On the Rocks

Native plants for well-drained, shallow soils.

As gardeners in Muskoka, we all probably have that one spot where the soil is barely an inch deep or the soil is primarily sandy or gravel. You’ve likely been told that you can’t plant anything there. Nothing will survive because there’s no room for the roots to grow, or there’s no organic matter in that ‘soil’.

Yet, in nature alvars are in full bloom come Spring. Sandy dunes and scree piles are held together with grasses and wildflowers. So, why can’t we have gardens in our rocky outcrops with shallow soil? Well, my dear, you can!

Here are some of go-to native plants that will grow in sandy soil, shallow soil, gravelly soil, well-drained, nutrient-poor soil.

Lance-leaved CoreopsisLance leaf coreopsis, Coreopsis lanceolata

Light requirements: Full sun
Soil conditions: Medium to dry
Height: 1′-2′
Bloom colour: Yellow
Bloom time: June to August, and longer if dead-headed periodically

Prairie SmokePrairie Smoke, Geum triflorum

Light requirements: Full sun
Soil conditions: Dry to medium
Height: 6″
Bloom colour: Pink
Bloom time: May

Field PussytoesField Pussytoes, Antennaria neglecta

Light requirements: Full to part sun
Soil conditions: Dry to medium
Height: 2″
Bloom colour: White
Bloom time: May

Wild StrawberryWild Strawberry, Fragaria virginiana

Light requirements: Full sun to part shade
Soil conditions: Dry to medium
Height: 2″
Bloom colour: White
Bloom time: May

Hairy BeardtongueHairy Beard-tongue, Penstemon hirsutus

Light requirements: Full sun
Soil conditions: Medium to dry
Height: 1′
Bloom colour: Pink
Bloom time: June-July

Wild ColumbineWild Columbine, Aquilegia canadensis

Light requirements: Full sun to part shade
Soil conditions: Dry to medium
Height: 1′
Bloom colour: Red
Bloom time: May

HarebellHarebell, Campanula rotundifolia

Light requirements: Full to part sun
Soil conditions: Medium to dry
Height: 6″-10″
Bloom colour: Purple
Bloom time: June – September

Black-eyed SusanBlack-eyed Susan, Rudbeckia hirta

Light requirements: Full to partial sun
Soil conditions: Medium to dry
Height: 1′ -2′
Bloom colour: Yellow
Bloom time: July

Upland White GoldenrodUpland White Goldenrod, Solidago ptarmicoides

Light requirements: Full sun
Soil conditions: Medium to dry
Height: 1′-2′
Bloom colour: White
Bloom time: August-September

Gray GoldenrodGray Goldenrod, Solidago nemoralis

Light requirements: Full to part sun
Soil conditions: Dry to medium
Height: 1′-2′
Bloom colour: Yellow
Bloom time: August – September

On the Rocks Shallow Soil Kit $58.95

Ontario native plants that thrive in sunny spots with little to no soil. Perfect for sunny rock gardens or areas with sand/gravel soils.

2 Wild Strawberry

2 Field Pussytoes

2 Prairie Smoke

2 Lance-leaved Coreopsis

2 Upland Goldenrod

2 Black-eyed Susan