30 Rock Garden Plants That Perform Like Rock Stars!

Looking at your yard or garden area, do you find that some garden areas have many rocks? And maybe your soil is not ideal either. Do you have a rocky landscape? Maybe not much soil but pockets of soil here and there with more rocks than anything else.  If you have a rocky landscape that is a challenge to grow plants in, then consider planting perennials that can withstand your soil conditions and works well with your rocky landscape. Transform your yard into a beautiful rock garden that performs like a rock star! How cool would that be?

Instead of using plants that have a low survival chance in your rocky yard, think about using plants that can grow in your yard and even flourish. Rocky landscape? No worries with these 30 rock garden plants that perform like rock stars in your rock garden. Trust me, there are many plant options to choose from that can live in a garden surrounded by rocks. Take a look at these 30 rock garden plants that can perform like rock stars in your rock garden. Be sure to tell us what you think.

 

1. Silver Mound or Artemisia   

Silver Mound or Artemisia has intricately cut icy, silvery leaves that are airy and soft to touch. Sun loving Silver Mound grows 8 to 12 inches tall spreading 12 to 15 inches wide and grows in zones 3 to 8. Silver Mound has white blooms but is grown mainly for its silvery foliage. Silver Mound is great as ground cover or in rock gardens where it will be a standout in your landscape.  

 

2. Agastache Bolero or Hummingbird Mint  

Agastache Bolero or Hummingbird Mint is a compact growing perennial with rose purple blooming spikes that hummingbirds will adore. Agastache Bolero grows in zones 5 to 10, reaching between 12 to 18 inches in height, and blooms in mid Summer to Fall. Sun loving Agastache Bolero with its bronze tinted leaves attracts honey bees, hummingbirds, and butterflies when it blooms from midSummer to Fall. Bolero likes average soil but can adapt to dry soils.   

 

3. Dragon’s Blood Sedum or Stonecrop  

Dragon’s Blood Sedum or Stonecrop grows in zones 3 to 9 reaching between 4 to 6 inches in height, and 12 to 18 inches wide. Sun loving Dragon’s Blood Sedum has green leaves edged in dark cranberry and covered with vivid red, starry flowers that appear in mid to late Summer. Easy to grow Dragon’s Blood Sedum does well in either normal, sandy, or dry soil conditions. Dragon’s Blood tolerates dry sites, foot traffic, is both deer and rabbit resistant, attracts butterflies and birds, bee friendly, can be grown in containers, as a groundcover, evergreen, low maintenance, pest as well as disease resistant, can be used in small spaces, ideal for mass plantings and will naturalizes in a landscape setting. A dramatic selection for a rock garden!

 

4. Blue Moon Woodland Phlox or Wild Sweet William   

Fragrant Blue Moon Woodland Phlox or Wild Sweet William is a native groundcover with rich violet blue blooms that appear over the foliage from April to May. A true rock star in your rock garden, Blue Moon Phlox grows between 8 to 12 inches tall in zones 3 to 8 in normal or wet moist soil. A perennial Blue Moon Phlox is deer resistant, attracts both butterflies and hummingbirds, and likes garden areas that are full shade to half Sun and half shade.  

 

5. Northern Maidenhair Fern

Northern Maidenhair Fern has grassy green foliage with jet black stems that are airy in appearance. Native Northern Maidenhair Fern grows in zones 2 to 8 reaching 12 to 18 inches tall and wide in full shade or half sun and half shade. Cold hardy Northern Maidenhair Fern has flat fronds that branch in a horseshoe type shape and can be planted in normal, acidic or moist wet soil. Northern Maidenhair is both deer and rabbit resistant, can be used as a ground cover or in rock gardens.

 

6. Bloodroot  

Bloodroot has cigar-shaped leaves that unfurl slowly opening into large water lily-like foliage with white flowers and golden yellow centers that blooms from early to mid Spring. Bloodroot grows in zones 3 to 8 reaching 6 to 8 inches in height that likes full shade to half Sun and half shade. Native Bloodroot likes soil conditions that are either normal or moist and wet. It is bee friendly, can be used as a groundcover or in rock gardens. If ingested, Bloodroot can be toxic to some animals, so take care where it is planted.   

