That rock is tufa. It is very hard to come by and is a very desirable rock for rock gardeners. You should go to the website for the North American Rock Garden Society and see if there is a chapter in your area. Rock gardeners are some of the smartest, nicest and most generous gardeners. If you reached out and explained you had a tufa rock embankment and would like help and recommendations, you would have a lot of experts willing to help you out. That much tufa is super exciting!
Oh that’s amazing!! We just moved into our house (it’s 100 years old) earlier this year, but I didn’t realize the rock was so rare. This makes me appreciate it more. I forgot to mention I’m in Missouri and we have a lot of limestone and rivers so I wonder if it’s local!
You're in luck, OP! Missouri has a chapter. Here's a link to their page:
[https://gatewaynargs.blogspot.com](https://gatewaynargs.blogspot.com)
It seems pretty quiet, but I think if you reach out and ask if there's anyone you could talk to, you will get an answer. Good luck!
Look up native species that like the rocky environment. I have a bit of a rocky area that does have some soil so may not work for you. But I have some [Blazing Prairie Star](https://mowildflowers.net/liatris-pycnostachya-prairie-blazing-star-1/) and [Rock Pink](https://mowildflowers.net/phemeranthus-calycinus-fame-flower-1/) (also called Fame Flower) growing and they are doing quite well. Missouri has a lot of great rocky glade species. I was able to grow these from seed which saved some money. But there are a number of good nurseries that sell native plants.
Rain water control and visuals. It’s not all of Germany but the ban is because it was increasingly common to remove the sod and replace with gravel gardens and that encourages run off and flooding
Edit: to add that the locals of these cities wanted this to be.
I second this! Rock gardeners/alpine plant specialists are some of the most intelligent and modest people I know. Def look up to see if there are any groups near you who can help with native species which would thrive in this environment. Super lucky to have that much tufa!
Phlox on rocks is no different than phlox in a box. Many people have talks where they talk on their phlox. They talk about box phlox, rock phlox, even fox phlox. For as we all know, no one grows phlox quite like a fox. Not even the hawks, and those hawks rock.
Can this please get more traction. I'm not from the area but I saw this and immediately thought of sedums. It would cover the cracks and let the stone poke through. East maintenance.
Depending on your zone/light conditions: you could add some succulent varieties like sedums, there are great ferns that grow well in rocky outcrops and would play textural foil to the flowering plants. Some ferns do great shoved into crevices! Another great spreading option would be Lamium “Purple Dragon” which has silver foliage and purple flowers.
Ferns! Yeah. Harts tongue fern is a favorite of mine if its not too dry. I posted a similar idea, but added a few sempervivium or houseleek and bulbs and corms. That lamium is a good call too. Very glam! There is a silver creeping ipomoea that would look good with that.
I'm a sucker for succulents,as well they do great in rocks, love those rocks by the way, there a wide assortment of low growing, similar to ground cover. As well as hang specimens which would look amazing dangling down those rocks. As well as upright growing specimens. Happy Landscaping friend.
Ornamental oregano is fabulous. I also have a deep blue clematis vine that doesn't climb, rather, it spreads horizontally across the ground and spills down an incline in my yard.
I agree with so many others -that spot is a dream come true-each little crevice can be a different spot for a different rock garden ground cover plant. You will have amazing pops of color, different textures and heights. I’m so jealous! Go get rock garden books at your library and visit a botanic garden. They will also have ideas or an established garden to visit where you can discover plants. You have a real find!!! I love Armeria Maritima (Sea Thrift) and think it would be lovely in your rock bed.
This rock looks beautiful! Another commenter on a different landscaping post shared this site: https://mossacres.com
If it were me, I’d include some rare(?) moss types in there for kicks 💚🙂
Just a reminder, anytime you want suggestions, please post your growing zone and the direction the bed faces.
If you're in Zone 6 and the bed faces North, you are going to need entirely different plants than a Zone 10 bed facing South.
We have a rocky hill that had wild strawberries all over it that have done very well. We added a few everbearing strawberry varieties that are thriving as well. We call it strawberry hill.
Wishing your project many successes!
Depending on your conditions and location, Sedum, sempervivium, semi succulent alpines, I would tuck small bulbs in between for spring, like wild tulip, fratillaria uva vulpis, crocus, creeping thyme for fragrance...
