Cultivating a rock garden can add a beautiful element to your landscape. Mix in a variety of plants, shrubs, grasses, cacti, and succulents to enhance the beauty of your property. Rock gardens are low-maintenance. They are simple to attain, whether scavenged from the forest, beach, mountains, or desert or sourced from a local nursery. They add visual interest and variety to your yard.
Rock gardens are a hot trend in the gardening world, as they can infuse a modern element into any landscape design. Whether you are looking for an easy to care for landscape or you would just like to create a mini rock garden on your property, we have a fantastic collection of ideas for you below.Underneath each of the images, you will find further information and sources.
Tell us: How have you accentuated your garden? Which one of these rock garden ideas most inspired you and why in the Comments below!
1. Dry Creek Bed.In Bainbridge Island, Washington, Welsh quartz boulders define this rock garden. Smaller rocks and pebbles have been scattered to form the dry creek bed. A variety of shrubs and grasses adds color. (via Bliss Garden Design)
2. Pebbled Pathway.A gravel landscape path leads through a lush garden with large grey rocks defining the pathway. Instead of the traditional flagstone path, this an idyllic alternative for a more natural look. (viaFifth Season Landscape Design & Construction)
3. Create A Garden Retreat. Stacked flat stones create a wall on one side, while multiple sizes of rocks, pebbles, and gravelgive dimension. Succulents and plants line either side of the dry stone creek bed, adding color. (via NC Designs)
4. River Bed With Boulder Accents.This is the most basic and easy form of rock gardens, made if you have some extra-large rocks surrounded bya variety of shrubs, grasses, ferns, and plants. Smaller pebbles are scattered around the plants as a filler. (via LDAW Landscape Architecture)
5. Hidden Pathway Bridge. Use pavers and rocks in your garden to create an inexpensive pathway in your backyard. Lush plants surround the garden to create a serene oasis. (via Richard Kramer – RKL Design)
6. Zen Rock Garden. A winding pathway of gravel is defined by rock walls containing raised gardens. Plants flow over the rock walls to create a lush tropical garden feel. The white flowers are Japanese Stewartia.The trees with the Camellia-like blooms with white petals and orange centers highlighting fresh green leaves are Japanese Stewartia. The foliage turns bronzy-purple in fall.Foliage turns bronzy-purple in fall. This deciduous tree is an all-season performer. (via Whitmores Landscaping)
7. Vibrant Succulent Garden. This beautifulsucculent collection is in a garden in south San Luis Obispo County, California. Succulents do best in bright but indirect sunlight. Plant succulents in sandy soils that drain easily. Rocks and pebbles on your soil as a filler can greatly enhance the aesthetic appeal of your succulent plants. (via Gardens by Gabriel, Inc.)
8. River Rock Pathway. River rocks are used to highlight this hillside garden. Large boulders to define a wall around a paver patio. The combination of varying stone materials adds visual interest and texture. (via Paradise Restored Landscaping & Exterior Design)
9. Rock Water Feature. Asmall water feature is built into a berm with lush plantings on either side, creating a tropical feel. (via Extreme Exteriors)
10. Bubbling Boulder. Create a zen-like feel in your backyard with a water fountain surrounded by varying sizes of river rocks. When you add a water feature to your rock garden, be sure to take the time to make it look natural. (via Aden Landscaping)
11. Raised Bed Kitchen Garden. Use large stones to define raised beds filled with organic vegetables and herbs for an edible garden. Seasonal favorites in this garden include lettuce, kale, fennel, parsley, and thyme. (via Home & Garden Design, Inc)
12. Garden Defined By Pavers. This screened garden keeps out the animals while offering a colorful burst of flowers and herbs and vegetables. Stone pavers are used to define varying types of gardens while gravel is used for a pathway around the gardens. (via SURROUNDS Landscape Architecture + Construction)
13. Entry Stone Pathway. On this side yard of a Seattle residence, large stepping stones are accented by large river rocks. The plants arepittosporum shrub. (via Folia Horticultural + Design)
14. Interesting Rock/Plant Scaping. Use a mix of boulders, river rocks, and plants for visual interest. This low-water garden will require minimal care while adding a beautiful look to your outdoor garden. (via JPM Landscape and Design)
15. Rock Garden Design. Pavers are used to define this garden bed filled with colorful flowers and tall grasses. Pebbles are used as a filler instead of traditional mulch. A small rock water feature adds a zen-like element to this rock garden. (via Kennys Landscaping)