 

7. Dwarf Crested Iris

Dwarf Crested Iris has vigorous lilac blue blooms that appear in early to late Spring. A native plant, Dwarf Crested Iris grows in zones 5 to 8 reaching about 4 to 8 inches tall and likes a garden with full shade to half Sun and half shade light conditions. Dwarf Crested Iris is deer resistant and bee friendly, can be used as a groundcover, in rock gardens, in woodlands, or in small spaces. If ingested, Dwarf Crested Iris can be toxic to some animals, so take care where it is planted.

 

8. Blaze of Fulda Sedum or Stonecrop

Blaze of Fulda Sedum or Stonecrop has dark maroon ruffled rosettes tinted with bronze green that forms a dense evergreen mat. The rose red blossom clusters bloom in mid to late Summer and like soil that is either normal or sandy. Blaze of Fulda Sedum grows in zones 4 to 9 reaching between 3 to 6 inches in height, and likes full Sun to mostly Sunny garden locations. Blaze of Fulda works well as a groundcover or on a slope or bank, attracts butterflies, hot dry site tolerant, humidity tolerant, blooms for 4 weeks or more, can be planted in containers, rabbit resistant, and is seaside and salt tolerant. Blaze of Fulda with its deep burgundy fall color is a favorite sedum to use in rock gardens and green roofs as well.     

 

9. Lamium Golden Anniversary or Spotted Dead Nettle

Lamium Golden Anniversary or Spotted Dead Nettle has dark green leaves with golden yellow edges and a white center stripe that have lavender flowers blooming from mid Spring until late Summer. Lamium Golden Anniversary grows in zones 3 to 8 reaching about 8 inches in height and likes gardens with mostly Sunny to full shade. Lamium Golden Anniversary works well on a slope or bank, is both deer and rabbit resistant, dry shade tolerant, shade tolerant, can be used as a groundcover, and blooms for 4 weeks or more. Lamium Golden Anniversary likes soil that is either normal or clay.

 

10. Lamium Pink Pewter or Spotted Dead Nettle  

Lamium Pink Pewter or Spotted Dead Nettle has scalloped blue green margins with shimmering silver of pink pewter that brightens shady garden areas to serve as a foundation for the soft tubular pink flowers. Lamium Pink Pewter grows in zones 3 to 8 reaching about 6 inches tall and likes a variety of garden light conditions from mostly Sunny to full shade. Pink Pewter blooms from late Spring until early Summer and does well in either normal or clay soil. Lamium Pink Pewter is ideal for use on a slope or bank, is both deer and rabbit resistant, dry shade tolerant, shade tolerant, can be used as a groundcover, and blooms for 4 week or more.   

 

11. Ajuga Bronze Beauty or Carpet Bugle   

Ajuga Bronze Beauty or Carpet Bugle has burgundy bronze foliage with lavender blue flowering spikes that appear from late Spring to early Summer.  Ajuga Bronze Beauty, a groundcover, grows in zones 3 to 9 reaching about 3 inches tall, and likes a garden that has light conditions from full Sun to full shade. Bronze Beauty likes soil that is either normal, acidic, or clay. Ajuga Bronze Beauty is beneficial for pollinators, is both deer and rabbit resistant, attracts hummingbirds, dry shade tolerant, shade tolerant, foot traffic tolerant, seaside tolerant, blooms for 4 weeks or more, and can be used in a container garden, rock garden, or along garden borders.     

  

12. Campanula Portenschlagiana or Dalmation Bellflower  

Campanula Portenschlagiana or Dalmation Bellflower has light blue, bell-shaped flowers from late Spring through Summer. A free flowering of carpet color, this bellflower is best trailing over walls, rock gardens or between stepping stones. Campanula Portenschlagiana grows in zones 3 to 8 reaching between 6 to 8 inches tall and likes a garden location with full Sun to mostly Shade. Dalmation Bellflower is beneficial for pollinators, humidity tolerant, shade tolerant, and can be used in as a groundcover or in a container garden. If planting in the Southern states, be sure to provide shade for this Campanula. Does well with either normal or clay soil for Campanula Portenschlagiana.

 

13. Campanula Poscharskyana or Serbian Bellflower

Campanula Poscharskyana or Serbian Bellflower has starry blue flowers that trail clinging to dry walls with blooms appearing early to late Summer in soil that is either normal or clay. Campanula Poscharskyana grows in zones 3 to 8 growing abut 6 inches tall and likes a garden area that delivers full Sun to mostly shade. Serbian Bellflower will thrive around large rock gardens or along sandy banks. Campanula Poscharskyana is beneficial for pollinators, can be used as a groundcover, dry shade tolerant, shade tolerant, foot traffic tolerant, seaside and salt tolerant, and can be used in a container garden.  

