The color pink can do many different things in the garden. It can bring a feeling of nostalgia and romance, suggest happiness and contentment, or refresh our souls with thoughts of good health. Pastel pink softens the surroundings, bright pink can add a sophisticated note, while magenta can give a hint of drama. There are many shades of pink, each with its own impact on the garden.
Here are five spring blooming perennials with pink flowers that are suitable for a rock garden.
Persian Stone Cress (Aethionema grandiflorum)
A native of Lebanon and Iran, Persian stone cress looks like a pale pink version of candytuft (Iberis). The flowers are borne in loose clusters above attractive deep blue-green evergreen leaves. Plants are compact and rounded but short–lived, but may reseed itself. A hybrid, ‘Warley Rose’, offers deep pink flowers.
Size:
-
- 6-8” H x 15” W (‘Warley Rose 4” H x 12” W)
Light:
-
- Full sun
Soil:
-
- Lean, well-drained, alkaline to neutral
Hardness:
- Zones 6-9
Pussytoes (Antennaria dioica)
The flowers are green with pink tips and resemble the toes of a cat as the common name suggests. The foliage is gray-green at first but becomes more green as the summer progresses. The plant has a creeping habit and is an excellent ground cover. The most common variety, A. dioica var. rosea, has rosy-red flowers and is 8-10” high.
Size:
-
- 4” H x 18” W
Light:
-
- Full sun
Soil:
-
- Lean, well-drained
Hardiness:
- Zones 5-9
Coast Rock Cress (Arabis blepharophylla)
Numerous pink flowers are borne above a basal tuft of hairy leaves. A native of California, the plant is evergreen and has a fine texture due to its small, narrow dark green leaves. The cultivar ‘Spring Charm’ has deeply colored pinkish purple flowers.
Size:
-
- 6”H x 12” W
Light:
-
- Full sun to light shade
Soil:
-
- Lean, well-drained
Hardiness:
- Zones 5-7
Pyrenees Thrift (Armeria caespitosa)
This diminutive version of common thrift (Armeria maritime) is only 2-4” high and has pale lilac pink flowers borne in clusters. The plant has narrow leaves and is densely tufted. ‘Bevan’s Variety’ is slightly larger at 5” high and has flowers that are rose colored while var. splendens has flattened leaves and bright pink nodding flowers.
Size:
-
- 2-4” H x 6” W
Light:
-
- Full sun; afternoon shade in South
Soil:
-
- Average, well-drained
Hardiness:
- Zones 4-8
China Meadow Rue (Thalictrum coreanum)
Finally, here is one for a moist area with some shade. China meadow likes a sheltered place with partial shade and rich, moist acid soil. Clusters of lavender-pink flowers are borne in clusters on wiry stems above small, peltate leaves. Unfortunately, this plant is not easy to find but it is well worth the hunt for its unique appearance.
Size:
-
- 8” H x 12” W
Light:
-
- Partial shade
Soil:
-
- Fertile, moist, acid; tolerates more sun if soil sufficiently moist
Hardiness:
- Zones 4-8
These five pink spring blooming perennials are all low growing. Four of them need plenty of light and dry soil; the fifth is very different, thriving in moist soil and partial shade. They vary in color from pale pink to deep pink and would look especially nice with white, purple or blue flowers.
