What are Cushion Plants

• Surprise!  Cushion plants look like cushions although they may be firmer.
• Cushion plants grow very slowly and  evenly. They grow rosettes of leaves all at once so that no one part of the plant is more exposed than others.
• The flowers are small and often massed closely nestled in the leaves for protection.
• The low growing, dense foliage of a cushion plant acts as a layer of insulation, protecting the roots and stems.

Where to Find Cushion Plants

• Cushion plants  grow in rapidly draining rocky or sandy soils
• They grow in exposed and windy conditions such as alpine, arctic and arid areas.
• A cushion plant  can thrive because it insulates itself  and has time to develop very deep  taproots .
• Cushion plants in several families can be found all over the world.

Cushion Plant Facts

• Flowers are so numerous so they can attract pollinators (that may be in short supply) from far and wide.
• Plants are generally long lived. Some plants in the Arctic are over 300 years old.
• Cushion Plants for the Rock Garden by Duncan Lowe is available from Amazon
• The Androsacea Group specialise in these mainly cushion plant species

Some other Cushion Plants

• Juniperours maritima
• Dianthus erinaceus
• Silene aculis the Moss Campion
• Androsace selago pictures
• More photographs