSTEMON "DRAGONSTAIL"
PENSTEMON PROCERUS SSP. TOLMIEI
PENSTEMON PROCERUS SSP. TOLMIEI "HAWKEYE"
PENSTEMON RUPICOLA "MYRTLE HEBERT"
PHLOX DIFFUSA
PHLOX DIFFUSA "ALBA"
PHLOX DOUGLASII "APPLEBLOSSOM"
PHLOX HENDERSONII
PHLOX KELSEYI
PHLOX "SILENEFLORA"
PHYSOPLEXIS COMOSA
POTENTILLA UNIFLORA
PRATIA PEDUNCULATA "COUNTRY PARK"
PRIMULA "AIREMIST"
PRIMULA ALLIONII "CLAUDE FLIGHT"
PRIMULA ALLIONII "EDINBURGH" [ELLIOT`S FORM ]
PRIMULA ALLIONII HARTSIDE X APPLEBLOSSOM
PRIMULA ALLIONII "JCA
PRIMULA ALLIONII "KEN`S SEEDLING"
PRIMULA ALLIONII "MARION"
PRIMULA ALLIONII "MARJORIE WOOSTER"
PRIMULA ALLIONII "PINK ICE"
PRIMULA ALLIONII "SNOWFLAKE"
PRIMULA ALLIONII "WILLIAM EARLE"
PRIMULA ALLIONII x "LINDA POPE ALBA"
PRIMULA X BERNINAE "WINDRUSH"
PRIMULA x BILECKII
P."BLAIRSIDE YELLOW
PRIMULA "CLARENCE ELLIOT"
PRIMULA X-DESCHMANNII
PRIMULA "ETHEL BARKER"
P.HIRSUTA
PRIMULA "HEMSWELL BLUSH"
PRIMULA MARGINATA "KESSELRING`S VARIETY"
PRIMULA MARGINATA "PRITCHARD`S VARIETY"
PRIMULA "MARS"
PRIMULA MINIMA
PRIMULA "PEARDROP" (P.ALLIONII X OLD RED DUSTY MILLER X ALLIONII)
PRIMULA "PINK ICE" [P.ALLIONII X P."HARLOW CARR"]
PRIMULA X-PUBESCENS "BOOTHMANS VARIETY"
PRIMULA X-PUBESCENS "CREAM VISCOSA"
PRIMULA X-PUBESCENS "KATH DRYDEN"
PRIMULA X-PUBESCENS "PAT BARWICK"
PRIMULA "WHARFDALE LING"
PULSATILLA PRATENSIS SSP. BOHEMICA
PULSATILLA VERNALIS
RANUNCULUS ALPESTRIS
RANUNCULUS CRENATUS
RANUNCULUS FICARIA "BRAZEN HUSSY"
RHINEPHYLLUM BROOMII
RUSCHIA PUTTERILLII
SAGINA BOYDII
SAPONARIA "BRESSINGHAM HYBRID"
SAPONARIA x OLIVANA

SAXIFRAGA COCHLEARIS "MINOR"
SAXIFRAGA X ZIMMETERI [S.AIZOON X S.CUNEIFOLIA]
SAXIFRAGA "ALBERT`S DARK YELLOW"
SAXIFRAGA X ANGLICA "
BEATRIX STANLEY"
SAXIFRAGA X ARCO-VALLEYI "HOCKER`S EDGE"
SAXIFRAGA X BORISII "MARIANNA"
SAXIFRAGA X BORISII "MONA LISA"
SAXIFRAGA X BOYDII "ARETIASTRUM"
SAXIFRAGA X BOYDII "CHERRY TREES"
SAXIFRAGA X BOYDII "FALDONSIDE"
SAXIFRAGA X BOYDII"HINDHEAD SEEDLING"
SAXIFRAGA X BURSERANA "PRINCESS"
SAXIFRAGA X BURSICULATA "KING LEAR"
SAXIFRAGA X ELISABETHAE "BOSTON SPA"
SAXIFRAGA X ELISABETHAE "PRIMROSE DAME"
SAXIFRAGA GRISEBACHII
SAXIFRAGA X IRVINGII "JENKENSIAE"
SAXIFRAGA X IRVINGII "WALTER IRVING"
SAXIFRAGA JUNIPERIFOLIA
SAXIFRAGA "KATH DRYDEN"
SAXIFRAGA X KELLERERI "JOHANN KELLERER"
SAXIFRAGA X KELLERERI "SUNDERMANNII MAJOR"
SAXIFRAGA X KEWENSIS
SAXIFRAGA KOTSCHYI
SAXIFRAGA X MALBYANA "PRIMULINA"
SAXIFRAGA OPPOSITIFOLIA "FLORISA"
SAXIFRAGA "PERLE ROSE"
SAXIFRAGA "ROSEMARIE"
SAXIFRAGA X ROSINAE " ROSINA SUNDERMANN"
SAXIFRAGA X SALMONICA "MARIE LOUISA"
SAXIFRAGA X SALMONICA "MELROSE"
SAXIFRAGA X SALMONICA "SALOMONII"
SAXIFRAGA SEMPERVIVUM
SAXIFRAGA X WEBRII "PYGMALION
SAXIFRAGA PENTADACTYLIS

SCUTELLARIA ALPINA
SCUTELLARIA PROSTRATA
SEDUM PILOSUM
SHORTIA GALACIFOLIA
SILENE ACAULIS "FRANCES"
SILENE ACAULIS "WHITE RABBIT"
SILENE ARGAEA
SILENE PETERSONII
SOLIDAGO SPATHULATA F. NANA
SPRAGUEA UMBELLATA
TALINUM OKANOGANENSE
TALINUM SPINESCENS
TIARELLA "TIGER STRIPE"
TOWNSENDIA ALPINGENA (T.MONTANA)
TOWNSENDIA EXSCAPA
TOWNSENDIA JONESII
TOWNSENDIA SPATHULATA
VALERIANA SUPINA
VIOLA ADUNCA

ORNAMENTAL GRASSES
CAREX FIRMA VARIEGATA
FESTUCA OVINA V. GLAUCA "MINOR"

DWARF, COMPACT OR SLOW GROWING SHRUBS
DAPHNE ARBUSCULA
DAPHNE KOSANINII
KALMIOPSIS FRAGRANS " LePINIEC FORM" [K.LEACHIANA]
POTENTILLA FRUITICOSA "CASCADE CUSHION"
RHODODENDRON CALOSTROTUM SSP. KELETICUM
RHODODENDRON CALOSTROTUM SSP. RADICANS "ROCK FORM"
RHODODENDRON KEISKEI "YAKU FAIRY"
RHODODENDRON SALUENENSE SSP.CHAMEUNUM V. PROSTRATUM
RHODODENDRON "WREN"
SALIX REPENS
SALIX RETICULATA
VACCINIUM MACROCARPON "HAMILTON"