My property is surrounded with huge bare rock - not much soil on the rock - only a thick layer of moss. Any thoughts on what types of plants (preferably flowering) I could plant in the crevices that don't require much or any soil. Weeds seem to manage so I'm somewhat optimistic that I could find a plant or two that could survive the baren landscape. Any suggestions - or suggested resources would be great. Climate is rain forest - Squamish.
I don't know much about them but the gals at work been talking about "Hens & Chicks" being good in rocky areas. Apparently they don't even need soil!
I have a stacked boulder retaining wall at the south side of my house. This area gets only rain water and is exposed to full sun. I had a dianthus take up residence there all by itself. It must be a very tough plant that requires little soil or water, and when in flower provides simply beautiful pink contrast to the rocks around it. When not in flower the silvery foliage is very nice too. I also live in Squamish...
I suggest that you keep an eye out for "open garden" days via the Sechelt Garden Club (likely in April next spring). If Bill Terry's garden is open to the public, go there to see what can be done with the sort of situation you describe. In the meantime, I'd suggest some native plantings of rock plants to get things started, including local species of Sedum.
Native rock-dwelling Sedum spathulifolium happens to be one of the nicer species in the genus. Whatever you do, don't remove the existing soil with moss on top, it may have taken centuries to develop. If it rains enough in summer there you may be able to grow all sorts of interesting wet climate alpines, as has been done for a long time in Scotland for instance. Check British rock gardening references for ideas.
My house on Lopez Island has the same situation. The top of a rock outcrop was blasted off and the house was anchored to the now flater area. Over the years Daffodils, crocus. and native camas have been planted in the crevases. Don't bother with tulips, they are Deer candy and will be gone in a season. Cerastium, snow in summer seems to take care of it's self. Any of the Stonecrop family, (seedums) are good. We have some that are native. Broad leaved stonecrop, Sedum spathulifolium Roseroot, S. integrifolium Oregon stonecrop, S. oreganum Spreading stonecrop, S. divergens Lance-leaved stonecrop, S. lanceolatum. These are all referenced in Pojar - Mackinnon "Plants of the Pacivic Northwest. A great reference for this area. Hope this helpd a little. barb
Cerastium tomentosum has been pestiferous on local rock outcrops so I would not introduce that one to yours.
I'm not sure how little soil you're working with, but you may like Saxifraga bronchialis. Here's a link: http://www.pnwflowers.com/flower/saxifraga-bronchialis I've used it in crevices with about 2 inches of soil. You can mail order it from Thimble Farms...
I'd like to recommend the book, The Prairie Rock Garden by Donna Balzer. It was written a few years ago, but I thought it was good and used copies could be found. Although it was written for a colder and drier climate, a lot of the plants mentioned would do fine here, and the theories are the same. I have no ties to this book or author other than I reviewed it for a magazine about 100 years ago.
