Alpine Plants have always been a mystery as to what they really are.  Typically they grow in an alpine climate, at a high elevation above the tree line.  Alpines grow as a family, or community and include perennial grasses, sedges, mosses, cushion plants, and many more.   Alpine plants must adapt to harsh growing conditions, which include low temperatures, dryness, and a short growing season and to do this, they have modified themselves to survive.  Typically they are slow growing, short in stature and have small, hard leaves to resist the cold.  They may have a shorty growing period, but it is one that has a very colourful show of abundant flowering. 

Alpines in their mountain environment may be covered with snow for long periods and will then have to cope with the large amount of water when the snow melts.  The soil is usually stony and free draining.  That does not mean Alpine Plants have to be only planted in a mountain setting.  There are alpines that can be planted in a woodland habitat and along bottom of hedges in the spring and in these times, the term Alpine Plants is a loosely used description of perennial plants, rock plants or a low growing spreading plant needed to fill an area with minimal care.

Alpine Plants for your Garden especially containers that are empty and needing some colour to make the winter months more enjoyable or an area in the garden that is shaded, and can use some colour - there are alpine plants perfect for that spot.  Walls make great environments for alpines such as aubrietia (purple) that come alive in the spring with a splash of exciting colour. 

Growing conditions for Alpine Plants should be 'free draining', 'good draining' as water cannot rest around the roots of the plants.  Alpines do not like their feet wet and soggy.  The area for alpine plants should be a gritty, sandy soil, and place a small amount of sand or grit or gravel around or under the leaves of the plants.  The best situations for alpines would be sunny site, away from spreading trees, etc., soil that is average (does not have to be rich), slightly sandy would be just great for them.  These conditions would satisfy a range of different and interesting plants providing great colour and shape year round.