16. Desert Rock Garden. A home in Arizona features this low-maintenance rock garden, idyllic for desert landscaping. Native plantings add color and greenery against the hardscape. (via Pinterest)
17. Japanese Style Landscaping. A New Jersey home features this beautiful evergreen garden. A stone pathway is defined by wood steps. Large boulders and the use of varying heights of conifers adds visual appeal. (via Dabah Landscape Designs)
18. Succulent Rock Garden. River rocks and beach sand accent this vibrant succulent garden. If you don’t have a beach nearby, you can source the rocks from Lowe’s or Home Depot. (via HGTV)
19. Vibrant Rock Garden. In Corona, California, this dry stream bed can help to direct drainage during the rainy season. In the plant in the foreground, is the Salvia Chamedryoides. It has cobalt blue flowers, gray foliage, extremely tough, heat tolerant, and Hummingbirds love it! (via Jean Marsh Design)
20. Spilling Succulents Creek Bed. Create a spilled flower pot look using succulent rosettes. River rocks and pebbles are used to fill in around the succulents. Add some seashells as accents to this dry creek bed. (via Pinterest)
21. Xeriscaping Garden. Make the most of a mountain landscape with a xeric or dry garden. Drought-resistant xeric plantings such as native and ornamental grasses, perennials, shrubs, and evergreens will create interesting foliage and provide a low-care garden. An expansive patio with a fire feature is the perfect spot for enjoying summer evenings. The addition of large boulders creates an eye-catching aesthetic and can be used for additional seating! See the rest of this home here: Rustic-luxe home frames sweeping views of Colorado Rocky Mountains. (via Barrett Studio Architects)
22. Coastal Landscape. A small stone patio with a fire pit sits next to the shores of Puget Sound, Washington State. The stone walkway carefully ties the garden to the home across the street. This is a unique seaside, low-maintenance garden. Drought-resistant and salt-friendly plantings were used throughout. The purple flowering ground cover is Thymus serphyllum, Red Mother of Thyme. The clump grass is Helictotrichon sempervirens, Blue Oat Grass. (via Lankford Associates)
23. Charming New England Cottage. Stones can also be used in your garden as a stacked wall where plants can climb, creep, and spill over the wall. (via Gale Goff Architect)
24. A Traditional Cottage Garden. The gabion wall is custom constructed with sheets of steel wire and filled with rock. It retains the soil and plants on the uppers side of the wall. The decking is Ipe wood.(via Banyon Tree Design Studio)
25. Front Yard Rock Garden. This beautiful front yard features a rock border wall for a variety of low-growing alpine plantings. This includes Aubrieta’Royal Blue’, Phlox subulata, and Potentilla. Gypsophila franzii and Dianthus ‘Tiny Rubies’. Plantings grow between the rocks to help make the rock wall appear natural to the site and integrate well with the terrace garden. (via Better Homes & Gardens)
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FAQs
What looks good in a rock garden? ›
Grasses, sedums and mungo pines look at home in rock gardens, which often are placed in sunny areas. Lavender, California poppies, cheddar pinks dianthus, shasta daisy, creeping phlox, agave and thyme are among the variety of plants that thrive in the warm and well-drained growing environment offered by a rock garden.
How do you style a rock garden? ›Use perennials, ornamental grasses and small shrubs to add vertical height. Creeping groundcovers will soften the appearance of the hard rocks. Add sturdy bulbs such as narcissus, wild tulips and alliums for contrast. Incorporate evergreen dwarf and creeping conifers for year-round interest.
How do you arrange rocks in a rock garden? ›Avoid consistent arrangements, such as placing them in a straight line or creating a pattern with them. For a more natural appearance, face the rocks the same direction they were facing in their original location. Arrange smaller rocks around larger ones so they appear natural.
How do you build a modern rock garden? ›Simply choose rock garden plants – succulents, cacti, and miniature bulb plants like the Japanese iris and daffodils – and scatter gravel or small pebbles around the plants. Then, display your miniature rockery on a table, patio or balcony garden.
How do I make my rocks look pretty? ›Use 80-grit sandpaper to smooth out the edges and corners of the rocks. Start with coarse-grained sandpaper to round out the sharp edges of the rocks. Sand the rocks until the rough edges and surface are smooth. Depending on how hard your rocks are, it could take 10-15 minutes of sanding to create a smooth surface.
Does a rock garden attract snakes? ›Avoid using mulch and large rocks in your landscape, as they attract snakes and their prey and can create breeding and overwintering habitat. Instead, use smaller, tight-fitting rock such as gravel or river rock.