Rockeries

A small focal rockery off the path

Build up a slight mound of soil, secure behind a rock edge, makes an attractive and surprising focal point off this pathway.

Rockeries work well on flat areas

An enticing mix of leaf colour - flowers are a bonus!

Add textured shrubs

Euphorbia mauritanica and Strelitzia shrubs add height and texture, and are in scale with the large, flat rocks used here.

Replace a grass slope

Bright green Aloe vanbalenii, grey-leaved Aloe chabaudii, Crassula multicava, Bulbine natalensis, Agapanthus, and Kalanchoe longiflora.

A small rockery island

A small rockery island

Roadside rockery

Pack plants tightly to secure the soil. Use a mix of grouncovers, aloes, perennials and shrubs. Crassula multicava front right. Aloe vanbalenii against the rounded form of the succulent shrub Senecio barbertonicus back far right.

Winter rockery

Tall, peach spires of Aloe vanbalenii are the highlight of this rockery in winter.

Aloe vanbalenii and Senecio barberto

The Octopus Aloe form multiple heads, each one sending up many spires of peach to orange flowers. Acid yellow flowers cover the Senecio shrub in winter.

Felicia amelloides

The neat form of this blue daisy finds happy companionship with aloes, Agapanthus, Cotyledon and Tulbaghia.

Orange flowers for winter

Orange/red Pelargonium tongaense and coral Kleinia fulgens grow in neat arrangements, and look good year-round.

Mulch with groundcovers

This Delosperma will need some light control, but it provides effective soil protection helping to retain moisture and control soil temperature through the year.

Fitting rocks together like a puzzle

Aloe chabaudii and round-edged rocks are and excellent fit.

Cotyledon orbiculata

Peach umbels of this lovely succulent glow against the dark green strap-like leaves of Dietes, and the grey leaves of Kleinia fulgens. Aloe vanbalenii trades apple-green leaves with the Cotyledon.

Kleinia fulgens

Coral flowers on grey leaves glow against grey Aloe chabaudii and bright green Agapanthus.

Winter colour and form

Small pockets of blue Felicia and coral buttons of Kleinia spread colour through the display.

Well-placed rocks are key

Use a mix or rock sizes and shapes, and arrange them with enough space to fit the different species; more space is needed for Agapanthus, for example. Grey Gazanias work well spreading attractively down the slope.

Steep, narrow rockery

To stabilise the bank, squeeze soil binding plants between the rocks.

Summer rockery

Even without flowers this combination adds colour; Curio, Kalanchoe thyrsiflora and a few speckled aloes.

Add textured shrubs

A range of succulent colours

Stunning diversity in this small rockery. In front, blue-grey Cotyledon leaves combine with the bright green Glottiphyllum; Orange-red Aloes with sun-yellow Bulbine latifolia. In the background, the variegated form of Crassula ovata enhances the maroon edging on the leaves of Kalanchoe thyrsiflora.

Bold designs for public spaces

Use large aloe species and use a diversity of shapes and sizes.

Aloes, Gazanias

Strong colour and form for a dry, winter garden

Aoe arborescens

A backdrop of Blue Fingers, Curio species, enhances the bright orange spires.

Aloe ferox

Rising tall above the rocky ground, these are spectacular winter showstoppers. Gazanias tuck in amongst the larger rocks.

Crassula ovata and Kalanchoe thyrsif

Maroon touches on leaf and flower make this a quite beautiful combination, seen to perfection against the dark Cycad backdrop.

Aloe chabaudii and Crassula capitell

Excellent choices for a dry, gravel bed.

Iconic winter flowers

There are few plants to beat the red-flowering Aloe ferox in a winter garden.