 

14. Geranium Shepherd’s Warning or Cranesbill

Geranium Shepherd’s Warning or Cranesbill has bright cerise pink flowers that rise above dense low growing foliage and bloom in late Spring to late Summer. Geranium Shepherd’s Warning grows in zones 4 to 8 reaching between 5 to 9 inches tall and likes a garden location with full Sun to mostly shade. Shepherd’s Warning’s leaves turns red in the Fall and does well in either normal or clay soil. Cranesbill works well planted as an edger or on a slope or bank, beneficial for pollinators, attracts butterflies, is deer resistant, shade tolerant, blooms for 4 weeks or more, and can be used in a container garden, rock garden, or at the edge of a woodland area.  

 

15. Liriope Big Blue or Lilyturf  

Liriope Big Blue or Lilyturf has spikes with blue flowers that rise above the grass like foliage that bloom from early to late Summer. Liriope Big Blue or Lilyturf grows in zones 5 to 10 reaching about 14 inches tall and likes garden areas with full Sun to mostly shade. This lilyturf thrives in a wide range of environments including dry shade to full Sun, soil such as normal, acidic, sandy, or clay. Liriope Big Blue does nicely on a slope or bank, for use as an ornamental or edging plant, is deer resistant, dry shade tolerant, shade tolerant, humidity tolerant, foot traffic tolerant, seaside and salt tolerant, evergreen, and as a great groundcover. After Big Blue blooms, clusters of blackberries appear providing some Fall garden interest.  

 

16. Lithodora Grace Ward   

Lithodora Grace Ward has a spreading dark green mat of hairy leaves that produce blue star flowers from early Spring through early Summer. A true rock star with intense blue star flowers that are spectacular when grown around rocks or landscape boulders. Sun loving Lithodora Grace Ward grows in zones 6 – 10 and reaches the height of 6 inches. Lithodora Grace Ward is deer resistant, cold hardy, low maintenance plants, evergreen, can be used as a groundcover, and blooms for 4 weeks or more. Grace Ward is an excellent edger as a perennial border and does well in normal or acidic soils. A great addition for butterfly gardens, rock gardens, or woodland landscapes. This perennial is not recommended for zones 3 or 4.

 

17. Phlox Louisiana Blue or Wild Sweet William

Phlox Louisiana Blue or Wild Sweet William is invaluable to any rock garden, foundation, or edger with its intense rich dark blue fragrant flowers blooming from mid to late Spring. Phlox Louisiana Blue grows in zones 3 to 8 reaches about 12 inches tall and likes mostly Sun to mostly shade. Phlox Louisiana Blue is fragrant, attracts butterflies, dry shade tolerant, shade tolerant, wet site tolerant, tolerates normal or clay soil, and works as a great groundcover. Louisiana Blue planted en masse is a true rock star filling in around other perennials with a mat of loosely entwined stems. The semi-evergreen foliage turns burgundy in the Fall and Winter seasons.    

 

18. Potentilla Neumanianna or Cinquefoil

Potentilla Neumanianna or Cinquefoil has an evergreen mat of shiny, deep green scented leaves with bright yellow buttercup flowers that bloom from mid Spring until early Summer. Potentilla Neumanianna grows in zones 4 to 8 reaching 3 to 6 inches in height, and likes garden areas with full Sun to mostly shade. Potentilla Neumanianna works well on a slope or bank, beneficial for pollinators, deer resistant, hot dry site tolerant, shade tolerant, tolerates normal clay or sandy soil, evergreen, groundcovers, can be planted in containers, and is foot traffic tolerant. This rock star Potentilla is effective on garden walls or between garden path stones making this a rock garden classic perennial.  

 

19. Anacyclus Garden Gnome or Mount Atlas Daisy  

Anacyclus Garden Gnome or Mount Atlas Daisy has short stemmed white daisies and yellow eyes with bottom red petals that appear from mid Spring to late Summer. The Garden Gnome has a low forming mat of very fine, fern-like grey green leaves which gives it its rock star qualities. Sun loving Anacyclus Garden Gnome grows in zones 5 to 9 reaches between 4 to 6 inches tall and likes normal soil. Anacyclus Garden Gnome can be used as a groundcover, is hot dry site tolerant, drought tolerant, a rock garden favorite, and blooms for 4 weeks. The Mount Atlas Daisy closes their flowers at dusk and reopen in the dawn hours of the morning.

