Ivydene Gardens Plants: Ground-Cover Plant Name: P
The process below provides a uniform method for comparing every plant detailed in the following galleries with the ones already compared in the relevant plant gallery from the last list of plant galleries in this cell:-

  • These are the galleries that will provide the plants to be added to their own Extra Index Pages
  • Bee plants for hay-fever sufferers - Bee-Pollinated Index
  • Plants that grow in Chalk - A,
  • Rock Garden and Alpine Flowers - A,
  • Bulbs from the Infill Galleries see Hardy Bulbs, Half-hardy Bulbs, etc in the second row of Topic Table, usually positioned as the first table on the left.
  • The complete Camera Photo is displayed on the screen
  • Climber in 3 Sector Vertical Plant System
  • Plants with Sense of Fragrance

The following Extra Index of Wildflowers is created in the Borage Wildflower Gallery, to which the Wildflowers found in the above list will have that row entry copied to.
Its wildflower flower thumbnail - or foliage thumbnail if it does not have flowers - will be compared with the others in that gallery per month.
The Header Row for the Extra Indices pages is the same as used in this 1000 Ground Cover
A of Plants Topic:-
A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P, Q, R, S, T, U, V, W, XYZ

Having transferred the Extra Index row entry to the relevant Extra Index row for the same type of plant in a gallery below; then
its flower or foliage thumbnail will be compared per month in that relevant gallery:-

The plants normally selected by most landscapers and designers are by nature low-growing, rampant, spreading, creep-crawly things and yet the concept of ground cover demands no such thing. The ideal description of a groundcover plant includes:-

  • a bold dense mass of leaves completely covering the ground most of the year; evergreens gain gold stars.
  • They should require little or no maintenance - if you have to give the plant more than its share of attention, you might as well save your money and spend the time weeding.
  • use the plant on ground areas that are difficult to maintain, such as steep banks or boggy patches.
  • use the plant to cover areas where not much will grow, such as deep shade or sandy soils.

Ground Cover a thousand beautiful plants for difficult places by John Cushnie (ISBN 1 85626 326 6) provides details of plants that fulfill the above requirements.

Using these groundcover plants in your planting scheme (either between your trees/shrubs in the border or for the whole border) will - with mulching your beds to a 4 inch depth and an irrigation system - provide you with a planted garden with far less time required for border maintenance.

Wildflower Flower Shape and Landscape Uses gallery provides Landscaping List by Use pages which include some of these ground-cover plants. Landscaping with Perennials by Emily Brown. 5th printing 1989 by Timber Press. ISBN 0-88192-063-0 provides the planting site pages for perennials, which include most plant types except Annuals and Biennials.

Plants for Dry Gardens by Jane Taylor. Published by Frances Lincoln Limited in 1993. ISBN 0-7112-0772-0. Jane Taylor and her husband grew plants in their garden of 2.5 acres of acidic shale mine waste on ground most of which could not retain water or nutrients and would scarcely sustain even the most tenacious of weeds.
A typical British garden with its flowery borders and green lawns needs the equivalent of 1 (2.5 cms) of rain every 10 days to look its best. By choosing from the plants in the above book, canny gardeners will quickly learn to give their gardens the best chance of looking respectable even through prolonged dry spells.
Start by improving your soil in your garden by studying the
diagram showing the interaction between clay, organic matter, silt and sand to make soil and then follow the advice on how to improve your clay, chalk or sandy soil lower down the same page; before reading how you can provide the soil nutrients, including those for clay soil.
Then, choose your plants from:-

  • Trees and Shrubs to form the framework,
  • Palms and Cycads,
  • Conifers,
  • Climbers to provide backdrops, shade and cover for vertical surfaces,
  • Perennials and Ephemerals for filling the garden with flower and foliage,
  • Grasses for vertical outlines as foils and contrasts,
  • Bulbs for companion, underplanting and massed display,
  • Succulents and Xerophytes; and
  • Dry Garden Maintenance - Starting with the Soil, Planting, Windbreaks, Lawns and Lawn Substitutes, and Irrigation Techniques.

Each ground cover plant of this 1000 has further details from her book, if it is in there.

 

Plants for Ground-Cover by Graham Stuart Thomas. Published by J. M. Dent & Sons Ltd in 1970 - reprinted (with further revisions) in 1990. ISBN 0-460-12609-1. This gives details on many more ground cover plants with inclusion (in the Index) of figures denoting the Hardiness Zones for each species in the United States of America.
 

Plant Name

Major source of honey in the UK Yes/No
Used by
HoneyBees - HB,
Short-Tongued Bumblebees - ST,
Long-Tongued Bumblebees - LT,
Solitary Bees - SOL

Type

The key ingredients a bird needs from your garden are
Shelter,
Food and
Water,
as expanded in Ground-cover Plant
Name W Page

Height x Spread in inches (cms)

Spacing distance between plants of same species in inches (cms)

Foliage

Some poisonous ground cover plants are indicated, but there are others in Cultivated Poisonous Plants and
Wildflower Poisonous Plants

Flower Colour in Month(s).

Use Pest Control using Plants to provide a Companion Plant to aid your selected groundcover plant or deter its pests

Comments

United States Department of Agriculture
Plant Hardiness Zone Map
-
This map of USA is based on a range of average annual minimum winter temperatures, divided into 13 of 10-degree F zones, that this plant will thrive in USA, Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico.
There are other Hardiness Zone Maps for the rest of the world including the one for Great Britain and Ireland of zones 7a to 10a.
Zone 5-9 indicates that the minimum zone temperature this plant will grow is 5 and top minimum zone temperature is 9 - above this number is too hot or below 5 is too cold for the plant. If your zone in your area of your country is within that range or your zone number is greater, then you can grow it in your garden.

Pruning of
Woody Plants in Groups 1 - 13 and
Herbaceous Perennials in Group 14 with
Ferns in Group 15 and
Evergreen Perennials in Group 16
.
 

Pachyphragma macrophyllum

Semi-Evergreen Perennial below 24 inches (60 cms) in height

12 x 24 (30 x 60)

Glossy Dark Green

Scented White in
April

Slow-growing ground cover.
Part Shade
Zone 7
Rich, yet well-drained soil with plenty of humus. From northeast Turkey and the Caucasus

Pachysandra terminalis

Evergreen Perennial below 24 inches (60 cms) in height

8 x indefinite (20 x indefinite)

Glossy Dark Green

Scented White in spikes in
July

"Japanese Spurge, Japanese Pachysandra".
Pachysandra terminalis is good ground cover with diamond-shaped, toothed leaves at the end of stems with greenish-white flowers.
Filtered Shade to Full Shade
Moist, acidic sandy soil encourages rapid colonizing. Zone 5

pachysandrapfolpterminalisreadfromcoblands

This is the perfect ground cover to use as a large-scale planting under trees or, on a small scale, in the shade of evergreen shrubs.

Pachysandra terminalis 'Green Carpet'

Evergreen Perennial below 24 inches (60 cms) in height

6 x 24
(15 x 60)

Glossy Dark Green

Scented White in spikes in
July

Good spreading / creeping ground cover

Whole plant of Pachysandra terminalis is poisonous.

Pachysandra terminalis "Variegata'

Evergreen Perennial below 24 inches (60 cms) in height

10 x 24 (25 x 60)

Glossy Dark Green margined-White

Scented White in spikes in
July

Good spreading / creeping ground cover

pachysandrapfolpterminalvariegatacoblands

Paeonia 'Dresden'

See other Paeonia in
UK Peony Index
and
Peony

Paeonia species - only the single-flower peony cultivars are of use to the bee
No HB, ST, LT, SOL

Herbaceous Perennial 24-72 inches (60-180 cms) in height

32 x 32 (80 x 80)

Deep Green, turn Red in Autumn

Ivory-White in
July

"Peony".

The Peony Group is a specialist group of the Hardy Plant Society formed in 1987, and exists to stimulate greater and more specialist interest in growing all types of peonies; bringing together amateur and professional enthusiasts worldwide. It also provides members with information about less well-known species, and aims to make peonies in general available to a wider audience.

Paeonia companions - aquilegia, campanula persicifolia, digitalis, iris sibirica, spring bulbs, viola, chaerophyllum, astrantia maxima; the spring cottage garden

Paeonia emodi

Herbaceous Perennial 24-72 inches (60-180 cms) in height

30 x 30 (75 x 75)

Dark Green

Fragrant, Pure White in
June

"Himalayan Peony".
Full Sun
Zone 3-8
Well-drained soil

Associations with this plant are trollius, smilacinas, dicentras, columbines, corydalis, epimdiums and earl-flowering canesbills, together with shrubs like early-flowering yellow roses, Potentilla cultivars, and kerrias. Some shade is preferred, but full sun is tolerated where summers are cool.

Paeonia lactiflora
'Jan Van Leeuwen'

Herbaceous Perennial 24-72 inches (60-180 cms) in height

24 x 24 (60 x 60)

Dark Green

White in
May-June

"Peony".
Full Sun
Zone 7
Well-drained soil

Paeonia lactiflora is the parent of several thousand cultivars in a wide range of floral forms - single, semi-double, double and 'Imperial' cultivars; and in flower colours from white to deep red and soft yellow. Remember that if you wish to attract bees only the single floral form is the form that they can use to get at the pollen or nectar. The rich spring leaf tints of this paeonia associate with forget-me-nots and make a setting for gold foliage and bright spring bulbs, especially crown imperials and tulips.

Paeonia lactiflora
'Pink Delight'

Herbaceous Perennial 24-72 inches (60-180 cms) in height

24 x 24 (60 x 60)

Dark Green

Pink in
June-July

"Peony".
Full Sun
Zone 7
Well-drained soil

Paeonia lutea var. ludlowii

Deciduous Shrub above 72 inches (180 cms) in height

96 x 96 (240 x 240)

Bright Green

Yellow in
May-June

paeoniaforsprluteavarludlowiigarnonswilliams"Tree Peony".
The paeonies are divided into 2 classes, the herbaceous, and the tree or shrubby. They are mostly hardy and thrive in sun or part shade in sheltered beds, in well-dug loam enriched with rotted cow-dung, but they will grow in almost any soil.
Herbaceous - transplant as little as possible, never oftener than every 5 years, and if root divisions are required, they should be cut out with the plant in situ. Mulch with well-decayed manure each spring.
Tree or shrubby - Plant in September or early October, and protect from frost.

Paeonia mascula

Herbaceous Perennial 24-72 inches (60-180 cms) in height

30 x 30 (75 x 75)

Bluish-Green above, paler Green below

Deep Purplish-Red in
July

wildpeonypaeoniacflopmasculapolunin

wildpeonypaeoniapflospmasculapolunin"Male Peony". From southern Europe
Full Sun
Zone 8
Well-drained soil

Paeonia mlokose-witschii

Herbaceous Perennial 24-72 inches (60-180 cms) in height

30 x 30 (75 x 75)

Bluish-Green

Lemon-Yellow in
June-July

paeoniamlokosewitschiiflot

"Caucasian Peony, Molly the Witch". Erect, short flowering season, good seedpods. Orange-brown autumn foliage
Full Sun, Part Shade
Zone 3-8
Plant beneath deciduous shrubs or trees. From the Caucasus.
Its golden flowers can be associated with early-flowering yellow and cream roses, Siberian wallflowers, geums, columbines, brooms, chaenomeles, kerrias and Potentilla fruticosa cultivars. For contrast use brunneras, ompalodes and frget-me-nots for their blue flowers.

Paeonia officinalis
'Rubra Plena
'

Herbaceous Perennial 24-72 inches (60-180 cms) in height

30 x 30 (75 x 75)

Deep Green

Crimson in July
paeoniaofficinalisrubraplenaflot

"Common Peony, Female Peony, Pianet".
Full Sun
Zone 3-8
Well-drained soil
Paeonies are wonderful plants for labour-free gardens

Paeonia suffruticosa

Deciduous Shrub above 72 inches (180 cms) in height

84 x 84 (210 x 210)

Dark Green above, Blue-Green beneath

Scented White, Pink, Red or Purple in
June-July
paeoniasuffruticosafflot1

"Moutan".

Whole plant of Paeonia suffruticosa is poisonous.

Paeonia x lemoinei

Deciduous Shrub 24-72 inches (60-180 cms) in height

60 x 60 (150 x 150)

Dark Green

White to Yellow in
July

"Tree Peony".

Papaver orientale

Papaver species
No HB, ST, LT, SOL

Herbaceous Perennial 24-72 inches (60-180 cms) in height

24 x 30 (60 x 75)

Mid-Green

Orange-Scarlet in
June-August

papaverorientaleflot

"Oriental Poppy" with hairy foliage that quickly dies down.
Self seeds, clump-forming, summer dormant, bristly stems and erect.
Full Sun
Zone 3-9
Well-drained, dry, deep, rich soil.
Companions - aquilegia, allium, galium (tall forms), anchusa, nepeta, euphorbia, salvia x superba; that distant wasteland that can go scruffy in summer. Use as a cut flower, pick with the bud just splitting open. Stand cut ends in 12 inches (30 cms) of hot water for a short time, and then add cold water, keeping them cool over night. You can also singe the bottom of cut stems with a matich and put them in cold water. Arrange them the next morning.Use the single flower hybrids of this for the bees. Plant poppies in drifts, flanked by annuals or summer bedding plants that later grow into the vacant space left by the die back of this plant: dahlias, nicotianas, osteospermums and cosmos.

Papaver croceum

Herbaceous Perennial below 24 inches (60 cms) in height

12 x 6
(30 x 15)

Blue-Green
papavercroceumflot1

White-and-Yellow in July-September

"Ice Poppy". Needs partial shade in pasture, meadows, rocky slopes and landfill areas.

Papaver perennials hate disturbance and should not be lifted oftener than every 3 or 4 years.

Parahebe catarractae

Evergreen Sub-Shrub below 24 inches (60 cms) in height

12 x 12 (30 x 30)

Dark Green tinged Purple when young

White in
July-September

 

Companions - grasses, artemisia. Plant on a wall or small bank, or atop a rock garden. In a perfect year, these make good container plants, but do not allow them to dry out.

Parahebe hookeriana

Evergreen Sub-Shrub below 24 inches (60 cms) in height

6 x 20
(15 x 50)

Mid-Green

White to Lavender-Blue in
July-September

 

Parahebe lyallii

Evergreen Sub-Shrub below 24 inches (60 cms) in height

10 x 20 (25 x 50)

Dark Green

White to Pink in
July

 

Parahebe perfoliata

Evergreen Perennial 24-72 inches (60-180 cms) in height

30 x 18 (75 x 45)

Blue or Grey-Green

Blue in
July-September

"Diggers Speedwell". Arching stems, will sprawl but looks odd if staked, semi-evergreen
Full Sun
Zone 8-10
Well-drained soil. From Australia

Parahebe x bidwillii 'Kea'

Evergreen Sub-Shrub below 24 inches (60 cms) in height

4 x 6
(10 x 15)

Dark Green

White in
July-September

 

Paris polyphilla

Deciduous Rhizome Perennial 24-72 inches (60-180 cms) in height

30 x 12 (75 x 30)

Mid-Green
pariscfloppolyphyllasissinghurstapr2013garnonswilliams

Green and Yellowish-Green in
July-September

Deep Shade
Zone 6
Cool, humus-rich soil - protect from spring frosts.

Companions - trillium, helleborus, omphalodes, polygonatum, and other woodlanders. Slugs attack new growth.