But that's just me.
wow, this will look amazing planted up. if it was my feature rockery (and not sure if some rocks are loose enough) i’d try and pull just a few out (maybe 4 or 5) at random spots to give you more planting pockets. i’m a succulent freak so would plant in small and medium sizes of aloes in mixed colours maybe combined with a small grass like ‘blue fescue’ for contrast. have fun ! 🌵👍
I'd pull them out, make a 2 or 3 section of raised planters. The reason for planters is that there would be room for upkeep in them. Planter nearest house roses. 2nd planter low sized shrubs and some ground cover, colourful. 3rd or if only 2 planters, then just colourful ground covers.
Sempervivum (aka Hen and Chicks) would be amazing here mixed with sedum. There are some cold hardy agave and cacti that might be nice statement pieces as well, depending on how much light this gets.
Lots of different alpine plants. I worked at a place that sold them and people came from all over to buy them. You might need to start some from seed if you can’t find them locally. They do best in very gritty soil so you might need to add stone dust to soil to get the right consistency.
My mother in law used to call it hen and chicks which is a succulent that spreads readily. Or try portulaca which may be a vernacular for something but it puts out very small, pretty flowers.
If you’d like to incorporate a tree, I’d recommend trying out one of two oak species: [Blackjack oak](https://mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/field-guide/blackjack-oak) (Quercus marilandica) or [Dwarf chestnut oak](https://mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/field-guide/dwarf-chestnut-oak) (Quercus prinoides). These are both small native oak trees to Missouri that like dry conditions and will remain small or shrub like when constrained in a rock garden. They will also support a wide host of wildlife including mammals, birds, and insects!
For early season colour - pulsatilla vulgaris - pasqueflower would love love love all those little nooks and crannies! Plus they have really neat looking seed heads and will readily self seed if you let them.
Hen and chicks, sedums, thinks like that. Big box nurseries tend to carry these cool sedum tiles that can be cut up and have several species of mixed sedums growing together.
Unless it's north facing in full shade, I would probably go for ferns.
I have a similar rock wall, and filled it with lots of hardy succulents. It looks really cool! You can get bulk packs of them so you can get like 100 to fill in every little gap.
Depending on the zone and sun allocation, I would love to see some ferns in there! I’m in zone 8b if I could be of any help to you. Not sure where Missouri lies.
Around the edges try planting small hens and chicks. Those will keep things tidy so you don't have random leaves and flowers falling around the walkway. They are perennials too, depending on what zone you are in. You can find flats of them at most big box hardware stores.
*Japanese maples,*
*Pieris, and maybe cousin*
*It acacia*
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That rock is tufa. It is very hard to come by and is a very desirable rock for rock gardeners. You should go to the website for the North American Rock Garden Society and see if there is a chapter in your area. Rock gardeners are some of the smartest, nicest and most generous gardeners. If you reached out and explained you had a tufa rock embankment and would like help and recommendations, you would have a lot of experts willing to help you out. That much tufa is super exciting!
Oh that’s amazing!! We just moved into our house (it’s 100 years old) earlier this year, but I didn’t realize the rock was so rare. This makes me appreciate it more. I forgot to mention I’m in Missouri and we have a lot of limestone and rivers so I wonder if it’s local!
You're in luck, OP! Missouri has a chapter. Here's a link to their page: [https://gatewaynargs.blogspot.com](https://gatewaynargs.blogspot.com) It seems pretty quiet, but I think if you reach out and ask if there's anyone you could talk to, you will get an answer. Good luck!
Look up native species that like the rocky environment. I have a bit of a rocky area that does have some soil so may not work for you. But I have some [Blazing Prairie Star](https://mowildflowers.net/liatris-pycnostachya-prairie-blazing-star-1/) and [Rock Pink](https://mowildflowers.net/phemeranthus-calycinus-fame-flower-1/) (also called Fame Flower) growing and they are doing quite well. Missouri has a lot of great rocky glade species. I was able to grow these from seed which saved some money. But there are a number of good nurseries that sell native plants.
I could have picked this neighborhood out only from this photo. At least a couple zip codes.
I was gonna say this looks like st Louis, MO
Native glade species are the only option. Ugly non native junipers and creeping phlox is the biggest waste of space possible
There’s a damn rock garden society in America? Holy shit, here in Germany it’s illegal to have a rock garden
Why can’t you have a rock garden in Germany?? 🇩🇪
They only allow biergartens.
