Between a rock and a hard place

I'm sure you've all seen the tree growing out of the side of a mountain and wondered how it could possibly grow there. If you tried to grow it there it would be nearly impossible.  I sometimes think the same thing about some of the plants in my garden.  There are some plants that I give the most fertile spot in the garden and tend them lovingly and still they don't thrive.  Then there are the plants that grow in my rock walls.  I don't plant them there, they just find a spot with a bit of soil and grow happily without any help from the gardener.  You can't help but love these carefree, happy little plants.  Here are just a few of my cliff dwellers.

Pulsatilla

Dicentra eximia

Dianthus

Japanese Painted Fern

Viola Koreana

Salvia Purple Knockout

I do admit to planting these.  They seem happiest when growing in the cracks though.

 

Both the dianthus and lamium planted themselves working quite well with the heurchera.

Dwarf Goatsbeard  Aruncus aethusifolius