Paronychia capitata

Evergreen Perennial below 24 inches (60 cms) in height

2 x 12
(5 x 30)

Silvery Grey-Green

Green in
July-September

paronchiapforpcapitatawikimediacommons"Whitlow-wort" ia a carpeting plant making good ground-cover among dry rocks.
Zone 5

Paronychia kapela subsp. serpyllifolia

Evergreen Perennial below 24 inches (60 cms) in height

2 x 10
(5 x 25)

Silvery Bluish-Green

Greenish-White in
July-September

"Whitlow-wort".

Parthenocissus tricuspidata 'Veitchii'

Deciduous Climber above 72 inches (180 cms) in height

840 x 240 (2100 x 600)

Bright Green then Red-Purple in Autumn

parthenocissusfolt2tricuspidataveitchii

...

"Boston Ivy". If a newly planted Boston Ivy is unwilling to cling to its intended support, the suckers tipping the tendrils may have dried up; cut it back hard to encourage soft new growth.
Full Sun
Rich, moist soil. It will grow in dry soil.

It readily climbs trellises and drapes over walls, attaching itself to objects by means of adhesive discs. Do not plant where it can smother shrubs or trees. It is best used to cover large, barren, rocky areas where little else grows and makes an excellent slope cover.
This forms a striking contrast with scarlet-tinted foliage in the autumn

Passiflora caerulea

Evergreen Climber above 72 inches (180 cms) in height

360 x indefinite (900 x indefinite)

Rich Green

White in
July-October

passifloraflotcaerulea

"Blue Passion Flower". The Spanish priests fancied that the blooms of the Passion Flower, growing in South America, represented the instruments of Christ's passion. The 10 teals are 10 apostles, the corona or ring of filaments within the tepals is the crown of thorns, the 5 stamens stand for the 5 wounds and the 3 stigmas the 3 nails. This plant will grow in dry soil in Zone 7

Passiflora mollissima

Evergreen Climber above 72 inches (180 cms) in height

160 x indefinite (150 x indefinite)

Mid-Green

Coral-Pink in
August-December

"Banana Passion Flower".

Paxistima canbyi

Evergreen Shrub below 24 inches (60 cms) in height

16 x 36 (40 x 90)

Glossy, tiny, Dark Green, bronzed in winter

Greenish-White in
July-September

"Canby, Pachistima". Native hummocks in the mountains of Virginia and the Carolinas of USA.
Full Sun, Part Shade - denser in full sun.
Zone 5
Native to rocky soil, but any well-drained, slightly acidic peaty garden soil is satisfactory.
It grows well under trees and as a low hedge. It is also a good choice for naturalistic and rock gardens.

Pelargonium zonal horticultural group

Evergreen Perennial below 24 inches (60 cms) in height

12 x 12 (30 x 30)

Dark Green

pelargoniumpforpzonalseptember1978foord

Scarlet, Purple, Pink, White, Orange, Yellow in
May-September

"Zonal Pelargonium, Bedding Geranium". The Zonal Pelargoniums are normally used for Summer bedding in pots or beds, since they are frost-tender.
Full Sun. Zones 10-11
Light, well-drained, neutral soil. If grown in pots, fertilize regularly and cull dead heads. Avoid over-watering; Zonals in particular rot at the base if soil remains wet.
All pelargoniums survive periods of drought and neglect, even on dry soil. The term "pelargonium" includes all half-hardy greenhouse and bedding plants and the show varieties. All pelargoniums need a light, airy position, but no draughts, and only sufficient artificial heat to keep ot frost is needed.

Penstemon cardwellii

Penstemon species
No HB, ST, LT, SOL

Evergreen Sub-Shrub below 24 inches (60 cms) in height

6 x 12
(15 x 30)

Mid-Green

Deep Purple in
July

Use as edging in the short or low border.

Bee Forage Plants and UK Butterfly with Egg, Caterpillar, Chrysalis and Butterfly Usage of Plants.
Companions - heuchera, aquilegia, kniphofia, smaller euphorbias, smaller cocosmias, artemisia, eryngium, salvia, phlox. Loved by bees and many are good cut flowers

Penstemon davidsonii

Evergreen Sub-Shrub below 24 inches (60 cms) in height

8 x 16
(20 x 40)

Mid-Green

Deep Pink to Purple in
June-July

Use as edging in the short or low border. This is a small, woody-stemmed penstemon for rock gardens and raised beds, where its blooms are very large in proportion to the plant. Grows on dry soil.
Zone 6

Penstemon digitalis

Semi-Evergreen Perennial 24-72 inches (60-180 cms) in height

36 x 18 (90 x 45)

Mid-Green

White in
July-September

"Foxglove Beardtongue". Dense clumps.
Full Sun
Zone 3
Well-drained, fairly rich soil. From USA.

Penstemon fruticosus

Evergreen Sub-Shrub below 24 inches (60 cms) in height

16 x 16 (40 x 40)

Glossy
Mid-Green

Purplish-Blue in
June-July

"Shrubby Penstemon".
The dwarf species of Penstemon are excellent for the rock garden, while the taller species make beutiful bed plants if treated as half-hardy biennials. All kinds thrive in the sun and in a warm, sandy loam with a third part humus in it.

Penstemon rupicola

Evergreen Alpine below 24 inches (60 cms) in height

4 x 18
(10 x 45)

Blue-Green
penstemoncflosprupicolawikimediacommons

Deep reddish-Pink in
June-July

"Rock Penstemon". Evergreen sub-shrub. Use as edging in the short or low border.

Perovskia atriplicifolia
'Blue Spire'
(Salvia 'Blue Spire')

Flowering takes place in late summer at a time when there are few other sources for bees. It is drought resistant.
No HB, ST, LT, SOL

Deciduous Sub-Shrub 24-72 inches (60-180 cms) in height

perovskiapforpatriplicifoliabluespireaug2013garnonswilliams

48 x 36 (120 x 90)

Silver-Grey

Violet-Blue in
August-October

perovskiacflospatriplicifoliabluespireaug2013garnonswilliams

"Russian Sage" is a soft-wooded shrub with turpentine-aromatic, toothed, grey-green leaves, white beneath, and 48 (120) open steeples of bright violet-blue flowers. 'Blue Spire' is a hybrid; it has dissected leaves and branching spikes of violet-blue flowers. Upright and grows on dry soil.
Zone 4-9

It likes full sun and a well-drained garden loam with leaf-mould. February and early March are the best times for planting. The best flower spikes are produced when the growths of the previous year are cut well back each year in February or March, all dead wood being at the same time removed. Put dead wood cuttings on lawn, mow them and use mowings as a mulch in other parts of the garden.
Companions - grasses, crocosmia, artemisia, lavandula, gaura, salvia, rudbeckia, penstemon, phlox, nepeta, echinaops, echinacea; the prairie garden. Russian sages tend to fall forward into a semi-prostrate state so are well sited at tops of walls and stairways or banks, where this habit can be used to advantage.

Persicaria affinis

Persicaria species
No HB, ST, LT, SOL

Evergreen Perennial below 24 inches (60 cms) in height

10 x 24 (25 x 60)

Dark Green turning Red-Bronze in Autumn

Bright Rose-Red in
August-November

"Himalayan Fleeceflower". Vigorous and Mat-forming - a good edger.
Zone 4-9
Companions - grasses, aster, aconitum, lilium, hosta, rodgersia, monarda, filipendula, chelone, knautia, anemone japonica, fuchsia magellanica. Problems with snails and slugs.

Persicaria amplexicaulis
(Polygonum amplexicaule)

Semi-Evergreen Perennial 24-72 inches (60-180 cms) in height

48 x 48 (120 x 120)

Mid-Green

Bright Red to Purple or White in
August-October

"Bistort, Mountain Fleece". Strong clumps, long-blooming.
Part Shade. Zone 4-9.
Moist soil among grass or in forests from the Himalaya to western China
It is best combined with plants of bold form - rodgersias, ligularias, or white-flowering hostas, or with contrasting foliage such as grasses, ferns and crocosmias.

Persicaria capitata
(Polygonum capitatum)

Evergreen Perennial below 24 inches (60 cms) in height

3 x 20
(7 x 50)

Dark Green; each with a Purple V-shaped band

Pink in
July-September

Good ground cover, which is a fast-spreading / creeping, prostrate plant with rooting stems.
In moist conditions it grows lush and green, but in dry soils it is more compact, and the pointed leaves, zoned with a dark chevron, take on pink and crimson tints as a pretty complement to the small spherical heads of candy pink flowers, appearing for most of the year.

Persicaria vaccinifolia

Semi-Evergreen Perennial below 24 inches (60 cms) in height

8 x 20
(20 x 50)

Glossy Mid-Green turning Red in Autumn

Deep Pink in
September-November

 

Petasites fragrans

Honeybees visit the flowers when the weather is suitable

Deciduous Rhizome Perennial below 24 inches (60 cms) in height

12 x 60 (30 x 150)

Light Green, large, rounded leaves

Scented Pale Lilac daisies in
February in heads on 9 (22) stem

"Winter Heliotrope" because of its scent. It is a spreader / creeper. Good cut flower.
Full Sun, Part Shade
Zone 7
Deep, moist, fertile soil.
Bee Forage Plants and UK Butterfly with Egg, Caterpillar, Chrysalis and Butterfly Usage of Plants.
Companions - ferns, aster, japanese iris, typha angustifolia (cattail), equisetum hyemale (common horsetail), primula japonica and other candlebra primroses, lobelia siphilitica, lobelia vedrariensis, lobelia cardinalis, taller astilbes. The flowers arrive in late winter, offering food for bees at a time when it is needed. Suffers from snails and slugs.

Petasites japonicus

Deciduous Rhizome Perennial 24-72 inches (60-180 cms) in height

42 x 60 (105 x 150)

Light Green

Yellowish-White daisies in dense cone on 6 (15) stem in
March-April

Petasites grow in full sun or shade. They are rampageous spreaders / creepers in damp soil, preferably heavy (clay). Not fit for use in gardens: ideal where large areas are to be covered and where a vigorous colonizer can be given an area to beautify and save all work

Petrophytum caespitosum

Evergreen Sub-Shrub below 24 inches (60 cms) in height

2 x 12
(5 x 30)

Bluish-Green

Creamy-White in
July-September

petrophytumcflo1caespitosumgarnonswilliams

Petrophytum hendersonii

Evergreen Sub-Shrub below 24 inches (60 cms) in height

4 x 8
(10 x 20)

Blue-Green

White to Creamy-White in
July-September

 

Phalaris arundinacea 'Feesey'

Evergreen Grass 24-72 inches (60-180 cms) in height

60 x indefinite (150 x indefinite)

Light Green with broad White stripes

Pale Green Spikelets in
July-August

"Reed Canary Grass" is best in soil that does not dry out in the summer.
Full Sun, Part Shade
Zone 4
Moisture-retentive fertile soil.

In a garden, plant Phalaris arundinacea in containers such as a section of concrete or clay pipe 30 inches (75 cm) long (width depends on the size of the clump required, which blocks the runners and prevents the plant from taking over. Once established, it is difficult to eradicate, unless contained.

Use as backdrop for other plants, since the foliage is striking from spring to midsummer.

Phalaris arundinacea var. picta

Evergreen Grass 24-72 inches (60-180 cms) in height

36 x 12 (90 x 30)

Green with White Stripes
phalarispfolparundinaceavarpictareadofcoblands

Brown spikelets in
June-July

"Gardeners' Garters" is best in soil that does not dry out in the summer.
Full Sun, Part Shade. Zone 4. Moisture-retentive fertile soil.
Its plants are best in moist, rich situations: in poor or dry soil in the sun, the foliage can become untidy in summer.
Its bright variegation contrasts boldy with the dark foliage of Berberis thunbergii 'Rose Glow'. Behind put Clematis 'Madame Julia Correvon' to harmonize with the berberis.

Philadelphus
'Belle Etoile"

Philadelphus species with 'single flowers'
No HB, ST, LT

Deciduous Shrub 24-72 inches (60-180 cms) in height

48 x 96 (120 x 240)

Mid-Green

Very Fragrant White in
May-June

philadelphuspfolpbelleetoilejune2013garnonswilliams"Mock Orange". Narrow, tall shrub with stems that arch at the top.
Full Sun, Light Shade
Zones 5-9
Moist, well-drained soil
This plant associates well with early flowering species of roses, cranesbills, pale columbines, early single peonies and pink cor parsley.
Use as an informal billowing hedge with its large white 'single flowers' in a position near to the house for its strong flower scent.

Philadelphus
'Manteau d'Hermine'

Deciduous Shrub 24-72 inches (60-180 cms) in height

30 x 60 (75 x 150)

Pale to Mid-Green

Very Fragrant Creamy-White in
July-August

"Mock Orange".

This has fragrant, fully double blooms and is no use to bees.

Philadelphus
'Aureus'

No HB, ST, LT

Deciduous Shrub above 72 inches (180 cms) in height

96 x 60 (240 x 150)

Golden-Yellow in Spring, Yellow-Green in Summer, Greenish-Yellow in Autumn

Creamy-White in
May-June
philadelphuscflopcoraureusreadfromcoblands

"Mock Orange".

Philadelphus ‘Aureus’ is an upright mock orange cultivar with foliage that is yellow when young, maturing to an apple green. It bears fragrant single blooms, which make it particularly well suited to growing in a large container or in the ground near a path or seating area. For best results grow in moist but well-drained soil in full sun or partial shade. To keep philadelphus in shape, cut back flowered shoots to a strong buds every year after flowering.

Phlomis fruticosa

Evergreen Shrub 24-72 inches (60-180 cms) in height

36 x 60 (90 x 150)

Grey-Green

Golden-Yellow in
June-July

"Jerusalem Sage". From southern Europe. New shoots white. Invaluable in mixed herbaceous border, and tolerates coastal areas. The Mediterranean species are found in the driest areas where few other shrubs persist. This plant has greyish, woolly foliage, and whorls of hooded, bright yellow flowers in spiky frills. Plant in March or October. Cut out dead shoots and trim back to shape in March.
Full Sun, Part Shade
Zone 7-9
Moist, well-drained soil
Phlomis fruticosa associates with sages, white cistus, and ornamental grasses; it makes an effective contrast with blue and mid-purple; and with silver or purple foliage. It can become leggy unless pruned almost back to the previous year's growth in early spring; alternatively, large portions can be cut out every 1 or 2 years.
Companions - grasses, nepeta, salvia, macleaya cordata, helenium, kerria japonica 'Picta', artemisia, olearia, carex.

Phlomis italica

Evergreen Shrub 24-72 inches (60-180 cms) in height

12 x 24 (30 x 60)

Grey-Green

Lilac-Pink in
August

Erect. Invaluable in mixed herbaceous border. A suckering, soft-wooded shrub with white-woolly foliage and whorls of hooded, pink flowers in spiky frills.
Zone 8-10

Phlomis purpurea

Evergreen Shrub 24-72 inches (60-180 cms) in height

24 x 24 (60 x 60)

Grey-Green

Purple to Pink in
July-September

It has narrow, grey-felted foliage, white beneath, and whorls of hooded, rose-purple flowers in spiky frills. There is also a white form.
Zone 8

Phlox paniculata 'Sandringham'

Herbaceous Perennial 24-72 inches (60-180 cms) in height

48 x 36 (120 x 90)

Dark Green

Pale Pink in
July-October

"Border Phlox". Use in middle or back of border.
Full Sun, Part Shade
Zone 4
Rich, moist soil - from rich deciduous woods, clearings, floodplains and roadsides from USA and naturalized elsewhere.
Companions - eupatorium, salvia, aster, echinacea, geranium, hardy fuchsias, aconitum. Good cut flower

Phlox bifida

Evergreen Perennial below 24 inches (60 cms) in height

8 x 6
(20 x 15)

Dark Green

Fragrant Lavender-Blue to White in
May-July

"Sand Phlox".

