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 The famous rock gardener, Will Ingwerson, wrote, "'Alpine' is no
more than a loose and very general term to describe plants suitable for
growing in the simulated alpine conditions which we try to provide in
our gardens." Alpine plants need not come from the Alps but may come
from any mountainous region in the world. In fact, they may come from
any temperate climate so long as they perform under alpine conditions.
WHAT ARE ALPINE CONDITIONS? Typically, but not always, alpine climates
are very cold, snowy and windy during much of the year. There is little
or no competition from trees and taller plants so that during the
relatively short growing season there is maximum sunshine. Oppressively
hot summer temperatures are rare or non-existent. Moisture tends to be
omnipresent either as snow, rain or fog. Organic material in the soil is
likely to be minimal. "Scree" conditions predominate. "Scree" is a term
used to describe a conglomeration of bits and pieces of glacially
deposited stones, broken chips of volcanic lava and ash, and eroded or
frost-flaked grains and scales of various forms of rocks. Scree can be
coarse and stoney or rather fine, pebbly sand. It is typically very
porous and well-drained. More commonly it will be alkaline rather than
acidic but it can sometimes be quite acidic. |
