Rock Garden Plant Reference Table

There is a wealth of information about rock garden plants on the Web located on hundreds of sites, and while search engines make finding those sites easier and faster, sifting through them to find the facts you need about plant cultivation could eat up all the spare time you'd rather use actually cultivating those plants. Several online databases already exist in some form, and you can find links to them in the Links section of this website. However, no database has presented the information in a spreadsheet format, which we feel is compact, efficient, and easy to work with. We hope that it will be a useful tool, and valued as a benefit of NARGS membership.

A very big difference with our database is that it is intended to be compiled by you, the members of NARGS, arguably (well, no argument from us) among the most experienced and knowledgeable rock gardeners in the world. You are requested and urged to add to, amend, and correct the entries and information found in the database. We'd like it to be as large and inclusive as possible, always keeping in mind, though, that it is a basic database, intended to be a quick reference if you're wondering, for example, if a certain species need stratification, or how tall it grows, or if it can take full sun, or low pH, or dry soil, or needs protection from winter wetness, etc.

At this time our technology doesn't enable members to directly make changes to the spreadsheet, so you'll have to make a low-tech detour and send the data you want to add to . It would help if you cut and paste (or type) this format and fill in the blanks:

The volunteer will enter the new information as it is received and periodically delete the old Database and upload the updated one.

This address, , is also where you should send your comments, questions, criticisms, or suggestions to the volunteer currently managing the site.

The database is offered as a .pdf file, as well as an .xls Excel file. You can view PDF files with the free Adobe Acrobat Reader or free Foxit Reader. Excel files can be viewed with the free Microsoft Excel Viewer. If you already have Excel, you should be able to download the file and work with the spreadsheet on your computer. (Note: the free Excel Viewer does not allow you to utilize the spreadsheet features available in the full Excel program.)

Data has been compiled from a number of sources and was, and will continue to be, adjusted on a consensus basis as new information is added. This is the sort of information that gardeners keep in notebooks and journals and odd sheets of paper stuffed in various books you can never find when you need them. When you have the time, please share some of the knowledge you've acquired and send in that information. Help make this a valuable resource you'll want to come back to time and again.

Genus
Species
more (add'l name): cultivar, subspecies, hybrid name, etc
Strat: does seed need stratification (cold period) to germinate
more: seed germination details
Sun: sh=shade........pt=part sun........full=full sun
pH: ---.=acid........O.=neutral........+.=alkaline
Soil
Water
Size: height x width measured in cm. at maturity........2.5cm=1” ........15cm=6”........30cm=1ft
Situation: where it grows in nature, eg, crevice, grassland, woodland
W Dry: does it need protection from winter wetness
Description
more (add'l Description)

Excel Spreadsheet: Rock Garden Plant Reference Table.xls

PDF (formatted for printing): Rock Garden Plant Reference Table, pdf.pdf