Phlox carolina

Herbaceous Perennial 24-72 inches (60-180 cms) in height

48 x 18 (120 x 45)

Dark Green

Purple to Pink in
July-September

"Thick-leaf Phlox, Carolina Phlox". Lance-shaped long pointed leaves on tall straight stems.
Full Sun, Light Shade
Zone 4
Moist, rich soil from USA

Phlox divaricata

Semi-Evergreen Perennial below 24 inches (60 cms) in height

14 x 20 (35 x 50)

Dark Green

Lavender-Blue to Pale Violet and White in
July

"Blue Phlox, Wild Sweet William". Cut back in early spring. Use in woodland garden like under rhododendrons and other woodland shrubs
Zone 4-9

Phlox douglasii

Evergreen Perennial below 24 inches (60 cms) in height

8 x 12
(20 x 30)

Dark Green, tiny, narrow leaves

White, Lavender-Blue or Pink flowers, singly borne in
June-July

The border ploxes need rich living to do well, looking miserable in dry soils, but some of the smaller species commonly grown in rock gardens are tolerant of drought.
Phlox douglasii is a perky little carpeting plant making little mounds of tufty foliage, with lavender, white, carmine-rose or pink flowers. Zone 5.
The moss phloxes, Phlox subulata are also suitable for dry soils.

Phlox nana

Herbaceous Perennial below 24 inches (60 cms) in height

8 x 12
(20 x 30)

Grey-Green

Pink, Purple or White in
July-November

"Santa Fe Phlox".

Phlox requires perfect drainage and an open position sheltered from strong winds.

Phlox paniculata
'Brigadier'

Herbaceous Perennial 24-72 inches (60-180 cms) in height

48 x 24 (120 x 60)

Deep Green

Orange-Red in
July-November

Use in middle or back of border.
Full Sun, Part Shade
Zone 4-9
Rich, moist soil
 

Phlox stolonifera

Herbaceous Alpine Perennial below 24 inches (60 cms) in height

6 x 12
(15 x 30)

Dark Green

Pale to deep Purple in
July

"Creeping Phlox".
Rabbit Resistant - see other Rabbit Resistant Plants.
Use in middle or back of border.
Light Shade to Full Shade
Zone 2
Humus-rich, moist soil

Phlox subulata

Evergreen Perennial below 24 inches (60 cms) in height

4 x 20
(10 x 50)

Bright Green, small, narrow leaves

Purple or Red in
June-July in heads on 6 (15) stems

phloxflotsubulatatemiskaming2

"Moss Phlox" is a Mat-forming perennial that produces a carpet of brilliant flower colour from late spring to midsummer, which cover the needlike foliage completely. Individual plants grow in clumps, spreading / creeping rapidly by trailing stems. Different cultivars are available including 'White Delight', Red Wings' and 'Emerald Blue'. In spring set out new plants 12-18 inches (30-45 cm) apart. To stimulate growth and keep plants compact, mow them about halfway to the ground after flowering.
Zone 2
Use in banks, rock garden, accent plant and in large-scale planting.

Phormium cookianum 'Sundowner'

Evergreen Perennial 24-72 inches (60-180 cms) in height

72 x 72 (180 x 180)

Green with Red margin

Yellow-Green in
July-
September flowers on 48 (120) stems

"Mountain Flax" has upright arching sword-like foliage.
Use at back of large border or in gravel
Part Shade
Zone 8
Moisture-retentive soil

Phormium tenax
'Bronze Baby'

Evergreen Perennial below 24 inches (60 cms) in height

30 x 30 (75 x 75)

Wine-Red in Spring and Summer, Bronze in Autumn and Winter

Red in
June-July

"New Zealand Flax".
Rabbit Resistant - see other Rabbit Resistant Plants.
Full Sun. Zone 8. Happy in most soils though a wetland plant throughout its native New Zealand.
This is useful as a focal point in smaller gardens or for containers. Use as bedding to echo a focal point provided by a larger purple phormium or cordyline. A loose group may be underplanted with purple verbenas or petunias.

Phormium tenax
'Purpureum'

Evergreen Perennial above 72 inches (180 cms) in height

84 x 36 (210 x 90)

Reddish-Purple in Spring, Dark Copper in Summer, Reddish-Purple in Autumn, Bronze-Purple in Winter

Red in
June-July

phormiumpforptenaxpurpureumfoord"New Zealand Flax".
Full Sun
Zone 8
Happy in most soils though a wetland plant throughout its native New Zealand.

Phormium tenax
'Yellow Wave'

Evergreen Perennial 24-72 inches (60-180 cms) in height

144 x 72 (360 x 180)

Yellow-Green with Mid-Green Stripe

Red in
July-September

phormiumpfolptenaxyellowwavecoblands"New Zealand Flax".
Full Sun
Zone 8. Happy in most soils though a wetland plant throughout its native New Zealand.

Phygelius capensis

Evergreen Shrub 24-72 inches (60-180 cms) in height

48 x 60 (120 x 150)

Dark Green

Dusty Pink in
July-September

"Cape Figwort, Cape Fuchsia". Sprawling, vigorous.
Zone 7-10
Companions - perovskia, carex, hemerocallis, rudbeckia, salvia, penstemon, alstroemeria, crocosmia, dahlia, persicaria microcephala 'Red Dragon'. They are good cut flowers.

Phygelius x rectus

Evergreen Shrub 24-72 inches (60-180 cms) in height

60 x 60 (150 x 150)

Dark Green

Pale Red in
July-September

This plant and its cultivars tend to be fairly compact plants with large sprays of flowers. Best choice for gardens as they combine toughness with heavy flowering in compact, non-invasive plants.
Full sun, Part Shade
Zones 8-11
Fertile, well-drained soil that is not too dry.
Phygelius x rectus Companions - Achillea 'Lachsschonheit', Argyranthemum 'Peach Cheeks', Dianthus 'Doris', Diascia barberae 'Blchorn Apricot', Euphorbia seguieriana subsp. niciciana, Heuchera 'Smokey Rose', Kniphofia 'David'.

Phygelius x rectus
'Moonraker'

Evergreen Shrub 24-72 inches (60-180 cms) in height

60 x 60 (150 x 150)

Dark Green

Pale Creamy-Yellow in
July-September

phygeliuscflospxrectusmoonrakercoblandsExtremely vigorous. 5 petals in trumpet shape
Zone 7-9

Phyllodoce aleutica

Evergreen Shrub below 24 inches (60 cms) in height

8 x 10
(20 x 25)

Bright Dark Green

Pale Yellow-Green in June-July

 

Phyllodoce caerulea

Evergreen Alpine below 24 inches (60 cms) in height

9 x 12
(23 x 30)

Glossy Dark Green

Purplish Pink in
June-September

phyllodocecflospcaeruleawikimediacommons"Mountain Heath". Upright Shrub with bell-shaped flowers.

Phyllodoce empetriformis

Evergreen Alpine below 24 inches (60 cms) in height

12 x 16 (30 x 40)

Glossy Bright Green

Purple-Pink
in
June-July

"Pink Mountain Heather". Carpet-forming with bell-shaped flowers on long stems.

Physalis alkekengii

Deciduous Rhizome Perennial 24-72 inches (60-180 cms) in height

24 x 36 (60 x 90)

Mid-Green

physaliscfrupalkekengiichineselanternstkittssep2018garnonswilliams

Cream in
August followed by large, scarlet, balloon-like seed vessels, which are very decorative in winter.

"Chinese Lantern, Japanese Lantern". Bright Orange-Scarlet berries fully ripe is edible. Invasive so only grow in a pot.
Full Sun, Part Shade
Zone 5-8
Well-drained rich soil in a sheltered bed.
All parts, except the ripe berries, are toxic, and contact with skin may cause a skin allergy.
Physalis alkelangii is not so ornamental nor so vigorous as ground cover Physalis franchetii.
Companions - Best grown alone in a cutting garden. Slugs eat new shoots.

Physocarpus opulifolius
'Dart's Gold'

Deciduous Shrub above 72 inches (180 cms) in height

84 x 96 (210 x 240)

Bright Yellow juvenile becoming Mid-Green

White/Pink in
July

physocarpuscfloopulifoliusdartsgoldgarnonswilliams

"Ninebark". From eastern USA
Full Sun
Zones 2-10
Fertile, well-drained soil; but not chalk soil or roots becoming dry.

Purple foliage plants nearby produce a dramatic colour contrast. It also associates well with other yell-leaved plants such as euphorbias and decorative grasses.

Picea abies
'Nidiformis'

Evergreen Ground-cover Conifer 24-72 inches (60-180 cms) in height

60 x 144 (150 x 360)

Dark Green

...

"Christmas Tree, Norway Spruce, Common Spruce". From Scandinavia. Shallow rooted, this tree can be upended by strong winds.
Full Sun
Zones 2-9
Moist but well-drained, neutral to acid soil.

Picea pungens glauca
'Globosa'

Evergreen Bushy Conifer 24-72 inches (60-180 cms) in height

600 x 180 (1500 x 450)

Grey-Blue

...

"Colorado Spruce". From west coast of USA. Pyramid shape. Prune regularly as fresh growth will not bud from dead wood.
Full Sun
Zones 2-10
Moist but well-drained, neutral to acid soil.
Planted as a focal point it can be associated with junipers, and looks good as a speciman in a bed of heathers. It needs space to grow symetrically, so do not crowd it. It is effective surrounded by low-growing herbaceous plants - bugles, omphalods and other blue-flowered plants, or those with soft yellow flowers such as primroses.

Picea pungens glauca
'Koster'

Evergreen Columnar Conifer above 72 inches (180 cms) in height

600 x 180 (1500 x 450)

Silvery-Blue

...

"Colorado Spruce".

Pieris japonica 'Firecrest'

Pieris species - it provides a useful source of early nectar for bumblebees
No HB, ST, LT

Evergreen Shrub above 72 inches (180 cms) in height

144 x 72 (360 x 180)

Brilliant Red in Spring, Dark Green in Summer, Autumn and Winter

White in
April-May

"Lily-of-the-Valley, Japanese andromeda". From Japan
Part Shade
Zones 4-10
Moist, peaty, acidic soil in a sheltered position.

Pieris japonica is effective in mixed borders or in large containers, and also in woodland or wild garden settings. It can be associated with spring bulbs and heathers.

Whole plant of Pieris japonica is poisonous.

Pieris floribunda

Evergreen Shrub 24-72 inches (60-180 cms) in height

72 x 120 (180 x 300)

Glossy Dark Green

White in
April-May

Plant Pieris from Sep-Oct. Do not prune, but keep in shape by means of "stopping" and removing dead flowers in May.

Whole plant of Pieris floribunda is poisonous.

Pieris japonica
'Little Heath'

Evergreen Shrub 24-72 inches (60-180 cms) in height

24 x 24 (60 x 60)

Pink-flushed juvenile, Green with silvery-White margins later

White in
May-June

pierisjuvenilefoliagejaponicalittleheathcoblands"Lily-of-the-Valley". From Japan
Part Shade
Zones 4-10
Moist, peaty, acidic soil.

Pileostegia viburnoides

Evergreen Climber above 72 inches (180 cms) in height

216 x 36 (540 x 90)

Dark Green

White in
August-October

 

Pimelea prostrata

Evergreen Shrub below 24 inches (60 cms) in height

8 x 20
(20 x 50)

Grey-Green with Red margins

Fragrant, tiny, White flowers in small heads in
July-September

"Rice Flower". From Australasia. White or Red Fruit
Full Sun
On light, well-drained acidic soil enriched with organic matter, it will form a carpet on sheltered slopes of the rock garden. Not suitable for cold gardens.

Pimpinella major

Herbaceous Perennial 24-72 inches (60-180 cms) in height

48 x 24 (120 x 60)

Mid-Green

White, Greenish-White or Pink in
May-June

"Greater Burnet Saxifrage". Best performance in its own space in clay. An effective plant for meadow plantings.
Full Sun
Zone 5
Moist clay - from rough grassland, woodland margins, and hedgerows in much of Europe, except the far north, and into the Middle East and the Caucasus.

Companions - grasses, campanula lactiflora, astrantia maxima, anthriscus sylvestris 'Ravenswing', cryptotaenia, geranium, astilbe (early cultivars), delphinium, aconitum, paeonia, roses.

Pinus mugo 'Mops'

Evergreen Ground-cover Conifer above 72 inches (180 cms) in height

132 x 132 (330 x 330)

Green

Dark Brown cones.

"Dwarf Mountain Pine". From mountains of Europe.
Full Sun
Zones 2-9
Well-drained soil, including dry garden soil.
A slow growing pine with small, well-spaced, bright green leaves. It eventually produces dark brown female cones.

Pinus nigra

Evergreen Columnar Conifer above 72 inches (180 cms) in height

1200 x 300 (3000 x 750)

Dark Green
 

Yellow-Brown female cones.
pinusfemaleconenigrapolunin

"European Black Pine, Austrian Pine". From central and southern Europe. Open, conical habit.
Full Sun
Zones 4-9
Grow in chalk, clay and dry garden soil; tolerates coastal conditions
 

Pittosporum ralphii
'Wheeler's Dwarf'

Evergreen Shrub 24-72 inches (60-180 cms) in height

36 x 24 (90 x 60)

Deep Green above, White to Buff felted beneath

Dark Red in
June-July

"Mock Orange". Mounding growth habit.
Full Sun, Part Shade
Zone 9
Most soils
Use as foreground for taller plants and edging plants, particularly along stepping-stone paths.

Pittosporum tenuifolium

Evergreen Shrub above 72 inches (180 cms) in height

120 x 60 (300 x 150)

Glossy
Mid-Green

Black-Red in
June-July

pittosporumpfolptenuifoliumcoblands"Kohuhu, Tawhiwhi". From New Zealand. Its flowers have an intense honey perfume at night.
Full Sun
Zones 9-11
Fertile, well-drained soil and keep moist over summer. Requires sheltered position in colder areas

Pittosporum tenuifolium
'Silver Queen'

Evergreen Shrub above 72 inches (180 cms) in height

96 x 72 (210 x 180)

Green with White margins in Spring, Summer and Autumn, Silvery-Grey Green in Winter

Purple in
June-July

Pittosporum make excellent hedges in coastal districts.

Pittosporum tenuifolium
'Tom Thumb'

Evergreen Shrub 24-72 inches (60-180 cms) in height

36 x 24 (90 x 60)

Pale Green in Spring, Deep reddish-Brown in Summer, Autumn and Winter

Purple in
June-July

pittosporumpfolptenuifoliumtomthumbdrygardenathydehall4may2019garnonswilliamsCompanions for this plant are deep purple or pink Hydrangea serrata or Hydrangea macrophylla cultivars, corokias, crocosmias with smaller escallonias and phormiums.

Podocarpus alpinus

Ground-cover Conifer 24-72 inches (60-180 cms) in height

72 x 72 (180 x 180)

Dull Green

Yellow Male Flowers,Green Female cone-like flowers in
 

"Tasmanian Podocarp".
Both male and female plants required to produce the Bright Red Fruit.

