If Daphne are the queens of the rock garden then surely the prickly thrifts may just be the kings of the rock garden. Showy pink flowers in late/spring early summer, showy spikes of papery parachute like seeds, and compact tight, spikey foliage create year around interest. Turkey-Syria and Iraq, growing on limestone and scree, but I have found it to be pretty adaptable and easy in most situations in the garden.