Strange (fungal?) growth on soil

If it stays in the ground and off the plants, it is converting cellulose to nutrients for your plant.

It isn't a fungus.

I would leave it alone. What is wrong with some green groundcover?

Foliose lichen:

I say, leave it alone. It's beautiful.

Are you talking about the liverworts? Might as well leave them alone... they're not going to harm anything. They're representatives of the first line of green plants to diversify on dry land.

(Fungi are not photosynthetic!)

Kay

Very pretty whatever they are. In fact I'd be trying to keep them as they remind me of the sort of vegetation that only grow on branches in places where the air is especially cleanr.

As others have pointed out it's a liverwort. They aren't harmful, but do form a very dense hard mat - particularly in damp, shady conditions. The main problem is that if the mat is complete, then self-seeding of any of the rockery plants will not take place as the seeds will not be able to get through the mat. Also, it is quite possible that the mat will prevent shoots pushing up from underneath.

Finally, although it's a bit theoretical, the fact that it is growing on a rockery isn't good. In general, rockeries are meant to be free-draining, and the presence of liverworts suggests it isn't. Some alpines grown in rockeries do not like to have damp around the stem as it can cause collar rot. Liverworts pushing right up to such a plant might encourage it, so at the very least try to clear them away from direct contact with the plant.

As others have said this is Liverwort and grows in badly drained and damp areas. To get rid of it you need to improve the drainage of your soil by adding sharp sand. The only method I have found to kill it off altogether is by using glyphosate with some Fairy liquid.

Mick

the bulb is a maroon colour and the roots have a pink tone to them if that narrows anything down but thanks for the help :)

theyre already about a foot tall so should i give them some support ? would you be able to tell me any details on maintaining these plants ? id be greatful if you could.