A good plant for stony sites or scree beds.

Polemonium
'Lambrook Mauve'

Herbaceous Perennial below 24 inches (60 cms) in height

18 x 18 (45 x 45)

Dark Green

Lilac-Blue in
June-July

"Jacob's Ladder, Sky Pilot". Reddish stems, compact mounds. Sterile so is never a nuisance.
All Polemonium are Rabbit Resistant - see other Rabbit Resistant Plants.
Full Sun, Part Shade
Zone 4-8
Well-drained soil.

Companions - ferns, artemisia, euphorbia, campanula, hosta, helleborus, geum, potentilla, pulmonaria, brunnera. Divide clumps every 3 years to rejuvenate the plant.

Polygala calcarea

Evergreen Perennial below 24 inches (60 cms) in height

2 x 8
(5 x 20)

Mid-Green
polygalacflospcalcareawikimediacommons

Deep Blue in
June-July

"Milkwort".polygalapfolpcalcareawikimediacommons

Polygala calcarea
'Lillet'

Evergreen Perennial below 24 inches (60 cms) in height

2 x 8
(5 x 20)

Mid-Green

Blue in
June-August

 

Polygonatum hirtum

Polygonatum species
No HB, ST, LT, SOL

Deciduous Rhizome Perennial 24-72 inches (60-180 cms) in height

48 x 24 (120 x 60)

Mid-Green

Green-tipped White in
June-August. Flowers often hidden by the foliage

"Solomon's Seal". Black fruit. Effective in containers with erect stems.
Light Shade
Zone 5
Cool, humus-rich, moist soil

Companions - ferns, galium odoratum, hosta, omphalodes verna, brunnera, helleborus, tiarella, trillium, paris, saruma, smilacina. Lovely cut flowers.

Polygonatum multiflorum

Deciduous Rhizome Perennial 24-72 inches (60-180 cms) in height

36 x 10 (90 x 25)

Mid-Green, smooth leaves on arching stems

Green-tipped White in
June hanging bell flowers

polygonatumcflospmultiflorumwikimediacommons"Common Solomon's Seal". Blue fruit.
Light Shade
Zone 4-9
Cool, humus-rich, moist soil

Polygonatum multiflorum
'Striatum'

Deciduous Rhizome Perennial 24-72 inches (60-180 cms) in height

36 x 10 (90 x 25)

Mid-Green striped Creamy-White

Green-tipped White in
June

Black fruit
Light Shade
Zone 4-10
Humus-rich, moist soil

Polygonatum x hybridum

Deciduous Rhizome Perennial 24-72 inches (60-180 cms) in height

48 x 36 (120 x 90)

Mid-Green

Green-tipped Creamy-White in
June

"Common Solomon's Seal". Vigorously spreading / creeping colonies with lance-shaped mid-green leaves
Blue-Black fruit
Zone 4-9
Humus-rich, moist soil

Polypodium vulgarepolypodiumpforpvulgarekidwellycastle1371967foord

Evergreen Fern below 24 inches (60 cms) in height.
<--- Polypodium vulgare slide taken by Mr or Mrs Foord at Kidwelly Castle on 13 7 1967

12 x indefinite (30 x indefinite)

Dull dark Green

polypodiumpfruspvulgarewikimediacommons 

"Common Polypody". Polypodium are hardy and drought resisting. Often spreads / creeps on tree trunks as an epiphyte.
Dappled Shade
Zone 3
Well-drained soil - native mainly on acid rocks and soils, and on trees in much of Europe and western Asia.

See further details and photos in Fern Nursery page and Fern Gallery.
The Fern Nursery garden is open on Saturdays from May until September. They have events, talks and ferns photo gallery.
 

Polypodium vulgare
'Cornubiense'

Evergreen Fern below 24 inches (60 cms) in height

14 x indefinite (35 x indefinite)

Bright Green and lacy

...

"Common Polypody". Excellent ground cover
Dappled Shade
Zone 3
Well-drained soil

Polystichum aculeatum

polystichumpsoripaculeatumwikimediacommons 

Evergreen Fern 24-72 inches (60-180 cms) in height

<--- Polystichum aculeatum sori

24 x 36 (60 x 90)

Dark Green

...

polystichumpforpaculeatumwikimediacommons"Hard Shield Fern".
Part Shade
Zone 4
Well-drained soil - Grows in woods, hedgebanks and streamsides in much of Europe.
Use Polystichum in shady woodlands and rock gardens.
See further details and photos in Fern Nursery page and Fern Gallery.
The Fern Nursery garden is open on Saturdays from May until September. They have events, talks and ferns photo gallery.

Polystichum munitum

Evergreen Fern 24-72 inches (60-180 cms) in height

36 x 48 (90 x 120)

Dark Green

...

"Sword Fern".
Full Sun
Zone 6
Well-drained soil - grows in moist woodland in western North America.

See further details and photos in Fern Nursery page and Fern Gallery.
The Fern Nursery garden is open on Saturdays from May until September. They have events, talks and ferns photo gallery.
 

Polystichum setiferum

Evergreen Fern 24-72 inches (60-180 cms) in height

48 x 36 (120 x 90)

Dark Green
polystichumcforsetiferum

...

"Soft Shield Fern". Part Shade. Zone 5. Well-drained soil - Native to damp woodland and shady hedgebanks in much of Europe.
Associate with acaenas, bugles, or small spreading ivies, or with ferns of contrasting form - hart's tongue.
See further details and photos in Fern Nursery page and Fern Gallery.
The Fern Nursery garden is open on Saturdays from May until September. They have events, talks and ferns photo gallery.

Potentilla
'William Rollison'
(May be listed wrongly as 'William Robinson')

Herbaceous Perennial below 24 inches (60 cms) in height

18 x 24 (45 x 60)

Mid-Green

Yellow or Red-Orange in
June-September

Clump-forming
All Potentilla are Rabbit Resistant - see other Rabbit Resistant Plants.
Full Sun
Zone 5-9
Cool, moist, well-drained, open border. Once the flower blooms have faded, remove the flower stems at ground level.

Companions - grasses, hemerocallis, iris, geranium.

Potentilla alba

Potentilla species
No HB, ST, SOL

Herbaceous Perennial below 24 inches (60 cms) in height

3 x 12
(7 x 30)

Deeply divided, Light Green above, Silver-Hairy beneath

White in June-July

Clump-forming
Full Sun; thrives also in shade and is the best ground-covering species.
Zone 5
Cool, moist, well-drained, open border. Once the flower blooms have faded, remove the flower stems at ground level. From central and southern Europe

Potentilla atrosanguinea
 

Herbaceous Perennial 24-72 inches (60-180 cms) in height

24 x 24 (60 x 60)

Dark Green

Yellow, Orange or Red in
July-November

potentillapfolpatrosanguineaboweslyonroses3aug2013garnonswilliams"Himalayan Cinquefoil". Sprawling. Full Sun. Zone 5-9. Cool, moist, well-drained, open border. Once the flower blooms have faded, remove the flower stems at ground level.

Potentilla fruticosa
'Abbotswood'

Deciduous Shrub 24-72 inches (60-180 cms) in height

30 x 48 (75 x 120)

Dark Blue-Green divided leaves, softly hairy, and dense twiggy growth

White in
June-November

potentillacflospfruticosaabbotswoodcoblands

"Bush Cinquefoil, Shrubby Cinquefoil".
Potentilla fruticosa is a dwarf to small deciduous shrub having many cultivars, with leaves varying from green to silver, and strawberry-like flowers ranging from white to deep yellow, tangerine, and orange-scarlet, with clear pink. It is very hardy and ideal for gardens in cold climates.

Full Sun and away from overhanging trees
Zones 2-9
Any well-drained, fertile soil, but they thrive best in one that does not dry out, where they will continue to produce flowers from june to October if well nourished.

They do not respond to cutting back or reducing in height, so it is important to choose a variety of the right height of growth at the start. They respond to an occasional removal of old wood from the base

Potentilla eriocarpa

Herbaceous Perennial below 24 inches (60 cms) in height

3 x 12
(7 x 30)

Bright Green

Deep Yellow in
July

The tall border varieties of Potentilla are clump-forming and are scarcely ground-covers
whereas these short varieties are good ground-covers -
alba, argyrophylla, cuneata, ambigua, cuneifolia, montana, splendens and verna.

Potentilla fruticosa
'Beesii'

Deciduous Shrub 24-72 inches (60-180 cms) in height

24 x 48 (60 x 120)

Silver-Hairy

Golden Yellow in
June-November

Many of the Potentilla fruticosa varieties produce rich brown seadheads to add to the winter scene.

Potentilla fruticosa associates with old shrub roses, lavenders, lavender-blue or white hebes, hydrangeas, olearias, catmints, buddleias and hypericums.

Potentilla fruticosa
'Elizabeth'

Deciduous Shrub 24-72 inches (60-180 cms) in height

36 x 60 (90 x 150)

Dark Green

Bright Yellow in
May-October

All Potentilla do well in full sun or part shade, in the border or rock garden (dwarfs), in deep, sandy soil. The old and dead wood should be thinned out in September.

Potentilla fruticosa
'Longacre'

Deciduous Shrub 24-72 inches (60-180 cms) in height

24 x 24 (60 x 60)

Dark Green

Sulphur-Yellow in
May-October

 

Potentilla fruticosa
'Manchu'

Deciduous Shrub below 24 inches (60 cms) in height

12 x 30 (30 x 75)

Silvery-Grey

White in
May-October

 

Potentilla fruticosa
'Princess'

Deciduous Shrub 24-72 inches (60-180 cms) in height

24 x 36 (60 x 90)

Dark Green

Pale Pink in
May-October

 

Potentilla fruticosa
'Red Ace'

Deciduous Shrub 24-72 inches (60-180 cms) in height

36 x 60 (90 x 150)

Mid-Green

Vermilion-Red in
May-October

 

Potentilla fruticosa
'Sunset'

Deciduous Shrub 24-72 inches (60-180 cms) in height

36 x 36 (90 x 90)

Mid-Green

Deep Orange in
June-October

 

Potentilla fruticosa
'Tilford Cream'

Deciduous Shrub 24-72 inches (60-180 cms) in height

24 x 36 (60 x 90)

Dark Green

Creamy-White in
May-October

 

Primula auricula

Evergreen Perennial below 24 inches (60 cms) in height

8 x 10
(20 x 25)

Pale Green to Grey Green

Deep Yellow in
April-June

"Auricula, Bear's Ears"
All Primulas are Rabbit Resistant - see other Rabbit Resistant Plants.
Dappled Shade
Zone 3-9
Moisture retentive, well-drained soil with well-rotted leafmould, grit and pulverized bark mulch. From limestone crevices in cliffs and boulders in the Alps, Jura, Appenines, and Carpathians, Europe.
Companions - The minor spring bulbs, kerria, hamamelis, rhododendron, ferns, brunnera, bergenia, corylopsis, ribes, meconopsis, hosta, myosotis, pulmonaria, trillium, omphalodes; the spring garden.
Primula auricula hybrids, denticulata, cashmiriana, florindae, x juliana, and vulgaris sibthorpii all grow best in a rather heavy retentive soil that does not dry out, and appreciate shade during the hottest part of the day. All of these will grow in the cool of a north-facing wall.
Primula auricula should be well away from overhanging branches; when luxuriating in the right soil its prolific garden hybrids make good ground-cover, full of character.
Primula florindae will grow well in boggy conditions and seeds itself prolifically, making excellent cover.
In some soils Primula vulgaris, the common primrose, and its blue and other coloured strains, with Primula x pru-boniciana (Primula x juliana), 'Wanda' and 'Garrarde Guinevere', will increase fast, are easy to divide and large plantations can be made. Primula vulgaris and its blue strains will seed themselves. They need to be moved on to fresh ground after a few years.
In the cool of some Scotish gardens Primula edgeworthii and others of the Petiolaris section are sufficiently permanent to be successful cover.
Candlebra species and hybrids such as Primula beesiana, bulleyana, x bullesiana, helodoxa, poissonii, prolifera, pulverulenta and strains, japonica and strains, when growing strongly will seed themselves. A good soil, preferably on the heavy side, neutral, suits them best, and they can stand full sun so long as the ground is permanently moist. Some thinning and hand-weeding are usually necessary, and occasional replanting in September or March.
They do not mind cold, but rain plays havoc with the delicate powdered surface of the flowers and leaves, and for the most part they were grown in frames in the 1600-1700's. If the frames could not be shaded, they would be hidden in a dark corner to avoid the glare of the sun, because direct sunlight at flowering time does harm them.

Primula bulleyana

Semi-Evergreen Perennial 24-72 inches (60-180 cms) in height

24 x 24 (60 x 60)

Mid-Green
primulapflospbulleyana9june2013garnonswilliams

Crimson fading to Orange in
July-September

Long-blooming, disappears in late autumn
Open or Part Shaded
Zone 5-8
Humus-rich, sheltered sites that never dry out, ideally by ponds or streams. From wet meadows in northwest Yunnan extending to southwest Sichuan, China

Primula florindae

Herbaceous Perennial 24-72 inches (60-180 cms) in height

48 x 36 (120 x 90)

Mid-Green
primulacflospflorindaewikimediacommons

Fragrant Sulphur-Yellow in
July-September

"Giant Cowslip, Tibetan Primrose, Himalayan Cowslip". Good cut flower and long lived.
Full Sun
Zone 6-8
Moist soil that does not dry out and tolerant of considerable flooding in winter. Confined to a few wet river flood-plains high in relatively dry parts of southeastern Tibet.

Primula hirsutae

Evergreen Perennial below 24 inches (60 cms) in height

4 x 10
(10 x 25)

Mid-Green

Mauve-Pink in
June-July

The majority of Primula thrive in deep, rich,loam, and appreciate the admixture of leaf-mould and grit with the soil. They are all moisture-lovers, but must have a well-drained soil. The majority like part shade, unless unlimited moisture is available in hot weather. Plant out in September or early October.

Primula luteola

Evergreen Perennial below 24 inches (60 cms) in height

14 x 18 (35 x 45)

Mid-Green

Yellow in
April-June

 

Primula veris

Semi-Evergreen Perennial below 24 inches (60 cms) in height

7 x 7
(17 x 17)

Mid Green
primulacflospveriswisley13may2013garnonswilliams

Yellow in Spring

"Primula, Cowslip". Long-lived. Full Sun. Zone 4-8.
Fertile, well-drained soil. Often used for naturalizing in rough grass or meadows. From well-drained neutral to alkaline grasslands and scrub in the British Isles, from Norway to Spain, Turkey and eastern Siberia.
It harmonises with the apple-green flowers of Helleborus x sternii and some Helleborus x hybridus. It associates with the blue flowers of forget-me-nots, omphalodes or brunneras.

Primula vulgaris

Semi-Evergreen Perennial below 24 inches (60 cms) in height

8 x 14
(20 x 35)

Bright Green
primulapforpvulgarisapril1972primrosefoord

Fragrant Yellow in
April-June

"Primrose, Common Primrose, Primula". Solitary flowers on stems
Part Shade
Zone 4-9
Good for naturalizing in woodland or shaded grassland. From deciduous woodlands, banks, and shaded grassland in Britain, southern Norway and northern Spain to north Africa, Lebanon, Iran and the Caucasus.