 

20. Arabis Snowcap or Rockcress

Arabis Snowcap or Rockcress has dense carpet grey green foliage that is covered with pure white blooms that are sweetly scented. Rockcress blooms from early to late Spring. Arabis Snowcap grows in zones 4 to 8 reaches about 8 inches tall and likes garden areas with full Sun to half Sun and half shade. Easy to grow Arabis Snowcap is beneficial for pollinators, attracts butterflies, is deer resistant, fragrant, evergreen, humidity tolerant, tolerates normal or sandy soil, can be used as a groundcover or a garden bed border, and blooms for 4 weeks or more. Snowcap is a rock star champion of rock gardens and can be planted with Spring blooming bulbs for a spectacular floral show in the Spring.  

 

21. Fire Spinner Delosperma or Ice Plant

Fire Spinner Delosperma or Ice Plant has hundreds of flaming apricot orange petals with an inner flamboyant pink band and white eye with yellow stamens atop succulent apple green foliage. Fast spreading Fire Spinner blooms from early to late Summer delivering lushness to hot dry garden areas with poor soil. Performs with true rock star quality! Fire Spinner Delosperma grows in zones 5 to 8 and grows a mere 2 to 4 inches tall and likes garden locations with full Sun to mostly Sunny. Fire Spinner Ice Plant attracts butterflies, is deer resistant, hot dry site tolerant, drought tolerant, tolerates normal or sandy soil, can be used as a groundcover, blooms for 4 weeks or more, and can be used in container gardening.

 

22. Fire Wonder Delosperma or Ice Plant  

Fire Wonder Delosperma or Ice Plant has bright orange petals with an inner yellow band then white band with a white to yellow eye that blooms during the Summer. Sun loving Fire Wonder Delosperma grows in zones 5 to 10 reaching between 6 to 8 inches tall and thrives in poor quality soil with good drainage. Fire Wonder Ice Plant can be planted on a slop or bank, heat tolerant, drought tolerant, tolerates normal clay or sandy soil, and can be used in container gardens, garden beds and garden borders. Makes a big impact when planted en mass, in a rock garden or along a garden border.   

 

23.  Delosperma Garnet or Ice Plant

Delosperma Garnet or Ice Plant has long blooming bright neon garnet red petals with an inner ring of sizzling hot pink with yellow eye blooming from late Spring until early Fall. Sun loving Delosperma Garnet grows in zones 5 to 10 reaching between 4 to 6 inches tall and is a rock star garden favorite. From the Jewel of the Desert Series, Garnet Ice Plant attracts butterflies, is deer resistant, hot dry site tolerant, tolerates both normal or sandy soils, groundcovers, blooms for 4 weeks or more, and can be used in container gardening or in a rock garden to perform like the superstar that it is.   

 

24. Delosperma Golden Nugget or Ice Plant

Delosperma Golden Nugget or Ice Plant dazzles with its glossy yellow flowers over the bright green succulent foliage from late Spring until early Fall. Low growing with big impact Delosperma Golden Nugget grows in zones 4 to 8 reaching between 2 to 3 inches in height and grows in a garden area with full Sun to mostly Sunny. This hardy ice plant has foliage that turns maroon in the Winter making it attractive year around. Golden Nugget Ice Plant attracts butterflies, is deer resistant, hot dry site tolerant, tolerates either normal or sandy soil, can be used as an edger or as a groundcover, blooms for 4 weeks or more, and can be used in container gardening. A super star with its intense neon yellow blooms it brightens a rock garden or an alpine trough area.

 

25. Delosperma Peridot or Ice Plant

Delosperma Peridot or Ice Plant dazzles in your rock garden with its sunny yellow colored petals and inner halo of white flowers from late Spring until early Fall. A Jewel of the Desert series, Delosperma Peridot grows in zones 5 to 10 growing between 4 to 6 inches tall and loves full Sun. Peridot Ice Plant attracts butterflies, is deer resistant, hot dry site tolerant, tolerates both normal and sandy soils, can be used as a groundcover, blooms for 4 weeks or more, and can be used in container gardening.   

