Different Landscape Rocks

Boulders

• Large and heavy, boulders create a dramatic landscape either alone or in groups. Boulder sizes range from about 24 to 48 inches and larger and can weigh 100 lbs. or more. Once in place, moving boulders is difficult, so select ones that will complement your area for years. Gemstone boulders have color patterns similar to tiger stripes. Mountain gray's salt and pepper look resembles a water-wash. Hathway earth tone colors make a good choice for muted designs. Quartz boulders have veins of gold, silver or blue mixed with white.

Gravel

• Pea gravel is small, smooth stones with a shiny look that provides good ground cover. Its usual colors are beige, white and gray, yellow and red-brown. While it is inexpensive, you can also collect pea gravel from local river banks. A rougher version is Piedmont gravel with coarse, jagged surfaces. Decomposed granite is chips that give a natural, rugged look. It comes in various shades of red, green, silver, black and blue.

River Rocks

• Riprap, a larger version of gravel, about 4 to 8 inches in diameter, consists of granite and limestone deposits. Originally used to hold back water from shorelines, riprap is a good choice for garden waterfalls. Rainbow rock, also called creek cobbler, is a golf ball to baseball-size rock that weighs up to 2 lbs. It is ideal for a border or as ground cover in larger areas. A nice addition in desert landscaping around cactus, the multicolored rocks complement many landscaping designs.

Beach Pebbles

• Flat and fairly thin, beach pebbles add a lot of color at an economical price. Oval, oblong or circular, the pebbles are available in a single color, so you can mix them to suit your design needs. Ranging from 1 1/2 inch to 5 inches in diameter, beach pebbles come in earth tones and vibrant hues. Sealed pebbles have a clear coating applied to help keep the color from getting dull.

Lava Rock

• Light in weight due to air bubbles, lava rocks break more easily into small pieces than solid rocks. The porous rocks naturally resist heat, making them a good choice in hot regions around plants to help keep them cooler. Decorative and attractive, lava rock colors range from crimson to charcoal. Usually 2 to 4 inches long, lava rocks are also used as mulch.

Flagstone

• Flat and broad, flagstone is a good option for garden walkways because its rough surface gives good footing. Generally less than 2 inches thick and up to 18 inches long, flagstone breaks easily with a hammer. A blend of light and dark colors, flagstone is affordable, readily available, lightweight and simple to use.

Marble

• Durable, but costly, marble's rich colors and angular shapes add a sophisticated, classic touch. Landscape marble comes in many color combinations, such as yellow-white, pink-gray, white-gray or pure white. Tumbled marble is a smooth version similar in size and shape to river rocks. This marble is commonly used in Japanese style gardens.