Can anyone recommend summer-flowering Alpines that die back in winter?

Can anyone recommend summer-flowering Alpines that die back in winter?

I grow a lot of Cyclamen, mostly in big pots underneath roses. Most Cyclamen flower in autumn, winter and spring, and die back in summer. For years I have been struggling to find something that can co-exist with the Cyclamen without killing them by growing over them, and flower during summer when the Cyclamen are dormant, then die back in winter to give the Cyclamen enough light. A second best is something that doesn't mind being cut back in late July onwards, to allow the Cyclamen to get enough light.

I have tried all kinds of what I thought were little flowers, only to have Cyclamen die due to being grown over by Lobelia, Chamomile, or other "small" annual flowers. Some flowers I have reached a truce with and simply cut them back when the Cyclamen hederifolium start to flower in late July and then form leaves around late August or early September. So I do have some sweet little flowers growing around the Cyclamen, but it does take work and observation to make sure they respect the Cyclamen. As far as I know, Cyclamen don't have deep roots, but I could be wrong or some species might need a deep root run unobstructed by other plants.

I don't grow any kind of bulb near the Cyclamen, as they all have messy leaves that you can't cut back for months without them not flowering in subsequent years. I only have a very few bulbs, in their own pots and away from the Cyclamen. And Cyclamen suit my garden better, not needing as much light as say Crocuses, whose flowers don't even open on dull days. I have given away a lot of bulbs that I planted, as they just don't suit my garden, due mostly to their leaves taking over, except in their own pots.

So I am looking for small pretty flowers with a high flower to leaves ratio, that are happy growing in pots around rose bushes, and sharing their space with Cyclamen. Mild climate, South coast of England, mild winters, urban heat island, relatively not much light.

 

How about an annual such as candytuft? I grew them in pots with lilies this year. Pretty flowers, small skinny leaves.

Virginia Stock is pretty too:

 

I do have a few Candytuft that come up every year, since planting some from a packet of Poundland seeds where you get about 6 different little flower seed packets for one pound. They do seem to go with my garden really well, and the pollinators like them. They just disappear in winter and come back in summer.

Yes I love Virginia Stock. I might try it. Maybe it is partly a case of just being very careful with annuals when they start to overgrow the garden, and probably cut them back in about July, or August at the latest. I have found that Alyssum can really take over and get messy, though I like it, and maybe it is a case of learning when and how much to cut it back after flowering.

I have had a bit of success with Aubretia, which flowers in late spring and looks beautiful, but it doesn't like being cut back too much and I have often lost it.

I don't know much about Alpines, and they have the advantage of not being annuals, so they are permanent and could maybe be part of a seasonal cycle.

 

Evergreen, so not what you asked for but Armeria maritima would work. Bulbs happily grow through it and it has year around interest. Also, it seems to be unkillable. Comes with red, pink or white, long lasting, flowers. There's also a purple-leaved variety (rubra), which is lovely.

 

Not sure about unkillable; I planted one the year before last and it flowered nicely, but it didn't come back this year!

 

I can't keep the white one alive, but the pink one I have has been very good this year.
I'm not sure that would suit being in with cyclamen though - they form very hefty clumps.

I don't think I'd try anything other than annuals in the situation, and they'd need cut back before being finished.
The other alternative is to simply replace the pots of cyclamen with other pots of perennials, whether alpines or anything else. Lots of bulbs would also work well - from snowdrops and crocus, to smaller daffs and even alliums if there's enough light.
Pachysandra is a useful low grower for various sites, but anything which likes semi shade would work. I have lots of saxifrages in semi shade, and Saxifraga urbium [London Pride] is good anywhere here.

 

I find the "mini" Dianthus ( D. alpina poss ? ) work quite well with the Cyclamen I grow in pots. Very small leaves which form a matt so let the Cyclamen push thru without any trouble. Altho perennial they can be short lived but easy tp propagate from seed.

 

Bloody cranesbill maybe? Geranium sanguineum. A tough, pretty little plant - easy to divide once established, to create more plants.