Alpines for all

GARDENS:Good gardeners appreciate the care that goes into growing true alpines, the 'prime donne' of the gardening world

ONE OF MY favourite events in the horticultural year is the Dublin Alpine Garden Society show, which took place last weekend in Cabinteely. It features expertly grown, diminutive plants: perennials, bulbs and teeny shrubs. In the wild, they grow on mountain sides, in woodland, in high pastures and in rocky places (our Burren, for instance).

The star plants at the show are true alpines, the prime donneof the gardening world: Androsacefrom high in the Alps, Dionysiafrom the mountains of Afghanistan, and other fussy individuals. They are difficult to grow; and may require special housing in airy glasshouses: not for warmth, but to keep them from rotting in our damp Irish soil. Each one that survives is a celebration, and those that have passed on are remembered fondly. (A true alpine enthusiast reveres the plants that he or she has killed almost as much as those that have thrived.)

But all plants that fall under the "alpine" umbrella are not so troublesome. And many, because they are compact, hardy and perennial, are suitable for the tiniest of gardens, and for balconies, window boxes and containers too. When you think of it, a plant that spends its time clinging to a rock face is eminently suited to life on the terrace of a high-rise apartment. Take, for instance, the sea pink ( Armeria maritima): its little pin cushions of grassy foliage and pale pink flowers are a familiar sight on Irish sea cliffs. It needs sunlight, but it is impervious to the whistling winds that whip around tall buildings, and its narrow leaves and papery flowers make it both drought-and wind-proof. A bronze-leaved kind, which has been available the last few years, is 'Rubrifolia'. Its foliage makes a nice contrast with its cerise flowers.

Another terrifically easy alpine-type plant is the chocolate-leaved form of our native lesser celandine, Ranunculus ficaria. This dark-foliaged variety was found in an English woodland by the late, great plantsman, Christopher Lloyd. He styled it 'Brazen Hussy', a name that – for me – echoes with a hearty and annoying chortle. But never mind that. It is a sterling plant, and minimally invasive, compared to the green-foliaged species. The near-black, spade-shaped leaves appear in early spring, and the buttercuppish flowers soon follow. The whole thing disappears underground in summer, where its energy is stored in minute tubers. The glossy foliage is excellent for tiny flower arrangements. It needs more shelter than the sea pink, but it tolerates some shade.

Aubrieta(commonly and erroneously known as aubretia)is another pretty and dainty dwarf plant. It forms mauve-flowered mats, which look perfect spilling over a wall or container. The varieties you find in garden centres are cultivars bred mainly from the Aegean species, A. deltoidea.Twenty years ago it was ubiquitous, which caused some gardeners to shun it, but it's hard to find a better tumbler for a rockery or wall. Just make sure you cut it back after flowering, so it doesn't get straggly.

There are many other small plants, which are loosely termed alpines, and that make carpets and splashes of colour – especially at this time of the year. You’ll find them in garden centres and at plant sales (which are plentiful over the next few months). I’ve listed a few easy ones below.

Tiny perennials

Campanula species (blue bellflowers) including C. carpaticaand C. cochleariifolia. The Serbian bellflower ( C. poscharskyana) and the Dalmation bellflower ( C. portenschlagiana) are both quite invasive, but they're useful for filling up the cracks in walls or rockeries, if you don't have anything else planned.

Small Dianthus(which are related to carnations), such as D. alpinaand D. deltoides; dainty hardy geraniums, including G. sanguineumand 'Ballerina'; small phloxes, such as P. douglasiiand P. subulata;succulent plants, including small sedums and Sempervivum.

Small bulbous plants

Miniature irises such as I. reticulata'Katharine Hodgkin' and I. danfordiae;dwarf narcissus, including 'Tête à Tête', 'February Gold' and N. bulbicodium– the hoop-petticoat daffodil; tiny tulips: Tulipa tardaand 'Little Beauty'; the South African Rhodohypoxis,which has centimetres-high flat-faced pink or white flowers.

Garden events  this weekend

Sunday, April 17th, 10am-4pm Fota House Plant and Garden Fair with more than 50 specialist nurseries and sellers of garden sundries. Admission €8. Marymount Hospice in Cork will receive half of the profits

Sunday, April 17th, 1-5pm It’s Garden Time event sponsored by Bord Bia and Connaught Gold, at Hotel Ballina, Co Mayo, with Dermot O’Neill and Ciaran Burke. See garden-centres.ie. Admission: free