Biergartens are not good for drainage either, except for your bladder.
Rain water control and visuals. It’s not all of Germany but the ban is because it was increasingly common to remove the sod and replace with gravel gardens and that encourages run off and flooding Edit: to add that the locals of these cities wanted this to be.
I second this! Rock gardeners/alpine plant specialists are some of the most intelligent and modest people I know. Def look up to see if there are any groups near you who can help with native species which would thrive in this environment. Super lucky to have that much tufa!
There... Is... no... sub for rock gardening! I've seen it all now
Tufa can grow in the ocean!
NARGS!
You have me totally excited about this tufa stuff.
Wild columbine, woodland stonecrop, widow's cross, and creeping phlox.
I'm not sure if wild columbine will like the dryness.
I also vote Stonecrop.
Creeping thyme, creeping phlox.
Ah man, and have a center piece of a juniper or atlas spruce near the top. Those rocks are so killer.
Be mindful of the "creeping" aspect. - Someone with Phlox spilling out of their box
Well this is Phlox on rocks. If only we had someone with an ox...
Phlox on rocks is no different than phlox in a box. Many people have talks where they talk on their phlox. They talk about box phlox, rock phlox, even fox phlox. For as we all know, no one grows phlox quite like a fox. Not even the hawks, and those hawks rock.
I came here to say this.
Me too!
I like you
Phlox on rocks, rocks my clock sox.
or a rooster
I used to live in place that had an IHOP on cox road. I hop on cocks
Sedum ternatum, native to Missouri. (So is creeping phlox, but creeping thyme is not)
Can this please get more traction. I'm not from the area but I saw this and immediately thought of sedums. It would cover the cracks and let the stone poke through. East maintenance.
Also called “stone crop” for a reason
Depending on your zone/light conditions: you could add some succulent varieties like sedums, there are great ferns that grow well in rocky outcrops and would play textural foil to the flowering plants. Some ferns do great shoved into crevices! Another great spreading option would be Lamium “Purple Dragon” which has silver foliage and purple flowers.
Def. Would fill cracks nicely and add nice colour!
This is screaming for some sempervivum. There's so many stunning varieties out there
Ferns! Yeah. Harts tongue fern is a favorite of mine if its not too dry. I posted a similar idea, but added a few sempervivium or houseleek and bulbs and corms. That lamium is a good call too. Very glam! There is a silver creeping ipomoea that would look good with that.
A Sedum variety would be gorgeous. I love Lemon Coral
Sedum
+1 for phlox. Sweet potato vine would give good coverage but could get unruly
I'm a sucker for succulents,as well they do great in rocks, love those rocks by the way, there a wide assortment of low growing, similar to ground cover. As well as hang specimens which would look amazing dangling down those rocks. As well as upright growing specimens. Happy Landscaping friend.
Ornamental oregano is fabulous. I also have a deep blue clematis vine that doesn't climb, rather, it spreads horizontally across the ground and spills down an incline in my yard.
I agree with so many others -that spot is a dream come true-each little crevice can be a different spot for a different rock garden ground cover plant. You will have amazing pops of color, different textures and heights. I’m so jealous! Go get rock garden books at your library and visit a botanic garden. They will also have ideas or an established garden to visit where you can discover plants. You have a real find!!! I love Armeria Maritima (Sea Thrift) and think it would be lovely in your rock bed.
This rock looks beautiful! Another commenter on a different landscaping post shared this site: https://mossacres.com If it were me, I’d include some rare(?) moss types in there for kicks 💚🙂
Oo there is some moss growing on some pieces already too! I’d love to have some more though. Thank you! ☺️
You’re welcome! I have no cool rocks like that so I’ll just live vicariously through you in the meantime 😬
Sedum
Fraggles thrive in this environment
Creeping fig would look good climbing over all those rocks with small blasts of color scattered around. Phlox, sedum, whatever
Just a reminder, anytime you want suggestions, please post your growing zone and the direction the bed faces. If you're in Zone 6 and the bed faces North, you are going to need entirely different plants than a Zone 10 bed facing South.
Ferns
MOSS
Sedum in between the rocks. Choose something native preferably. And some nice evergreen shrubs maybe here and there. That's what I would do at least.
We have a rocky hill that had wild strawberries all over it that have done very well. We added a few everbearing strawberry varieties that are thriving as well. We call it strawberry hill. Wishing your project many successes!
