University of Wisconsin-Madison

Gravel Garden

Gravel Gardens are composed of mostly native perennial plants nestled in a bordered 5" layer of gravel. Once established, Gravel Gardens are a sustainable, low-maintenance style of gardening. Gravel gardens are naturally weed supressing as many native plants send their roots incredibly deep into the soil to attain water and nutrients, thereby allowing them to thrive through this deep gravel mulch where weeds with shallower root systems cannot survive. This extensive root system also increases drought tolerance, providing a much more sustainable garden in terms of water consumption. This Gravel Garden was redesigned in 2026 in collaboration with a Landscape Architecture student, who thoughtfully incorporated native dye plants into a design inspired by local Madison impressionist painter, Rachel Christopoulos.

PictureCommon NameScientific NamePlant Name
Plant name: Adam's Needle Yucca Yucca filamentosa Adam's Needle YuccaYucca filamentosa Adam's Needle Yucca
Yucca filamentosa
Plant name: Black Eyed Susan Rudbeckia hirta Black Eyed SusanRudbeckia hirta Black Eyed Susan
Rudbeckia hirta
Plant name: Blue False Indigo Baptisia australis Blue False IndigoBaptisia australis Blue False Indigo
Baptisia australis
Plant name: Blue Star Amsonia cv. Blue IceBlue StarAmsonia cv. Blue IceBlue Star
Amsonia cv. Blue Ice
Plant name: Boneset Eupatorium fortunei BonesetEupatorium fortunei Boneset
Eupatorium fortunei
Plant name: Bunch Flower Melanthium virginicum Bunch Flower Melanthium virginicum Bunch Flower
Melanthium virginicum
Plant name: Butterfly Weed Asclepias tuberosa Butterfly Weed Asclepias tuberosa Butterfly Weed
Asclepias tuberosa
Plant name: Buttonbush Cephalanthus occidentalis ButtonbushCephalanthus occidentalis Buttonbush
Cephalanthus occidentalis
Cassian Fountain GrassPennisetum alopecuroides cv. CassianCassian Fountain Grass
Pennisetum alopecuroides cv. Cassian
Plant name: Coral Bells Heuchera villosa cv. CaramelCoral BellsHeuchera villosa cv. CaramelCoral Bells
Heuchera villosa cv. Caramel
Plant name: Dogwood Cornus alba DogwoodCornus alba Dogwood
Cornus alba
Fox SedgeCarex vulpinoidea Fox Sedge
Carex vulpinoidea
Plant name: Glade Mallow Napaea dioica Glade MallowNapaea dioica Glade Mallow
Napaea dioica
Plant name: Katsura Tree Cercidiphyllum japonicum Katsura TreeCercidiphyllum japonicum Katsura Tree
Cercidiphyllum japonicum
Plant name: Lesser Calamint Calamintha nepeta Lesser CalamintCalamintha nepeta Lesser Calamint
Calamintha nepeta
Plant name: Little Blue Stem Schizachyrium scoparium Little Blue StemSchizachyrium scoparium Little Blue Stem
Schizachyrium scoparium
Plant name: Little Spire Russian Sage Perovskia amplicifolia cv. Little SpireLittle Spire Russian SagePerovskia amplicifolia cv. Little SpireLittle Spire Russian Sage
Perovskia amplicifolia cv. Little Spire
Plant name: Meadow Rue Thalictrum rochebrunianum Meadow RueThalictrum rochebrunianum Meadow Rue
Thalictrum rochebrunianum
Oak Sedge Carex pensylvanica Oak Sedge
Carex pensylvanica
Plant name: Pale Purple Coneflowr Echinacea pallida Pale Purple ConeflowrEchinacea pallida Pale Purple Coneflowr
Echinacea pallida
Pennsylvania SedgeCarex pensylvanica Pennsylvania Sedge
Carex pensylvanica
Plant name: Purple Poppy Mallow Callirhoe involucrata Purple Poppy MallowCallirhoe involucrata Purple Poppy Mallow
Callirhoe involucrata
Plant name: Rattlesnake-Master Eryngium yuccifolium Rattlesnake-MasterEryngium yuccifolium Rattlesnake-Master
Eryngium yuccifolium
Plant name: Saucy Seduction Yarrow Achillea millefolium Saucy Seduction YarrowAchillea millefolium Saucy Seduction Yarrow
Achillea millefolium
Plant name: Skyblue Aster Symphyotrichum oolentangiense Skyblue AsterSymphyotrichum oolentangiense Skyblue Aster
Symphyotrichum oolentangiense
Plant name: Stiff Tickseed Coreopsis palmata Stiff TickseedCoreopsis palmata Stiff Tickseed
Coreopsis palmata
Plant name: Tara Prairie Dropseed Sporobolus heterolepis cv. TaraTara Prairie DropseedSporobolus heterolepis cv. TaraTara Prairie Dropseed
Sporobolus heterolepis cv. Tara
Plant name: Terra Cotta Common Yarrow Achillea millefolium cv. Terra CottaTerra Cotta Common YarrowAchillea millefolium cv. Terra CottaTerra Cotta Common Yarrow
Achillea millefolium cv. Terra Cotta
Plant name: Variegated Solomon's seal Polygonatum odoratum cv. VariegatumVariegated Solomon's sealPolygonatum odoratum cv. VariegatumVariegated Solomon's seal
Polygonatum odoratum cv. Variegatum
Plant name: Virginia Mountain Mint Pycnanthemum virginianum Virginia Mountain MintPycnanthemum virginianum Virginia Mountain Mint
Pycnanthemum virginianum
Plant name: White False Indigo Baptisia leucantha White False IndigoBaptisia leucantha White False Indigo
Baptisia leucantha
Plant name: Wild Geranium; Spotted Geranium Geranium maculatum Wild Geranium; Spotted GeraniumGeranium maculatum Wild Geranium; Spotted Geranium
Geranium maculatum