Category: Ground cover
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Chelidonium majus ‘Flore Plena’
The double flowered form of Greater Celandine is an easy going short lived perennial that will lightly self seed in any sun or semi-shaded spot with enough moisture so once you have it you will probably always have it and like me I doubt that you will be upset. Excess plants are easily pulled out.
Stephen Ryan
Pterocephalus perennis
This charming little ground hugging plant from Greece has been gracing my rock garden for many years and although I love it i have forgotten to propagate it so as to share it with others. Well I’ve done it now. It will grow about 1 metre wide in time and its grey-green foliage is attractive
Stephen Ryan
Oxalis tetraphylla ‘Iron Cross’
Yes I know that the Oxalis word is like offering someone bubonic plague but this is a truly lovely summer flowering species that i promise will make neat clumps and unless you spread the bulbs around it won’t become a problem. It grows throughout the summer and I would grow it for its bright green
Stephen Ryan
Clematis ‘Mrs. Robert Brydon’
I love and collect clematis of all sorts as their generally light airy habit makes them ideal to grow up and over other plants without swamping the host and giving two shows in the place where I would normally have only one. A heavy winter prune will keep nearly all of them in order. This
Stephen Ryan
Ruscus aculeatus Hermaphrodite form
As much as it might be a bit indelicate to talk of sex there isn’t any choice when talking of the butcher’s brooms. Usually both male and female forms need to be present if the girl one are to get the stunning long lasting berries stuck in the middle of the leaf like phyllodes. So
Stephen Ryan
Cyclamen repandum
My favourite species is probably the one that is in flower at the moment! And C. repandum is just coming out as the spring approaches and so is my favourite at the moment. Its flowers are usually a strong carmine pink with long elegant curled petals and the perfume is divine, although it is best
Stephen Ryan
Epimedium ‘Black Sea’
I have been busy potting this years supply of Epimediums all week and have many lovely ones to select from, so many in fact that selecting one to blog about was so hard that in the end it was almost close my eyes and point! E. ‘Black Sea’ is however something of a stand out plant
Stephen Ryan
Mitraria coccinea
Something less like the ubiquitous African Violet would seem almost impossible but this South American trailing evergreen shrub is in fact in the same family. It will trail across the ground, grow up anything it is tried to or make an interesting hanging basket subject if you are into such things (I find they dry
Stephen Ryan
Ruscus hypoglossum
This has to be the ultimate plant for dry shade, in fact it will grow in the driest and darkest shade you can find so anywhere that almost no other plant will survive will be ideal for this one! It is in fact an evergreen perennial to about 1metre tall that acts more like a
Stephen Ryan
Picea abies ‘Reflexa’
If you are looking for something a bit different for your garden then perhaps this vegetable version of “Cousin It” from the Adams Family could be just the ticket! It is a weeping form of Norway Spruce and will trail along the ground or spill over a bank unless trained up a stake. It can
Stephen Ryan