Prostanthera cuneata

Evergreen Shrub 24-72 inches (60-180 cms) in height

24 x 24 (60 x 60)

Glossy Mid to dark Green. Strongly Aromatic when crushed

White in
July-September

"Alpine Mint Bush". Compact shrub from southeastern Australia.
Full Sun sheltered from strong winds
Zones 8-9
Thrives in medium to heavy soils if kept moist over the summer. Prune after flowering.

Prunella grandiflora

Semi-Evergreen Perennial below 24 inches (60 cms) in height

6 x 36
(15 x 90)

Deep Green, hairy, small, pinnate leaves

Purple in
July-September
prunellaflotgrandiflora2
on 9 (22) stems

"Large Self-Heal". Forms dense, creeping patches of rooting foliage. Remove spent flowers to prevent prolific self-seeding.
Full Sun, Part Shade
Zone 5
Found usually on dryish, alkaline soils in continental Europe northwards to southern Sweden and central Russia

Prunella grandiflora
'White Loveliness'

Semi-Evergreen Perennial below 24 inches (60 cms) in height

6 x 36
(15 x 90)

Deep Green

Pure White in
July-September

Prunella grandiflora and its varieties are easy in any soil not sun-baked, preferring moist positions. It has several varieties , but if the seed-heads are not removed they sow themselves and other colours are likely to occur.

White flowers of above

Prunus 'Accolade'

Deciduous Tree above 72 inches (180 cms) in height

300 x 300 (750 x 750)

Mid-Green in Spring and Summer, Orange-Red in Autumn

Deep Pink in
March

prunuscflopaccoladereadofcoblandsPrunus does best in a deeply dug and well manured soil rich in lime, or in localities with a chalk subsoil. Plant in November, in sunny positions sheltered from north and east winds. Prune out weak wood and dead flower shoots after flowering in the summer.

Prunus blireana

Deciduous Tree above 72 inches (180 cms) in height

144 x 144 (360 x 360)

Purple

Rose-Pink in
April

"Double Flowering Plum". Rounded shrub.
Full Sun but with protection from strong wind for the spring blossom
Zones 5-10
Moist, well-drained. Keep the base of trees free of weeds and long grass. Feed young trees with a high-nitrogen fertilizer.

Prunus cerasifera
'Pissardii'

No HB, ST, SOL

Deciduous Shrub above 72 inches (180 cms) in height
prunuspforpcerasiferapissardiapril1984foord

360 x 360 (900 x 900)

Red in Spring, Deeper Red in Summer, Purple in Autumn

Fragrant White in
April

"Cherry Plum, Myrobalan, Purple-leafed Plum". Native to Turkey and the Caucasus region.
Zones 3-10

Bee Forage Plants and UK Butterfly with Egg, Caterpillar, Chrysalis and Butterfly Usage of Plants.

One of the first deciduous trees to flower and is prized on this account for its nectar and pollen collected by the honeybees. This tree is cultivated on account of its foliage and often as a street tree. Use as hedge in a garden or trained on a fence or wall in a fan-shape at no higher than shoulder height to make maintenance easier.

Prunus laurocerasus
'Otto Luyken'

No HB, ST, LT, SOL

Evergreen Shrub 24-72 inches (60-180 cms) in height

72 x 72 (180 x 180)

Dark Green

White in
May

"Cherry Laurel, Laurel Cherry". Native to the Balkans, Turkey and the Caspian region. Commonly grown as a very dense and bushy hedge, but unclipped it can reach 600 inches (1500 cms) in height. In old woodlands it is as much a nuisance as Rhododendron ponticum.
Zones 6-10
In addition to visiting the flowers, honeybees may be seen visiting the plant more or less at any time, particularly when ordinary nectar is scarce. They visit for the nectar secreted from the extrafloral nectaries on the under surfaces of the leaves, particularly on the young growth.

Prunus laurocerasus is poisonous to horses, cattle, moose, sheep, swine, goats. Prunus laurocerasus contains prussic acid (Hydrogen cyanide), split off from amygdalin. Moth collectors know that laurel leaves put in a bottle will kill moths merely by their presence. Humans do not fare much better.

Prunus spinosa

No HB, ST, SOL

Deciduous Tree above 72 inches (180 cms) in height

180 x 144 (450 x 360)

Mid to Dark Green

White in
April-May

prunuspflospspinosapolunin"Blackthorn, Sloe". Edible Black Plum fruit. Flowers on black, leafless boughs. Common in woods, coppices and hedges throughout the UK.
Zones 4-9

Prunus subhirtella 'Autumnalis'

Deciduous Tree above 72 inches (180 cms) in height

300 x 300 (750 x 750)

Dark Green in Spring and Summer, Yellow in Autumn

White in
December-February

"Higan Cherry, Rosebud Cherry". From Japan.
Zones 5-9

Prunus tenella
'Fire Hill'

Deciduous Shrub 24-72 inches (60-180 cms) in height

72 x 72 (180 x 180)

Dark Green

Rose-Red in
April-May, borne along the stems

"Dwarf Russian Almond".

Prunus x cistena

Deciduous Shrub 24-72 inches (60-180 cms) in height

60 x 60 (150 x 150)

Red in Spring, Reddish-Purple in Summer and Autumn

Pinkish-White in
April-May

 

Prunus 'Spire'

Deciduous Tree above 72 inches (180 cms) in height

360 x 180 (900 x 450)

Bronze in Spring, Dark Green in Summer, Brilliant Orange-Red in Autumn

Soft Pink in
March-April

 

Pseudowintera colorata
(Drimys colorata)

Evergreen Shrub 24-72 inches (60-180 cms) in height

36 x 60 (90 x 150)

Yellow-Green marked Pink and margined dark Red-Purple above, glaucous beneath

Greenish-Yellow in
May

"Alpine Pepper Tree, Horopito". Spreading / creeping bushy shrub from New Zealand.
Full Sun, Light Shade
Zones 8-10
Moist, well-drained soil
 

Pterocephalus perennis
(Pterocephalus parnassii, Scabiosa pterocephalus)

Evergreen Perennial below 24 inches (60 cms) in height

3 x 8
(7 x 20)

Grey-Green, small and downy leaves

Pale Pinkish-Purple in
July-
September with flat heads on 3 (7.5) high stems

Papery seed heads.
Full Sun
Zone 6
Well-draining soil to form a carpet in rock garden or top of retaining wall.
From Greece and Albania

Pulmonaria angustifolia

Pulmonaria species
No ST, LT, SOL

Deciduous Perennial below 24 inches (60 cms) in height

12 x 18 (30 x 45)

Mid to Dark Green, hairy, long, narrow leaves

pulmonariapforpangustifoliawikimediacommons

Rich Blue in
April-June in nodding heads on 8 (20) stems

"Blue Cowslip". Mildew resistant. Neat Clump-forming.
All Pulmonarias are Rabbit Resistant - see other Rabbit Resistant Plants.
Light Shade
Zone 3-9
moist, well-drained, from acid to neutral sand.

The Pulmonaria Hardy Plant Society Group was formed in 1992.

Companions - Early bulbs, dicentra, hosta, astilbe, forsythia, helleborus, polygonatum, epimedium, ranunculus ficaria, tiarella, hamamellis, corylopsis; pair the coral-coloured forms with daphne odora 'Aureomarginata', ribes sanguineum, and tulipa 'Toronto'.
Interweave with Ranunculus ficaria 'Brazen Hussy" to have brassy yellow coming up amongst the rich blue flowers.

Pulmonaria longifolia

Deciduous Perennial below 24 inches (60 cms) in height

12 x 18 (30 x 45)

Dark Green spotted Silvery-White

Blue in
March-June

pulmonariacfloplongifolialymington28may1969foord"Spotted Dog". Clump-forming. Full Sun
Zone 3-9
Heavy clay. Apply annual mulch of leafmould or composted bark. From western Europe

Pulmonaria officinalis
pulmonariapflospofficinalisapril1986foord

Evergreen Perennial below 24 inches (60 cms) in height

10 x 18 (25 x 45)

White-spotted, Bright Mid-Green, hairy and heart-shaped leaves

Pink turning Blue in
April-June in nodding heads on 12 (30) stems

"Jerusalem Cowslip, Soldiers and Sailors, Spotted Dog, Common Lungwort". Clump-forming. Traditional Cottage Garden lungwort.
Part Shade. Zone 3-9. Fertile, humus-rich soil that is not too dry.
Pulmonarias seed quite generously and the clumps can be divided as they grow bigger. They look right anywhere in a cottage garden and they are perfect in a wild or woodland garden, for their leaves get bigger as the season advances and compete successfully with the toughest grass. In a spring garden plant at the back of the border, against a wall or hedge.

Pulmonaria officinalis
'Sissinghurst White'

Evergreen Perennial below 24 inches (60 cms) in height

12 x 18 (30 x 45)

White Spotted, Bright Mid-Green

Pure White in
April-June

pulmonariapfolpofficinalississinghurstwhitecoblandsWhite flowers of above. Pulmonaria angustifolia, officinalis, picta, rubra and saccharata prefer shade of part shade in woodland or under shrubs, or against north walls, on any soil that remains cool and moist in summer. Somewhat spreading / creeping by roots and seeds.

Pulmonaria saccharata
pulmonariapflospsaccharatafrulingshimmel21apr2013sissinghurstgarnonswilliams

Evergreen Perennial below 24 inches (60 cms) in height

12 x 24 (30 x 60)

White-Spotted, Mid-Green

Violet or White in
March-June

"Jerusalem Sage, Bethlehem Sage". Clumps. Part Shade. Zone 3-9.
Fertile, humus-rich soil that is not too dry.
Pulmonaria saccharata 'Mrs Moon' has very good foliage and flowers that open pink then turn to blue.
Associate with polyanthus and primroses with blue, pink, crimson, purple or white flowers. Like all lungworts, it prefers spring sun, with dappled shade in summer, and is suitable for a woodland garden or for underplanting late-leafing deciduous shrubs.

Pulsatilla vulgaris
(Anemone pulsatilla)

No HB, ST, LT, SOL

Herbaceous Perennial below 24 inches (60 cms) in height

6 x 8
(15 x 20)

Light Green

Deep to Pale Purple, sometimes White in
April-June

pulsatillavulgarisflot1

pulsatillapforp9vulgarisfoord"Pasque Flower" prefers full sun on well-drained soil in the rock garden or bed. its varieties include many different flower colours. Large feathery seedheads. Full Sun. Zone 6-8. Well-drained, fertile soil. From short grassland and mountain meadows in Europe, from eastern England to the Ukraine. Companions - viola, smaller grasses (festuca), paeonia (emerging foliage), aubretia, phlox subulata, lychnis viscaria, dwarf narcissus, crocus; a good rock garden plant, shows off well when backlit.

Putoria calabrica

Evergreen Shrub below 24 inches (60 cms) in height

3 x 12
(7 x 30)

Mid-Green

Pink in
July-September

"Stinking Madder".

Pyracantha
'Golden Dome'

Evergreen Shrub 24-72 inches (60-180 cms) in height

72 x 120 (180 x 300)

Glossy Dark Green

White in
July

"Firethorn".
Golden-Yellow Berries.

Pyracantha thrive in any good, light loam (Sand) in sunny positions and against walls and fences. Their white flowers ae followed by bright scarlet or yellow berries in the autumn. Trim to shape in early spring, but clip as little as possible.

Pyracantha
'Orange Glow'

Evergreen Shrub above 72 inches (180 cms) in height

180 x 120 (450 x 300)

Glossy Dark Green

White in
June

"Firethorn".
Orange-Red to Dark Orange berries that are very attractive to birds. Well suited to espaliering.
Full Sun
Zones 7-10
Wide range of moist soils.

Pyracantha
'Red Column'

Evergreen Shrub above 72 inches (180 cms) in height

96 x 72 (210 x 180)

Glossy Dark Green

White in
July

pyracanthapfruspredcolumncoblands"Firethorn". Red berries. Excellent as edging, rough thorny hedges or trailing down rocky slopes. The ripe fruits are edible and can be used to make a bland jelly.

Pyracantha
'Santa Cruz'

Deciduous Shrub 24-72 inches (60-180 cms) in height

36 x 72 (90 x 180)

Dark Green

White in
July

"Firethorn".
Red berries.

Pyracantha
'Teton'

Evergreen Shrub above 72 inches (180 cms) in height

144 x 144 (360 x 360)

Glossy Bright Green

White in
July

"Firethorn".
Yellow-Orange berries.

Pyracantha rogersiana
'Flava'

Pyracantha species
No HB, ST, LT, SOL

Evergreen Shrub above 72 inches (180 cms) in height

120 x 120 (300 x 300)

Glossy Bright Green

White in
April-June

"Asian Firethorn".
Yellow berries.

Bee Forage Plants and UK Butterfly with Egg, Caterpillar, Chrysalis and Butterfly Usage of Plants.

Nectar is usually secreted very freely by the flowers, and pollen is also collected. In prolonged drought the nectar flow may cease. Pyracantha is grown against walls and grown this way it produces its attractive fruits more freely than in the open. It provides dense cover for birds, which eat the berries. This Asian Firethorn has the advantage of flowering earlier in the spring, so with the others flowering period can be extended from April to July.

Pyrola rotundifolia

Evergreen Perennial below 24 inches (60 cms) in height

8 x 6
(20 x 15)

Mid to Dark Green, glossy, rounded and flat leaves

Pure White in
July-
September small bells on erect stalk

"Round-leaved Winter-Green, Wild Lily-Of-The-Valley". These are choice plants taking some time to settle down and only creating spreading / creeping ground-cover when growing luxuriantly. Lime-free soil rich in humus, woodland conditions, or northern slopes of rock garden.

Pyrus calleryana 'Chanticleer'

Deciduous Tree above 72 inches (180 cms) in height

480 x 240 (1200 x 600)

Glossy Dark Green in Spring and Summer, Red in Autumn

White in
April-May

"Callery Pear". From China. Tolerating heat, dry conditions, wind and poor soil, it makes an ideal street tree.
Full Sun
Zones 5-9
Having modest moisture needs they suit coastal areas with heavy, sandy loams and good drainage.

Also make Trees for Lawn. Narrow pyramid shape and recommended as Speciman. Plant in November in a sunny position sheltered from cold winds, in deeply dug and well-manured ordinary soil. Thin out the branches when overcrowded, and cut out dead wood and weak shoots after flowering

Site design and content copyright ©December 2006. Chris Garnons-Williams.

DISCLAIMER: Links to external sites are provided as a courtesy to visitors. Ivydene Horticultural Services are not responsible for the content and/or quality of external web sites linked from this site.  
Details of smaller Papaver, Penstemon, Petrophytum, Phlox, Phyllodoce, Pieris, Pimelea, Polygala, Potentilla, Primula and Pulsatilla and which container to grow the plant in:-

  • A. The plant can be grown in sinks, trough, pans or scree beds
  • B. The plant is best accommodated in a trough or sink.
  • C. Suitable for peat beds and raised beds (suitable for alpine rhododendrons) - remember that rhododendrons are toxic to honey bees

I have included within these pages on 1000 Ground Cover Plants information from other pages within this PLANTS Topic like

  • Poisonous Plants
  • Flower Arranging
  • Rabbit Resistant
  • Bee Forage
  • Attracts Bird/Butterfly

and links to Rock Garden Plants Suitable for Small Gardens Index Gallery.
Any of these 1000 Ground Cover Plants may well have further details about them in the remainder of the pages in this PLANTS Topic linked to from the PLANTS PAGE MENU above.