 

26. Sagina Subulata or Irish Moss

Sagina Subulata or Irish Moss has lush deep green moss-like foliage carpet with tiny star-shaped white flowers appearing early to late Spring. Sagina Subulata grows in zones 4 to 8 reaching a mere 1 inch tall and does well in a garden setting with full Sun to part Sun and part shade. Irish Moss with its dainty white flowers  makes a fantastic groundcover, is humidity tolerant, tolerates normal or clay soil, and light foot traffic tolerant. Irish moss has the rock star power needed for a rock garden, around garden stone steps or garden pavers. Lush and fresh, Irish moss is a true star!   

 

27. Sedum Kamtschaticum or Stonecrop  

Sedum Kamtschaticum or Stonecrop has clusters of star-shaped yellow flowers that appear from early to late Summer. Sedum Kamtschaticum grows in zones 3 to 10 reaching about 6 inches tall and loves garden areas that have full Sun to mostly Sunny light. Kamtschaticum has scalloped foliage with glossy deep fleshy, spoon-shaped leaves that matures to bronze reddish tones in the Autumn months. Kamtschaticum Stonecrop can be planted on a slop or bank, attracts butterflies, is both deer and rabbit resistant, can be used as a groundcover, hot dry site tolerant, humidity tolerant, foot traffic tolerant, seaside tolerant, tolerates normal clay or sandy soils, blooms for 4 weeks or more and can be used in a container garden.

 

28. Sunsparkler Dazzleberry Sedum or Stonecrop

Easy to grow Sunsparkler Dazzleberry Sedum or Stonecrop has foliage that is a unique blue with graphite shades that is striking with its crimson red blooms that appear in the Fall and Summer. Sun loving Sunsparkler Dazzleberry Sedum grows in zones 4 to 9 in soil that is either normal, clay or sandy. Reaching between 6 and 10 inches tall, Sunsparkler Dazzleberry Sedum can be planted on a slop or bank, is both deer and rabbit resistant, attracts butterflies and pollinators, heat and drought tolerant, blooms for 6 weeks or more, can be planted in a garden bed, garden borders, and the blooms can be used as cut flowers. Once established Sunsparkler Dazzleberry with its super rock star power, thrives in poor soil and requires little care.    

 

29. Lemon Ball Sedum or Stonecrop

Lemon Ball Sedum or Stonecrop has super sunny lemon yellow blooms and yellow foliage. Lemon Ball Sedum grows in zones 7 to 11 reaching about 6 inches tall and up to 3 feet wide, loves full Sun with well-draining soil. Easy to grow Lemon Ball Sedum is heat tolerant, can be used as a groundcover or edging plant, in a rock garden, in raised garden beds, patio containers or hanging baskets. When planted en masse alongside roses or perennials, Lemon Ball makes a stunning garden landscape. For rock star power, plant Lemon Ball in nooks and cracks of a rock garden and watch it perform.  

 

30. Thymus Highland Cream or Creeping Thymus  

Thymus Highland Cream or Creeping Thymus has variegated edges of cream colored leaves with pink flowers that appear in mid to late Spring. Thymus Highland Cream grows in zones 4 to 8 reaches 2 to 4 inches tall and does well in a garden with full Sun to part Sun and part shade. Creeping Thymus can be planted on a slope or bank, beneficial for pollinators, is deer resistant, an evergreen, can be used as a groundcover, and is foot traffic tolerant. Thymus Highland Cream likes soil that drains well and is either normal or sandy. A great selection for use around garden path stone work or in the stone cracks. A mighty Rock Star for use around rock gardens.

 

Rocky landscape? Poor soil conditions? No worries with these 30 rock garden plants that perform like rock stars! Transform your rocky landscape into a stage for any of these rockstar plants and let them rock like there’s no tomorrow. You don’t need to spend a lot of money on plants that can’t perform like these can. Work with the landscape you have and plant rock garden perennials that can flourish among your landscape rocks and soil. Trust me you’ll be glad you did!  

If you try any of these 30 Rock Garden Plants that Perform Like Rock Stars be sure to let us know how you make out. For information on perennials that like sandy soil, see our posts 50 Sandy Soil Perennials that like Sun or 22 Sandy Soil Perennials for Shade. For information on drought resistant perennials, see our post 25 Drought Resistant Perennials. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to us in the comments below. We always are ready to help you out.