Things to plant in very shallow poor soil

I was going to suggest sempervivum but kibera beat me to it.
We planted some in a wall. Several were stolen by some passer by.

I should also warn you that gravel is a very favourite seeding medium for many plants. You will be overrun with those grape hyacinths...

Hardy Cyclamen. They grow in dryish conditions and seem to love 'good drainage'. If happy they will self seed.

www.rhs.org.uk/plants/cyclamen/growing-guide

Sempervivums (also called 'house leek') would grow well in this type of area.

You could make a very pretty garden using some some of the following ;
Echeveria -has a huge variety of succulent rosettes.
It was the first plant that I discovered as a child .
I was fascinated by the fact that I could separate one and plsnt it somewhere else and it would be a guaranteed take .
Blue fescue grass and possibly other grasses.
Heuchera
Cone flowers
Lavender and Rosemary are said to be OK with little soil,but I think that you need to add some soil.
Ferns will grow in a damp area ie around a
drain outlet .
Scatter some Petunia seeds around-they should germinate.

Oregano seems to thrive on next to no soil in my garden and spreads itself around freely. Absolutely lovely when in bloom and wonderful for bees.

Beth Chatto famously made a wonderful garden in gravel. Lots of information and videos on the net about it and also her book 'Beth Chatto's Gravel Garden: Drought-Resistant Planting'.

This might be really helpful too. www.bethchatto.co.uk/conditions/plants-for-scree-gardens/

I think I'm getting my very late plant education as I Google all these plant names...thank you all.

I have an area of gravel in my front garden and in it grows Aquilegia and Californian poppies. I made the mistake of scattering some poppy seeds in the back garden and they grew everywhere. I’ve only just got rid of them.

Creeping Jenny is lovely as is sedum

Lovely ideas, thank you. I'm now motivated to get this sorted this year. We've been in the house for 4 years now, and it's about time to tackle it!

Centranthus ruber (? sp - red valerian) thrive on poor soil is bigger and attractive in the summer. Can be a prolific self-seeder so either cut off the flowered heads in good time or cull the seedlings.

You could add some deeper rooted plants in pots and troughs, treating it more like a courtyard garden.

In my area the small front gardens have become carpeted with primroses which flower most of the year. Mixed with blue grape hyacinths and also Anemone Blanda they are a picture!

Thank you! Lots to have a look at now - I might buy a few sedum and see how they go. Also looking at alpine plants!

Is this any help?

www.alpinegardensociety.net/plants/7-growing-secrets-of-the-alpine-gardener/

What about some alpine plants. I think they have quite shallow roots and will grow through gravel.

ground cover sedum, I have that instead of lawn, it behaves itself, spreads and has lovely flowers. These sedums are good in shallow soil, they also do well on sedum roofs and can be dry