"Welcome to Barnhaven - the world-renowned hardy primrose specialists.
Florence Bellis began her famous hybridizing programme in the USA in 1936 and 84 years later, we are still committed to producing seeds and plants using her traditional hand-pollinating methods. We aim to keep the original Barnhaven strains going, to continue her creative work and to spread the enjoyment and delight that comes from growing beautiful primroses." It is superb dedication by family after family to keep the primrose breeding and its cultivars available to the world by these passionate people.

Topic
Plants detailed in this website by
Botanical Name

A, B, C, D, E, F, G,
H, I, J, K, L, M, N,
O, P, Q, R, S, T, U,
V, W, X, Y, Z ,
Bulb
A1, 2, 3, B, C1, 2,
D, E, F, G, Glad,
H, I, J, K, L1, 2,
M, N, O, P, Q, R,
S, T, U, V, W, XYZ ,
Evergreen Perennial
A, B, C, D, E, F, G,
H, I, J, K, L, M, N,
O, P, Q, R, S, T, U,
V, W, X, Y, Z ,
Herbaceous Perennial
A1, 2, B, C, D, E, F,
G, H, I, J, K, L, M,
N, O, P1, 2, Q, R,
S, T, U, V, W, XYZ,
Diascia Photo Album,
UK Peony Index
Wildflower
Botanical Names,
Common Names ,
will be compared in:- Flower colour/month
Evergreen Perennial,
Flower shape
Wildflower Flower Shape
and Plant use
Evergreen Perennial Flower Shape,
Bee plants for hay-fever sufferers
Bee-Pollinated Index
Butterfly
Egg, Caterpillar, Chrysalis, Butterfly Usage of Plants.
Chalk
A, B, C, D, E, F, G,
H, I, J, K, L, M, N,
O, P, QR, S, T, UV,
WXYZ
Companion Planting
A, B, C, D, E, F, G,
H, I, J, K, L, M, N,
O, P, Q, R , S, T,
U ,V, W, X, Y, Z,
Pest Control using Plants
Fern
Fern
1000 Ground Cover
A, B, C, D, E, F, G,
H, I, J, K, L, M, N,
O, P, Q, R, S, T, U,
V, W, XYZ ,
Rock Garden and Alpine Flowers
A, B, C, D, E, F, G,
H, I, J, K, L, M,
NO, PQ, R, S, T,
UVWXYZ
Rose
Rose Use
These 5 have Page links in rows below
Bulbs from the Infill Galleries (next row),
Camera Photos,
Plant Colour Wheel Uses,
Sense of Fragrance, Wild Flower

Case Studies
...Drive Foundations
Ryegrass and turf kills plants within Roadstone and in Topsoil due to it starving and dehydrating them.
CEDAdrive creates stable drive surface and drains rain into your ground, rather than onto the public road.
8 problems caused by building house on clay or with house-wall attached to clay.
Pre-building work on polluted soil.

Companion Planting
to provide a Companion Plant to aid your selected plant or deter its pests

Garden
Construction

with ground drains

Garden Design
...How to Use the Colour Wheel Concepts for Selection of Flowers, Foliage and Flower Shape
...RHS Mixed
Borders

......Bedding Plants
......Her Perennials
......Other Plants
......Camera photos of Plant supports
Garden
Maintenance

Glossary with a tomato teaching cauliflowers
Home
Library of over 1000 books
Offbeat Glossary with DuLally Bird in its flower clock.

Plants
...in Chalk
(Alkaline) Soil
......A-F1, A-F2,
......A-F3, G-L, M-R,
......M-R Roses, S-Z
...in Heavy
Clay Soil
......A-F, G-L, M-R,
......S-Z
...in Lime-Free
(Acid) Soil
......A-F, G-L, M-R,
......S-Z
...in Light
Sand Soil
......A-F, G-L, M-R,
......S-Z.
...Poisonous Plants.
...Extra Plant Pages
with its 6 Plant Selection Levels

Soil
...
Interaction between 2 Quartz Sand Grains to make soil
...
How roots of plants are in control in the soil
...
Without replacing Soil Nutrients, the soil will break up to only clay, sand or silt
...
Subsidence caused by water in Clay
...
Use water ring for trees/shrubs for first 2 years.

Tool Shed with 3 kneeling pads
Useful Data with benefits of Seaweed

Topic -
Plant Photo Galleries
If the plant type below has flowers, then the first gallery will include the flower thumbnail in each month of 1 of 6 colour comparison pages of each plant in its subsidiary galleries, as a low-level Plant Selection Process

Aquatic
Bamboo
Bedding
...by Flower Shape

Bulb
...Allium/ Anemone
...Autumn
...Colchicum/ Crocus
...Dahlia
...Gladiolus with its 40 Flower Colours
......European A-E
......European F-M
......European N-Z
......European Non-classified
......American A,
B, C, D, E, F, G,
H, I, J, K, L, M,
N, O, P, Q, R, S,
T, U, V, W, XYZ
......American Non-classified
......Australia - empty
......India
......Lithuania
...Hippeastrum/ Lily
...Late Summer
...Narcissus
...Spring
...Tulip
...Winter
...Each of the above ...Bulb Galleries has its own set of Flower Colour Pages
...Flower Shape
...Bulb Form

...Bulb Use

...Bulb in Soil


Further details on bulbs from the Infill Galleries:-
Hardy Bulbs
...Aconitum
...Allium
...Alstroemeria
...Anemone

...Amaryllis
...Anthericum
...Antholyzas
...Apios
...Arisaema
...Arum
...Asphodeline

...Asphodelus
...Belamcanda
...Bloomeria
...Brodiaea
...Bulbocodium

...Calochorti
...Cyclobothrias
...Camassia
...Colchicum
...Convallaria 
...Forcing Lily of the Valley
...Corydalis
...Crinum
...Crosmia
...Montbretia
...Crocus

...Cyclamen
...Dicentra
...Dierama
...Eranthis
...Eremurus
...Erythrnium
...Eucomis

...Fritillaria
...Funkia
...Galanthus
...Galtonia
...Gladiolus
...Hemerocallis

...Hyacinth
...Hyacinths in Pots
...Scilla
...Puschkinia
...Chionodoxa
...Chionoscilla
...Muscari

...Iris
...Kniphofia
...Lapeyrousia
...Leucojum

...Lilium
...Lilium in Pots
...Malvastrum
...Merendera
...Milla
...Narcissus
...Narcissi in Pots

...Ornithogalum
...Oxalis
...Paeonia
...Ranunculus
...Romulea
...Sanguinaria
...Sternbergia
...Schizostylis
...Tecophilaea
...Trillium

...Tulip
...Zephyranthus

Half-Hardy Bulbs
...Acidanthera
...Albuca
...Alstroemeri
...Andro-stephium
...Bassers
...Boussing-aultias
...Bravoas
...Cypellas
...Dahlias
...Galaxis,
...Geissorhizas
...Hesperanthas

...Gladioli
...Ixias
...Sparaxises
...Babianas
...Morphixias
...Tritonias

...Ixiolirions
...Moraeas
...Ornithogalums
...Oxalises
...Phaedra-nassas
...Pancratiums
...Tigridias
...Zephyranthes
...Cooperias

Uses of Bulbs:-
...for Bedding
...in Windowboxes
...in Border
...naturalized in Grass
...in Bulb Frame
...in Woodland Garden
...in Rock Garden
...in Bowls
...in Alpine House
...Bulbs in Green-house or Stove:-
...Achimenes
...Alocasias
...Amorpho-phalluses
...Arisaemas
...Arums
...Begonias
...Bomareas
...Caladiums

...Clivias
...Colocasias
...Crinums
...Cyclamens
...Cyrtanthuses
...Eucharises
...Urceocharis
...Eurycles

...Freesias
...Gloxinias
...Haemanthus
...Hippeastrums

...Lachenalias
...Nerines
...Lycorises
...Pencratiums
...Hymenocallises
...Richardias
...Sprekelias
...Tuberoses
...Vallotas
...Watsonias
...Zephyranthes

...Plant Bedding in
......Spring

......Summer
...Bulb houseplants flowering during:-
......January
......February
......March
......April
......May
......June
......July
......August
......September
......October
......November
......December
...Bulbs and other types of plant flowering during:-
......Dec-Jan
......Feb-Mar
......Apr-May
......Jun-Aug
......Sep-Oct
......Nov-Dec
...Selection of the smaller and choicer plants for the Smallest of Gardens with plant flowering during the same 6 periods as in the previous selection

Climber in
3 Sector Vertical Plant System
...Clematis
...Climbers
Conifer
Deciduous Shrub
...Shrubs - Decid
Deciduous Tree
...Trees - Decid
Evergreen Perennial
...P-Evergreen A-L
...P-Evergreen M-Z
...Flower Shape
Evergreen Shrub
...Shrubs - Evergreen
...Heather Shrub
...Heather Index
......Andromeda
......Bruckenthalia
......Calluna
......Daboecia
......Erica: Carnea
......Erica: Cinerea
......Erica: Others
Evergreen Tree
...Trees - Evergreen
Fern
Grass
Hedging
Herbaceous
Perennial

...P -Herbaceous
...Peony
...Flower Shape
...RHS Wisley
......Mixed Border
......Other Borders
Herb
Odds and Sods
Rhododendron

Rose
...RHS Wisley A-F
...RHS Wisley G-R
...RHS Wisley S-Z
...Rose Use - page links in row 6. Rose, RHS Wisley and Other Roses rose indices on each Rose Use page
...Other Roses A-F
...Other Roses G-R
...Other Roses S-Z
Pruning Methods
Photo Index
R 1, 2, 3
Peter Beales Roses
RV Roger
Roses

Soft Fruit
Top Fruit
...Apple

...Cherry
...Pear
Vegetable
Wild Flower and
Butterfly page links are in next row

Topic -
UK Butterfly:-
...Egg, Caterpillar, Chrysalis and Butterfly Usage
of Plants.
...Plant Usage by
Egg, Caterpillar, Chrysalis and Butterfly.

Both native wildflowers and cultivated plants, with these
...Flower Shape,
...
Uses in USA,
...
Uses in UK and
...
Flo Cols / month are used by Butter-flies native in UK


Wild Flower
with its wildflower flower colour page, space,
data page(s).
...Blue Site Map.
Scented Flower, Foliage, Root.
Story of their Common Names.
Use of Plant with Flowers.
Use for Non-Flowering Plants.
Edible Plant Parts.
Flower Legend.
Flowering plants of
Chalk and
Limestone 1
, 2.
Flowering plants of Acid Soil
1.
...Brown Botanical Names.
Food for
Butterfly/Moth.

...Cream Common Names.
Coastal and Dunes.
Sandy Shores and Dunes.
...Green Broad-leaved Woods.
...Mauve Grassland - Acid, Neutral, Chalk.
...Multi-Cols Heaths and Moors.
...Orange Hedge-rows and Verges.
...Pink A-G Lakes, Canals and Rivers.
...Pink H-Z Marshes, Fens, Bogs.
...Purple Old Buildings and Walls.
...Red Pinewoods.
...White A-D
Saltmarshes.
Shingle Beaches, Rocks and Cliff Tops.
...White E-P Other.
...White Q-Z Number of Petals.
...Yellow A-G
Pollinator.
...Yellow H-Z
Poisonous Parts.
...Shrub/Tree River Banks and other Freshwater Margins. and together with cultivated plants in
Colour Wheel.

You know its
name:-
a-h, i-p, q-z,
Botanical Names, or Common Names,
habitat:-
on
Acid Soil,
on
Calcareous
(Chalk) Soil
,
on
Marine Soil,
on
Neutral Soil,
is a
Fern,
is a
Grass,
is a
Rush,
is a
Sedge, or
is
Poisonous.

Each plant in each WILD FLOWER FAMILY PAGE will have a link to:-
1) its created Plant Description Page in its Common Name column, then external sites:-
2) to purchase the plant or seed in its Botanical Name column,
3) to see photos in its Flowering Months column and
4) to read habitat details in its Habitat Column.
Adder's Tongue
Amaranth
Arrow-Grass
Arum
Balsam
Bamboo
Barberry
Bedstraw
Beech
Bellflower
Bindweed
Birch
Birds-Nest
Birthwort
Bogbean
Bog Myrtle
Borage
Box
Broomrape
Buckthorn
Buddleia
Bur-reed
Buttercup
Butterwort
Cornel (Dogwood)
Crowberry
Crucifer (Cabbage/Mustard) 1
Crucifer (Cabbage/Mustard) 2
Cypress
Daffodil
Daisy
Daisy Cudweeds
Daisy Chamomiles
Daisy Thistle
Daisy Catsears Daisy Hawkweeds
Daisy Hawksbeards
Daphne
Diapensia
Dock Bistorts
Dock Sorrels
Clubmoss
Duckweed
Eel-Grass
Elm
Filmy Fern
Horsetail
Polypody
Quillwort
Royal Fern
Figwort - Mulleins
Figwort - Speedwells
Flax
Flowering-Rush
Frog-bit
Fumitory
Gentian
Geranium
Glassworts
Gooseberry
Goosefoot
Grass 1
Grass 2
Grass 3
Grass Soft
Bromes 1

Grass Soft
Bromes 2

Grass Soft
Bromes 3

Hazel
Heath
Hemp
Herb-Paris
Holly
Honeysuckle
Horned-Pondweed
Hornwort
Iris
Ivy
Jacobs Ladder
Lily
Lily Garlic
Lime
Lobelia
Loosestrife
Mallow
Maple
Mares-tail
Marsh Pennywort
Melon (Gourd/Cucumber)
Mesem-bryanthemum
Mignonette
Milkwort
Mistletoe
Moschatel
Naiad
Nettle
Nightshade
Oleaster
Olive
Orchid 1
Orchid 2
Orchid 3
Orchid 4
Parnassus-Grass
Peaflower
Peaflower
Clover 1

Peaflower
Clover 2

Peaflower
Clover 3

Peaflower Vetches/Peas
Peony
Periwinkle
Pillwort
Pine
Pink 1
Pink 2
Pipewort
Pitcher-Plant
Plantain
Pondweed
Poppy
Primrose
Purslane
Rannock Rush
Reedmace
Rockrose
Rose 1
Rose 2
Rose 3
Rose 4
Rush
Rush Woodrushes
Saint Johns Wort
Saltmarsh Grasses
Sandalwood
Saxifrage
Seaheath
Sea Lavender
Sedge Rush-like
Sedges Carex 1
Sedges Carex 2
Sedges Carex 3
Sedges Carex 4
Spindle-Tree
Spurge
Stonecrop
Sundew
Tamarisk
Tassel Pondweed
Teasel
Thyme 1
Thyme 2
Umbellifer 1
Umbellifer 2
Valerian
Verbena
Violet
Water Fern
Waterlily
Water Milfoil
Water Plantain
Water Starwort
Waterwort
Willow
Willow-Herb
Wintergreen
Wood-Sorrel
Yam
Yew


Topic -
The following is a complete hierarchical Plant Selection Process

dependent on the Garden Style chosen
Garden Style
...Infill Plants
...12 Bloom Colours per Month Index
...12 Foliage Colours per Month Index
...All Plants Index
...Cultivation, Position, Use Index
...Shape, Form
Index

 


Topic -
Flower/Foliage Colour Wheel Galleries with number of colours as a high-level Plant Selection Process

All Flowers 53 with
...Use of Plant and
Flower Shape
- page links in bottom row

All Foliage 53
instead of redundant
...(All Foliage 212)


All Flowers
per Month 12


Bee instead of wind pollinated plants for hay-fever sufferers
All Bee-Pollinated Flowers
per Month
12
...Index

