Category Archives: Ground cover

• 

  oxalis species

  Posted on April 29, 2019 by stephenryan in autumn colour, bulbs, Collector Plants, Foliage plants, Good Pot Plant, Ground cover, winter interest

    Hated by many due to the weedy species many Oxalis make great rock garden or pot plants with attractive leaves and stunning flowers. The winter growing species are all on the move now and looking good so put aside your preconceived ideas and enjoy these stunning long flowering plants. Here are just a few […]

  No Comments. Continue Reading...
• 

  Disporopsis pernyi

  Posted on January 16, 2019 by stephenryan in berries, Collector Plants, evergreen, Foliage plants, Ground cover, Perennials, shade tolerant, winter interest, Woodlanders

  This charming woodlander from Asia has glossy rich green foliage on arching stems rather like a small Solomons Seal below which it produces drooping white and green bells in spring which are then followed by blue-black berries. a cool moist aspect is the go in much the same way as you would treat a Hosta. […]

  No Comments. Continue Reading...
• 

  Euonymus fortunei ‘Colorata’

  Posted on January 24, 2018 by stephenryan in autumn colour, berries, Climbing plants, drought tolerant, evergreen, Foliage plants, Good for cutting, Ground cover, shade tolerant, Shrubs, winter interest

  This has to be one of the most indestructible plants I grow so could be something everyone should plant except it would then be as common as muck which it is in Europe and America! It can be grown as a lax shrubby ground cover , trailed over a large bank or espaliered along a […]

  No Comments. Continue Reading...
• 

  Parthenocissus henryana

  Posted on December 11, 2017 by stephenryan in autumn colour, Climbing plants, Deciduous, drought tolerant, Foliage plants, Ground cover, shade tolerant

  The Chinese silver vein creeper has to be one of the most useful climbers I grow for all of the following reasons. It will grow well in sun or shade and is about the only autumn colouring plant I know that will turn stunning shades in either. The leaves in shade will however have the […]

  No Comments. Continue Reading...
• 

  Euphorbia cyparissas ‘Fen’s Ruby’

  Posted on September 16, 2017 by stephenryan in drought tolerant, Foliage plants, Ground cover, Perennials

  This tough as they come dwarf herbaceous perennial was something I originally imported from Beth Chatto’s nursery in England although I seem not to have been the only one. As the accompanying picture attests its spring foliage is ruby coloured turning slowly grey-green and its heads of bright green flowers are a stunning complement to […]

  No Comments. Continue Reading...
• 

  Persicaria virginiana filiformis ‘Painter’s Palette’

  Posted on May 20, 2017 by stephenryan in Foliage plants, Good Pot Plant, Ground cover, Perennials, self seeds, Woodlanders

  If you don’t like variegation don’t read on! This herbaceous perennial has to have some not the most over the top leaf colour of any cold hardy plant and I for one love it! It grows to about 60cms. or so and builds into a substantial clump in a fairly short time. The large leaves […]

  No Comments. Continue Reading...
• 

  Euonymus fortunei ‘Coloratus’

  Posted on April 26, 2017 by stephenryan in autumn colour, berries, Climbing plants, drought tolerant, evergreen, Foliage plants, Good for cutting, Ground cover, shade tolerant, Shrubs, winter interest

  This has to be one of the most indestructible plants that I grow and although it is common it the U.S. and Europe is for some reason rarely offered in Australia. It is evergreen and its foliage will turn fabulous colours in winter if it is in enough cold and even if it doesn’t colour […]

  No Comments. Continue Reading...
• 

  Danae racemosa

  Posted on April 17, 2017 by stephenryan in Collector Plants, drought tolerant, evergreen, Foliage plants, Good for cutting, Ground cover, Perennials, shade tolerant, winter interest

  This slow growing evergreen plant from South West Asia to Iran has long been on my want list and over the last few years it has come my way as it should come yours! It is called Poet’s Laurel or Alexandrian Laurel and is in fact the plant used to make the wreaths that crowned […]

  No Comments. Continue Reading...
• 

  Oxalis melanosticta

  Posted on March 31, 2017 by stephenryan in autumn colour, bulbs, Collector Plants, drought tolerant, Foliage plants, Ground cover, winter interest

  I love the autumn because the winter growing Oxalis suddenly start to erupt out of the ground and yes I know that includes the weedy ones but with so many species in the Genus (some hundreds apparently) they can’t all be weeds obviously. One of the early ones is this lovely yellow flowered African species […]

  No Comments. Continue Reading...
• 

  Halimium ocymoides

  Posted on March 29, 2017 by stephenryan in Collector Plants, evergreen, Ground cover, Shrubs

  A very useful evergrey ground cover shrub to about 60cms. tall by 1.5metres wide for a sunny well drained aspect. It comes from the Mediterranean area and so is ideally suited for our climate in southern Australia. In spring it is covered with bright yellow Cistus type flowers (it may well end up being a […]

  No Comments. Continue Reading...