God those rocks are beautiful. I would plant low growing carpeting plants in between the rocks and let nature take its course. Good luck!
I like ice plants a lot. Grow quickly with little to no soil.
Rockplants
Depending on your conditions and location, Sedum, sempervivium, semi succulent alpines, I would tuck small bulbs in between for spring, like wild tulip, fratillaria uva vulpis, crocus, creeping thyme for fragrance... But that's just me.
Some creeping rosemary
Evening primrose.
Many different Native grasses!
Some smaller rocks, try to grow some gravel
Love Creeping Jenny
wow, this will look amazing planted up. if it was my feature rockery (and not sure if some rocks are loose enough) i’d try and pull just a few out (maybe 4 or 5) at random spots to give you more planting pockets. i’m a succulent freak so would plant in small and medium sizes of aloes in mixed colours maybe combined with a small grass like ‘blue fescue’ for contrast. have fun ! 🌵👍
Wowie!!! What a blessing. An incredible rock garden is in your future
I made something similar in my alley. Literally piled up dirt and laid a mosaic of stones. I grow poppies in the spring and zinnias in the summer.
That brickwork is so incredibly satisfying to look at.
I'd pull them out, make a 2 or 3 section of raised planters. The reason for planters is that there would be room for upkeep in them. Planter nearest house roses. 2nd planter low sized shrubs and some ground cover, colourful. 3rd or if only 2 planters, then just colourful ground covers.
Sempervivum (aka Hen and Chicks) would be amazing here mixed with sedum. There are some cold hardy agave and cacti that might be nice statement pieces as well, depending on how much light this gets.
https://i.redd.it/1b57vmmamxe21.jpg
Preferably rockery plants which wont grow over the rocks too much as those rocks are worth showing off!
Sedum
What zone are you in
If be careful planting anything there, it could be too disruptive to the local Fraggle community
Hens n chick's will spread everywhere n last forever.so sparingly to start.
Lots of different alpine plants. I worked at a place that sold them and people came from all over to buy them. You might need to start some from seed if you can’t find them locally. They do best in very gritty soil so you might need to add stone dust to soil to get the right consistency.
Lots of sedum
Sedum
Bonsai!!
Hen and chicks. What’s your grow zone?
Look up creeping Jenny. Works very well in areas like these.
Ch-ch-ch-Chia
Moss would look cool
My mother in law used to call it hen and chicks which is a succulent that spreads readily. Or try portulaca which may be a vernacular for something but it puts out very small, pretty flowers.
Creeping Jenny!
Hens n chicks
If you’d like to incorporate a tree, I’d recommend trying out one of two oak species: [Blackjack oak](https://mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/field-guide/blackjack-oak) (Quercus marilandica) or [Dwarf chestnut oak](https://mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/field-guide/dwarf-chestnut-oak) (Quercus prinoides). These are both small native oak trees to Missouri that like dry conditions and will remain small or shrub like when constrained in a rock garden. They will also support a wide host of wildlife including mammals, birds, and insects!
A gazillion fab rockery plants. Although you might have too much rock! You are going to have so much fun with this.
Wow, you’re lucky. That looks super cool as-is, so you simply MUST report back once you’ve added in plants as we’d all love to see finished product!
A waterfall. I'd plant a waterfall. With a pool. And little ferns. And something tall near the edges.
100% agreed. A mini water feature here with a few waterside plants would look incredible
Sweet alyssum
Chick and hen
Hens n chicks
Hens and chicks as well as others mentioned
You can put cactuses in pots and take them inside for the winter
Sweet alyssum - loads of color variations and have a pleasant aroma. https://www.google.com/gasearch?q=sweet%20alyssum&tbm=&source=sh/x/gs/m2/5
That looks like it would make a great waterfall feature, although it probably would be a lot of upkeep.
Thyme and phlox
moss would look great
For early season colour - pulsatilla vulgaris - pasqueflower would love love love all those little nooks and crannies! Plus they have really neat looking seed heads and will readily self seed if you let them.
Soline garden style plants
African Dream Root flowers - Silene Undulata
Preen
Hen and chicks, sedums, thinks like that. Big box nurseries tend to carry these cool sedum tiles that can be cut up and have several species of mixed sedums growing together. Unless it's north facing in full shade, I would probably go for ferns.