Rock Garden and Alpine Flowers
Rock Plant Flowers 53
INDEX
A, B, C, D, E, F,
G, H, I, J, K, L,
M, NO, PQ, R, S,
T, UVWXYZ
...Rock Plant Photos

Flower Colour Wheel without photos, but with links to photos
12 Bloom Colours
per Month Index

...All Plants Index


Topic -
Use of Plant in your Plant Selection Process

Plant Colour Wheel Uses
with
1. Perfect general use soil is composed of 8.3% lime, 16.6% humus, 25% clay and 50% sand, and
2. Why you are continually losing the SOIL STRUCTURE so your soil - will revert to clay, chalk, sand or silt.
Uses of Plant and Flower Shape:-
...Foliage Only
...Other than Green Foliage
...Trees in Lawn
...Trees in Small Gardens
...Wildflower Garden
...Attract Bird
...Attract Butterfly
1
, 2
...Climber on House Wall
...Climber not on House Wall
...Climber in Tree
...Rabbit-Resistant
...Woodland
...Pollution Barrier
...Part Shade
...Full Shade
...Single Flower provides Pollen for Bees
1
, 2, 3
...Ground-Cover
<60
cm
60-180cm
>180cm
...Hedge
...Wind-swept
...Covering Banks
...Patio Pot
...Edging Borders
...Back of Border
...Poisonous
...Adjacent to Water
...Bog Garden
...Tolerant of Poor Soil
...Winter-Flowering
...Fragrant
...Not Fragrant
...Exhibition
...Standard Plant is 'Ball on Stick'
...Upright Branches or Sword-shaped leaves
...Plant to Prevent Entry to Human or Animal
...Coastal Conditions
...Tolerant on North-facing Wall
...Cut Flower
...Potted Veg Outdoors
...Potted Veg Indoors
...Thornless
...Raised Bed Outdoors Veg
...Grow in Alkaline Soil A-F, G-L, M-R,
S-Z
...Grow in Acidic Soil
...Grow in Any Soil
...Grow in Rock Garden
...Grow Bulbs Indoors

Uses of Bedding
...Bedding Out
...Filling In
...Screen-ing
...Pots and Troughs
...Window Boxes
...Hanging Baskets
...Spring Bedding
...Summer Bedding
...Winter Bedding
...Foliage instead of Flower
...Coleus Bedding Photos for use in Public Domain 1

Uses of Bulb
...Other than Only Green Foliage
...Bedding or Mass Planting
...Ground-Cover
...Cut-Flower
...Tolerant of Shade
...In Woodland Areas
...Under-plant
...Tolerant of Poor Soil
...Covering Banks
...In Water
...Beside Stream or Water Garden
...Coastal Conditions
...Edging Borders
...Back of Border or Back-ground Plant
...Fragrant Flowers
...Not Fragrant Flowers
...Indoor
House-plant

...Grow in a Patio Pot
...Grow in an Alpine Trough
...Grow in an Alpine House
...Grow in Rock Garden
...Speciman Plant
...Into Native Plant Garden
...Naturalize in Grass
...Grow in Hanging Basket
...Grow in Window-box
...Grow in Green-house
...Grow in Scree
...Naturalized Plant Area
...Grow in Cottage Garden
...Attracts Butterflies
...Attracts Bees
...Resistant to Wildlife
...Bulb in Soil:-
......Chalk
......Clay
......Sand
......Lime-Free (Acid)
......Peat

Uses of Rose
Rose Index

...Bedding 1, 2
...Climber /Pillar
...Cut-Flower 1, 2
...Exhibition, Speciman
...Ground-Cover
...Grow In A Container 1, 2
...Hedge 1, 2
...Climber in Tree
...Woodland
...Edging Borders
...Tolerant of Poor Soil 1, 2
...Tolerant of Shade
...Back of Border
...Adjacent to Water
...Page for rose use as ARCH ROSE, PERGOLA ROSE, COASTAL CONDITIONS ROSE, WALL ROSE, STANDARD ROSE, COVERING BANKS or THORNLESS ROSES.
...FRAGRANT ROSES
...NOT FRAGRANT ROSES


Topic -
Camera Photo Galleries showing all 4000 x 3000 pixels of each photo on your screen that you can then click and drag it to your desktop:-

RHS Garden at Wisley

Plant Supports -
When supporting plants in a bed, it is found that not only do those plants grow upwards, but also they expand their roots and footpad sideways each year. Pages
1
, 2, 3, 8, 11,
12, 13,
Plants 4, 7, 10,
Bedding Plants 5,
Plant Supports for Unknown Plants 5
,
Clematis Climbers 6,
the RHS does not appear to either follow it's own pruning advice or advice from The Pruning of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers by George E. Brown.
ISBN 0-571-11084-3 with the plants in Pages 1-7 of this folder. You can see from looking at both these resources as to whether the pruning carried out on the remainder of the plants in Pages 7-15 was correct.

Narcissus (Daffodil) 9,
Phlox Plant Supports 14, 15

Coleus Bedding Foliage Trial - Pages
1, 2, 3, 4, 5,
6, 7, 8, 9, 10,
11, 12, 13, 14, 15,
16, 17, 18, 19, 20,
21, 22, 23, 24, 25,
26, 27, 28, 29, 30,
31, 32, Index

National Trust Garden at Sissinghurst Castle
Plant Supports -
Pages for Gallery 1

with Plant Supports
1, 5, 10
Plants
2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9,
11, 12
Recommended Rose Pruning Methods 13
Pages for Gallery 2
with Plant Supports
2
,
Plants 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7

Dry Garden of
RHS Garden at
Hyde Hall

Plants - Pages
without Plant Supports
Plants 1
, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9

Nursery of
Peter Beales Roses
Display Garden

Roses Pages
1, 2, 3, 4, 5,
6, 7, 8, 9, 10,
11, 12, 13

Nursery of
RV Roger

Roses - Pages
A1,A2,A3,A4,A5,
A6,A7,A8,A9,A10,
A11,A12,A13,A14,
B15,
B16,B17,B18,B19,
B20,
B21,B22,B23,B24,
B25,
B26,B27,B28,B29,
B30,
C31,C32,C33,C34,
C35,
C36,C37,C38,C39,
C40,
C41,CD2,D43,D44,
D45,
D46,D47,D48,D49,
E50,
E51,E52,F53,F54,
F55,
F56,F57,G58,G59,
H60,
H61,I62,K63,L64,
M65,
M66,N67,P68,P69,
P70,
R71,R72,S73,S74,
T75,
V76,Z77, 78,

Damage by Plants in Chilham Village - Pages
1, 2, 3, 4

Pavements of Funchal, Madeira
Damage to Trees - Pages
1, 2, 3, 4, 5,
6, 7, 8, 9, 10,
11, 12, 13
for trees 1-54,
14, 15,
16, 17, 18, 19, 20,
21, 22, 23, 24, 25,
for trees 55-95,
26, 27, 28, 29, 30,
31, 32, 33, 34, 35,
36, 37,
for trees 95-133,
38, 39, 40,
41, 42, 43, 44, 45,
for trees 133-166

Chris Garnons-Williams
Work Done - Pages
1, 2, 3, 4, 5,
6, 7, 8, 9, 10,
11, 12, 13

Identity of Plants
Label Problems - Pages
1, 2, 3, 4, 5,
6, 7, 8, 9, 10,
11

Ron and Christine Foord - 1036 photos only inserted so far - Garden Flowers - Start Page of each Gallery
AB1 ,AN14,BA27,
CH40,CR52,DR63,
FR74,GE85,HE96,

Plant with Photo Index of Ivydene Gardens - 1187
A 1, 2, Photos - 43
B 1, Photos - 13
C 1, Photos - 35
D 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7,
Photos - 411
with Plants causing damage to buildings in Chilham Village and Damage to Trees in Pavements of Funchal
E 1, Photos - 21
F 1, Photos - 1
G 1, Photos - 5
H 1, Photos - 21
I 1, Photos - 8
J 1, Photos - 1
K 1, Photos - 1
L 1, Photos - 85
with Label Problems
M 1, Photos - 9
N 1, Photos - 12
O 1, Photos - 5
P 1, Photos - 54
Q 1, Photos -
R 1, 2, 3,
Photos - 229
S 1, Photos - 111
T 1, Photos - 13
U 1, Photos - 5
V 1, Photos - 4
W 1, Photos - 100
with Work Done by Chris Garnons-Williams
X 1 Photos -
Y 1, Photos -
Z 1 Photos -
Articles/Items in Ivydene Gardens - 88
Flower Colour, Num of Petals, Shape and
Plant Use of:-
Rock Garden
within linked page


 

 

Topic -
Fragrant Plants:-

Sense of Fragrance from Roy Genders

Fragrant Plants:-
Trees and Shrubs with Scented Flowers
1
, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
Shrubs bearing Scented Flowers for an Acid Soil
1
, 2, 3, 4
Shrubs bearing Scented Flowers for a
Chalky or Limestone Soil
1
, 2, 3, 4
Shrubs bearing Scented leaves for a
Sandy Soil
1
, 2, 3
Herbaceous Plants with Scented Flowers
1
, 2, 3
Annual and Biennial Plants with Scented Flowers or Leaves
1
, 2
Bulbs and Corms with Scented Flowers
1
, 2, 3, 4, 5
Scented Plants of Climbing and Trailing Habit
1
, 2, 3
Winter-flowering Plants with Scented Flowers
1
, 2
Night-scented Flowering Plants
1
, 2
 


Topic -
Website User Guidelines


My Gas Service Engineer found Flow and Return pipes incorrectly positioned on gas boilers and customers had refused to have positioning corrected in 2020.
 

 

From Annuals and Biennials chapter in Plants for Ground-cover by Graham Stuart Thomas - Gardens consultant to the National Trust. Published by J.M. Dent and Sons Ltd in 1970, Reprinted (with further revisions) 1990. ISBN 0-460-12609-1:-

"I think there is a case to be considered for annuals and biennials in ground-cover schemes so long as they will sow themselves freely.
These suggestions may be useful for large areas outside our gardens where a 'show' for a summer or two is needed, while shrubs and perennial ground-covers are being increased for later permanent planting.. They are easy to control if one studies the life-cycle with a view to allowing seed to develop if required or to remove it before it is shed.

Use

Plant

Comments

Lawn and ground-cover under conifer trees

Poa annua

The needles under a cedar tree were weekly swept away and the grass, despite fertilizers, top dressing, re-seading and re-turfing, simply would not grow. The needles were left alone and within 12 months the area became self-sown with a close and permanent sward of Poa nnua. This little grass regenerates itself constantly so that it makes a lawn, though each plant has only a short life.

Oxalis rosea

This is highly successful in the shade of conifers or any other tree

Cyclamen hederifolium

This is a perennial, though sowing itself freely when suited and it is here because plants to grow under cedars and yews, somewhat away from the trunks, are very few.

Temporary ground-cover under trees

Tropaeolum or Eschscholtzia

A sheet of 'Gleam' nasturtiums or eschscholtzia; both are free-flowering and easily pulled up, though like all annuals it may be a year or two later before all dispersed seeds have germinated.

Silene armeria and Iberis amara are equally successful, with Sett Alyssum (Lobularia maritima) creating a dwarf ground-cover carpet in late summer.

Ground-cover under trees with high rainfall

Claytonia sibirica (Montia sibirica)

This grows under trees where the grass is thin at high altitude and high rainfall. It covers the area - interpersed with primroses and Oxalia acetosella - with a mass of pinky-white stars a few inches (cms) above the ground.

Claytonia perfoliata is an annual; it is usually classed as a weed but is excellent cover in cool, acid soil, but far less conspicuous in flower

Streamsides, river banks and fringes of boggy ground

Impatiens glandulifera (Impatiens roylei, Annual Balsam)

It is a rapid colonizer because its seeds are ejected with some force from the ripe pods. It seeds with great abandon and grows to 72 (180) or more; its many pink flowers make a great show.

Full sun and drier soils than by streamsides

Angelica archangelica

It very quickly produces great green heads in spring, ripening quickly, with the result that the ground is thickly covered with seedlings in late summer.

Oenothera biennis (Evening Primrose) will colonize any sunny waste place and produce yellow blooms for weeks in the summer

Lychnis coronaria is a prolific seeder with rosettes of silvery basal leaves.

Erysimum linifolium (Wallflower) produces lilac flowers

Plants that seed about with abandon

 

  • Phytolacca american Poke Weed) has great spikes of shing black seeds
  • Geranium pratense, a soft blue flower, 36 (90) high, with a basal clump of divided leaves
  • Myrrhis odorata (Sweet Cicely), old garden herb
  • Borago laxiflora with pale blue flowers
  • on neutral, well-drained soil, Lupinus hartwegii and Lupinus polyphyllus, with Lupinus arboreus (Tree Lupin) are useful
  • temporary ground-cover of Lupinus angustifolius and Lupinus luteus, which are used agriculturally to enrich the land as a 'green manure'.
  • Verbascum nigrum, produces yellow or white 36 (90) high spikes in summer and it makes good basal rosetttes while it sows itself freely.
  • Foxgloves (Digitalis) and honesty (Lumaria) seed themselves freely and in a way will act as a ground-cover on account of their large basal leaves.

 

 

 

 

From Appendix II Lists of plants for special conditions in Plants for Ground-cover by Graham Stuart Thomas - Gardens consultant to the National Trust. Published by J.M. Dent and Sons Ltd in 1970, Reprinted (with further revisions) 1990. ISBN 0-460-12609-1:-

Plant

Plant

Plant

 

1. Plants requiring lime-free soils


On limy soils it is wiser not to attempt to grow the genera in this list. They are mainly woodland plants and thrive best in soil in which humus has been mixed.
Species of Ceanothus, Berberis, Chaenomeles, Cytisus, Iris, Lupinus, Pimelia and Myosotideum are not so dependent on humus so long as the soil is acid or neutral.

Arctostaphylos.
Azalea - this is poisonous to bees and its honey to humans.
Berberis thunbergii and varieties.
Blechnum.
Boykinia.
Bruckenthalia.
Calluna.
Camelia.
Carex pendula.
Cassiope.
Chaenomeles.
Claytonia sibirica.
Clethra.
Comptonia.
Cornus canadensis.
Cyathodes.
Cytisus scoparius prostratus (Sarothamnus).
Daboecia.
Dicentra.
Empetrum.
Epigaea.

Erica.
Galax.
Gaultheria.
Gaylussacia.
Houstonia.
Hydrangea macrophylla.
Iris douglasiana.
Iris innominata.
Leiophyllum.
Leucothoe.
Linnaea.
Lithospermum diffusum.
Lupinus.
Luzula.
Meconopsis.
Mitchella.
Myosotideum.
Ourisia.
Pachysandra.
Paxistima.
Pernettya.

Philesia.
Pieris.
Pimelia.
Pyrola.
Rhododendron - this is poisonous to bees and its honey to humans.
Sarothamnus, see Cytisus.
Schizocodon.
Shortia.
Skimmia.
Smilacina.
Soldanella.
Tanakaea.
Vaccinium.
Woodwardia.

 

2. Plants which will thrive in limy soils


While it may be taken that any genus not mentioned in 1 will tolerate lime, many, such as Rosa, prefer the soil to be neutral. The following will thrive in soil that is actively limy, even over chalk, though they will grow equally well without lime.