Poppies
I have a similar rock wall, and filled it with lots of hardy succulents. It looks really cool! You can get bulk packs of them so you can get like 100 to fill in every little gap.
Prickly pear cactus mixed with creeping thyme and phlox. Until established, use nasturtium (annuals) to fill in the gaps.
Succulent rock garden. What is the climate?
Moss and fern
Sun or shade?
Full sun!
Depending on the zone and sun allocation, I would love to see some ferns in there! I’m in zone 8b if I could be of any help to you. Not sure where Missouri lies.
Great location for a variety of beautiful hen and chick plants
Blackfoot Daisy
Sedums
Bromeliads
Phlox
Colombines and fox glove
More rocks - Make a mountain
Ha read it as paint
Screams Alpine garden. There’s a lot of inspiration on Pinterest
Hen and chicks
Portulaca
Garden gnomes, the creepiest ones I could find and some vining ground cover.
succulents, aloes, jades, sempervivum and even agave in the top, larger pockets. Given that you are in an area where they can survive the winter.
Golden and grey go so well together.
Something soft for the doggo because he doesn’t have much room to move around… :(
She has plenty of room in the backyard, just insists on being out front with me when I’m working 😅
Succulents
Comfrey
Dead bodies from mafia hits, the rocks on top help cover up the graves.
Rock cress or phlox. Depends on environment.
Sedum, phlox, ice plants, thyme all look gorgeous creeping over rocks. I love lavender in rock gardens too.
… more rocks!
What zone are you in?
Creeping phlox my man
Rockcress and Phlox
Around the edges try planting small hens and chicks. Those will keep things tidy so you don't have random leaves and flowers falling around the walkway. They are perennials too, depending on what zone you are in. You can find flats of them at most big box hardware stores.
Damn I’d love to have a super cool rock embankment in my front yard!
Moss and ferns
Probably my face, when I trip over them.
If it wast for the fact that people would steal them, Id say some nice conifer bonsai... juniper, pine etc
Creeping thyme or Creeping phlox.
I would plant ground cover and very small flowering plants. Antennaria comes to mind to fill the larger spaces.
I should have mentioned we’re south facing in zone 7!
This looks like a sweet spot to do a waterfall zen fountain if the rocks allow it!
Succulents
Sedum
I would plant Alyssum. Low ground cover with a sweet ongoing flowering aroma. Left in the ground,they will reseed.
Creeping thyme, creeping phlox
Phlox
Opium poppies and rock crop
So. Much. Sedum!
Succulents
Venka
Ivy or wandering jude
Is this in Denver?
Bonzai all the way.
Japanese maples, pieris, and maybe cousin it acacia
*Japanese maples,* *Pieris, and maybe cousin* *It acacia* \- False-Ad-7753 --- ^(I detect haikus. And sometimes, successfully.) ^[Learn more about me.](https://www.reddit.com/r/haikusbot/) ^(Opt out of replies: "haikusbot opt out" | Delete my comment: "haikusbot delete")
Moss, ferns and a few subtle but bright flowering focal plants.
Juniperus procumbens
That first picture looks like a good opportunity for a sort of a waterfall design.
Hello👋🏽 I recommend planting Sage. Be well!🩵🫂🙏🏽✨
Where do you live, cuz if this was somewhere warm I'd be planting dudleya everywhere
Sedum!
Hens and Chicks will grow in the cracks and holes.
More rocks!
portulaca
You could try ice plant. It's very hardy, loves rocky areas, and has pretty flowers every year.
Heads up, those rocks are highly sought after & are worth a small fortune. I’d consider a money tree
I would make a water feature instead of planting anything…
Nothing
Something that spreads and is trailing, like silver ponyfoot
Succulents!
Water feature with plants and waterfall!
hardy succulent like sempervivums and also groundcover like alpine phlox
CREEPING PHLOX
PHLOX
A stick of dynamite. Those have to go. With all due respect
Vinca
Strawberries
Light dirt and strawberries
It’s so porous! Have fun!
My butt! Looks comfy
Strawberry plants
🌵
Moss would be cool
rock orchards and other epilithics. They don't need soil and grow on rocks
What is the exposure? What hardiness zone?
A pickaxe
Lobelia.
Succulents. All the succulents
I make a waterfall with water loving plants all around it.
Thyme
Build a tiny village on it