Acaena.
Acanthus.
Achillea.
Adiantum.
Ajuga.
Alchemilla.
Alyssum saxatile.
Anaphalis.
Anchusa.
Anemone.
Antennaria.
Arabis.
Armeria.
Asplenium.
Athyrium.
Aubretia.
Aucuba.
Ballota.
Berberis (except Berberis thunbergii and varieties).
Bergenia.
Brunnera macrophylla.
Caltha.
Campanula.
Cardamine.
Ceanothus.
Centaurea.
Cerastium.
Ceratostigma.
Choisya.
Cistus.
Clematis.
Convallaria.
Convolvulus.
Cornus alba.
Cotoneaster.

Cotula.
Crambe.
Crataegus.
Cyclamen.
Daphne.
Dianthus.
Dryas.
Dryopteris.
Epimedium.
Erigeron.
Erodium.
Euonymus fortunei.
Euphorbia.
Festuca.
Forsythia.
Fuchsia.
Genista hispanica.
Geranium.
Gymnocarpium.
Gypsophila.
Halimum.
Hebe.
Hedera.
Helianthemum.
Helleborus.
Hemerocallis.
Houttuynia.
Hydrangea villosa.
Hypericum.
Hyssopus.
Iris foetidissima.
Jasminum.
Juniperus.
Lamium.
Lathyrus.
Lavandula.
Liriope.
Lonicera.
Mahonia.
Nepeta.
Osmanthus.
Othonnopsis.

Paeonia.
Peltiphyllum (Darmera).
Phlomis.
Phlox.
Polygonatum.
Polygonum.
Potentilla.
Primula.
Prunus.
Pulmonaria.
Pulsatilla.
Pyracantha.
Pyrus.
Reynoutria.
Ribes.
Rodgersia.
Rosmarinus.
Rubus.
Salvia.
Sambucus.
Santolina.
Sarcooca.
Scabiosa.
Sedum.
Senecio.
Sorbaria.
Spiraea.
Stachys.
Symphoricarpos.
Symphytum.
Taxus.
Tellima.
Teucrium.
Thymus.
Vancouveria.
Viburnum.
Vinca.
Viola.
Waldsteinia.
Zauschneria.

 

3. Plants which tolerate clay.


Few plants establish quickly on very heavy soils over clay, though many of the following will luxuiriate in maturity, provided the area is reasonably well-drained.

Acanthus.
Aesculus.
Ajuga.
Alchemilla.
Anemone x hybrida.
Anemone tomentosa.
Aruncus.
Asarum.
Astilboides.
Aucuba.
Berberis.
Bergenia.
Brunnera.
Caltha.
Chaenomeles.
Clematis.
Convallaria.
Cornus alba.
Cornus stolonifera.
Cotoneaster.
Crataegus.
Daphne.
Epimedium.

Euonymus fortunei.
Forsythia.
Geranium.
Hedera.
Helleborus.
Hemerocallis.
Hosta.
Lamium.
Lonicera.
Mahonia.
Malus.
Peltiphyllum.
Petasites.
Phillyrea.
Polygonatum.
Polygonum.
Prunella.
Prunus.
Pyrus.
Reynoutria.
Ribes.

Rodgersia.
Rosa.
Rubus.
Salix.
Sambucus.
Sarcocca.
Sorbaria.
Spiraea.
Symphoricarpus.
Symphytum.
Telekia.
Tellima.
Trachystemon.
Vancouveria.
Viburnum.
Vinca.
Waldsteinia.

 

4. Plants which will grow satisfactorily in dry, shady places.

Apart from ill-drained clay, this combination of conditions is the most difficult to cope with in the garden.

* indicates those which will not tolerate lime.

Alchemilla conjuncta.
*Arctostaphylos.
Arundinaria.
Asperula.
Asplenium.
Aster macrophyllus.
Aucuba.
*Blechnum spicant.
*Camellia.
*Carex.
*Cornus canadensis.
Cyclamen.
Dryopteris filix-mas.
Duchesnea.
Epimedium.
Euphorbia robbiae.
Fatshedera.

Fragaria.
*Gaultheria shallon.
Geranium nodosum.
Hedera.
Hypericum. androsaemum.
Iris foetidissima.
*Linnaea.
Lonicera nitida.
Lonicera pileata.
Lunaria.
Mahonia.
Myrrhis.
Pachyphragma.
*Pachysandra.
Phyllostachys.
Polypodium.
Prunus laurocerausus varieties.

Reynoutria.
Ribes.
Rubus.
Sarcocca.
Skimmia.
Thalictrum.
Trachystemon.
*Vaccinium vitis-idaea.
Vancouveria.
Vinca minor.
Walsteinia.
Xanthorhiza.

 

5. Plants which thrive on moist soils.

Genera marked * are suitable for boggy positions.

Ajuga.
Aruncus.
*Astilbe.
Astilboides.
Athyrium.
Blechnum chilense.
*Caltha.
Clethra (no lime).
Cornus alba.

Cornus stolonifera.
Filipendula palmata.
Filipendula purpurea.
Gunnera.
Heracleum.
Houttuynia.
*Ligularia.
*Lysichitum.
Matteuccia.

*Onoclea.
Osmunda.
Peltiphyllum (Darmera).
Petasites japonicus.
*Primula florindae.
Primula various.
Ranunculus.
Rheum.
Rodgersia.
*Trollius

 

6. Plants which grow well in shady positions.

The bulk of these are woodland plants, growing well under shrubs and trees, but those marked * are not so satisfactory under trees, though thriving in the shade given by buildings. For those requiring lime-free soil, compare with List 1.

Adiantum.
Aegopodium.
Anemone.
*Arabis.
Arundinaria.
Asarum.
Asperula.
Asplenium.
Athyrium.
Aucuba.
*Berberis.
*Bergenia.
Blechnum.
Boykinia.
Brunnera.
Camellia.
Cardamine.

Carex.
Cassiope.
Chiastophyllum.
*Choisya.
Claytonia.
Comptonia.
Convallaria.
Cornus canadensis.
Cortusa.
Corydalis.
*Cotoneaster.
Cyathodes.
Cyclamen.
Cystopteris.
Dicentra.
Dryopteris.
Duchesnia.

Epigaea.
Epimedium.
Euonymus.
Euphorbia robbiae.
Fragaria.
*Fuchsia.
Galax.
Gaultheria.
Gaylussacia.
Geranium, most.
Gymnocarpium.
*Hebe.
Hedera.
Helleborus.

Helxine.
X Heucherella.
Hosta.
Houstonia.
Hydrangea.
Hypericum androsaemum.
Hypericum calycinum.
*Iberis sempervirens.
Iris foetidissima.
Jasminum nudiflorum.
*Jasminum others.
Juniperus x media.
Lamium.
Leucothoe.
Linnaea.
Lomaria.
Lonicera pileata.
Lunaria.
Luzula.
Lysimachia.
Mahonia.
Maianthemum.
Matteuccia.
Meconopsis.
Milium.
Mitchella.
Myrrhis.
Omphalodes.

Onoclea.
Ourisia.
Oxalis.
Pachyphragma.
Pachysandra.
Paxistima.
Patrinia.
Petasites.
Philesia.
Phyllostachys.
Pieris.
Polygonatum.
Polygonum.
Polypodium.
Polystichum.
Prunus laurocerasus.
Pseudosasa.
Pulmonaria.
Pyrola.
Rhododendron, larger-leaved kinds, it is toxic to bees and the honey from it is toxic to humans.
Ribes.
Rubus.
Sarcocca.
Saxifraga.
Schizocodon.
Selaginella.
 

Shortia.
Skimmia.
Smilacina.
*Soldanella.
Symphytum.
Tanakea.
Tellima.
Thalictrum minus.
Tiarella.
Tolmeia.
Trachystemon.
Vaccinium macrocarpum.
Vaccinium vitis-idaea.
Vancouveria.
*Viburnum davidii.
Vinca.
Viola.
Waldsteinia.
Woodwardia.

 

7. Plants which will thrive in hot, sunny places on dry soils.

Those marked * require lime-free soil.

Acaena.
Acantholimon.
Acanthus.
Achillea.
Alyssum.
Ampelopsis.
Antennaria.
Anthemis.
Arabis.
*Arctostaphylos.
Armeria.
Artemisia.
Aubretia.
Ballota.
Bolax.
Bupleurum.
Calamintha.
Campanula alliariifolia.
Campsis.
Ceanothus.
Centaurea.
Cerastium.
Ceratostigma.
*Chaenomeles.
Choisya.
Cissus.
Cistus.
Clematis flammula.
Clematis x jouiniana.
Convolvulus.
Coronilla.
Cotula.
Crambe.
*Cytisus.
Dianthus

Dimorphotheca.
Elaeagnus.
Elymus.
Ephedra.
Erigeron glaucus.
Erodium.
Erysimum.
Eschscholtzia.
Fascicularia.
Festuca.
Filipendula hexapetala.
Genista.
Geranium x magnificum.
Geranium renardii.
Gypsophila.
Halimocistus.
Halimium.
Hebe.
Helianthemum.
Hypericum calycinum.
Hypericum rhodopeum.
Hyssopus.
Iberis amara.
Iberis sempervirens.
Iris graminea.
*Iris innominata.
Iris japonica.
Iris ruthenica.
Jasminum parkeri.
Juniperus.
Lathyrus.
Lavandula.
Leptospermum.
Limonium.
Lupinus arboreus.

Lychnis coronaria.
Moltkia.
Muehlenbeckia.
Nepeta.
Oenothera biennis.
Ophiopogon.
Osteospermum, (see Dimporphotheca).
Othonnopsis.
Oxalis rubra.
Paronychia.
Parthenocissus.
Pennisetum.
Pterocephalus.
Ptilotrichum.
Raoulia.
Reynoutria.
Romneya.
Rosmarinus.
Ruta.
Salvia'
Santolina.
Saponaria.
Satureia.
Scabiosa graminifolia.
Sedum.
Senecio.
Silene.
Stachys olympica.
Teucrium.
Thymus.
Trachystemon.
*Vaccinium oxycoccus.
Viola labradorica.
Zauschneria.

 

8. Plants which thrive in maritime districts.

Many of the following will stand wind and salt-spray, particularly those marked *.

Those marked ** will provide shelter for others and shelter is highly important in seaside gardening.

For genera requiring, lime-free soil, compare with List 1.

Acaena.
Acantholimon.
Achillea.
Alchemilla.
Alyssum.
Antennaria.
Anthemis.
Arabis.
*Arctostaphylos.
*Armeria.
*Artemisia.
Arundinaria.
Asperula.
Asplenium.
Athyrium.
 

Aubretia.
*Aucuba.
*Berberis.
Bergenia.
Beschorneria.
Betula.
Blechnum.
Bolax.
Bruckenthalia.
**Bupleurum.
Calamintha.
*Calluna.
Camellia.
Campanula.
Campsis.

Ceanothus.
Centaurea.
*Cerastium.
Ceratostigma.
Choisya.
**Cistus.
Clematis.
Convolvulus.
Coprosma.
Cornus alba.
Cornus stolonifera.
Coronilla.
**Cotoneaster.
*Crambe.
**Crataegus.
*Cytisus.
*Daboecia.
*Dianthus.
*Dimorphotheca.
Dryas.
Dryopteris.
*Elaeagnus.
*Elymus.
Ephedra.
*Erica.
*Erigeron glaucus.
*Eriogonum.
*Eryngium.
Erysimum.
**Escallonia.
*Euonymus.
Euphorbia.
Fascicularia.
Festuca.
Filipendula hexapetala.
Forsythia.
*Fuchsia.
Garrya.

*Genista.
Geranium.
*Gypsophila.
Halimiocistus.
*Halimium.
**Hebe.
Hedera.
Helianthemum.
Hemerocallis.
Heuchera.
*Hydrangea.
Hypericum.
Hyssopus.
Iberis.
Ilex.
Iris.
Jasminum.
*Juniperus.
Lathyrus.
Lavandula.
*Leptospermum.
*Limonium.
Liriope.
**Lonicera.
*Lupinus arboreus.
Mahonia.
Myosotideum.
Osteospermum, (see Dimorphotheca).
*Othonnopsis.
Oxalis.
Penstemon.
Petasites fragrans.
Phlox.
Phyllostachys.
Polygonum.
Polypodium.
Polystichum.
*Potentilla.

Pulsatilla.
Pyrus.
Reynoutria.
*Romneya.
*Rosa.
*Rosmarinus.
Rubus.
Ruta.
**Salix.
Salvia.
Santolina.
Satureia.
Saxifraga.

*Sedum.
**Senecio.
Silene.
Skimmia.
Sorbaria.
Spiraea.
Stachys.
Symphoricarpus.
Teucrium.
Thymus.
Vaccinium.
Vinca.
Waldsteinia.

 

9. Plants which create barriers.

The following by their dense or prickly character will deter small animals and human beings as well as weeds.

Arundinaria anceps.
Berberis.
Chaenomeles.
Clematis montana.
Clethra.
Cornus alba.
Cornus stolonifera.
Cotoneaster conspicuus.
Cotoneaster conspicuus 'Decorus'.
Crataegus.
Forsythia suspensa sieboldii.
Gaultheria shallon.
Juniperus x media.
Lonicera nitida.

Mahonia japonica.
Pernettya.
Pyrus.
Rosa 'Macrantha'.
Rosa 'Max Graf'.
Rosa x paulii.
Rosa x polliniana.
Rosa 'Raubritter'.
Rosa rugosa.
Rosa virginiana.
Rosa woodsii fendleri.
Spiraea douglasii.
Spiraea menziesii.

 

 

10. Plants for town gardens.

Genera marked * prefer acid soil;

those marked £ will thrive in impoverished soils. Soil in towns is usually deficient in humus.

£Acanthus.
£Alchemilla.
Anemone.
£Asperula odorata.
£Aucuba.
£Bergenia.
Campanula.
Clematis montana.
Corydalis.
*Dicentra.
£Epimedium.

Euonymus.
£Fatshedera.
£Ferns.
£Geranium.
£Hebe.
£Hedera.
*Hosta.
Nepeta.
Parthenocissus.
Polygonatum.
£Potentilla.

Ribes.
Salix.
Saxifraga, Robertsonia section.
Spiraea.
Tellima.
£Vancouveria.
£Vinca.
Waldsteinia.

 

EXPLAINATION OF WHY SOIL IN UK TOWNS IS USUALLY DEFICIENT IN HUMUS.
That is because when a flower bed is weeded, then the weeds are thrown away. This means that the minerals that weed used up from the soil are also thrown away, and the soil has not received any replacement.

 

Humus is dark, organic material that forms in soil when plant and animal matter decays.
When plants drop leaves, twigs, and other material to the ground, it piles up. This material is called leaf litter. When animals die, their remains add to the litter. Over time, all this litter decomposes. This means it decays, or breaks down, into its most basic chemical elements. Many of these chemicals are important nutrients for the soil and organisms that depend on soil for life, such as plants. The thick brown or black substance that remains after most of the organic litter has decomposed is called humus. Earthworms often help mix humus with minerals in the soil. Humus contains many useful nutrients for healthy soil. One of the most important is nitrogen. Nitrogen is a key nutrient for most plants. Agriculture depends on nitrogen and other nutrients found in humus.When humus is in soil, the soil will crumble. Air and water move easily through the loose soil, and oxygen can reach the roots of plants. Humus can be produced naturally or through a process called composting. When people compost, they collect decaying organic material, such as food and garden scraps, that will be turned into soil.

soil15casestudies

 

The humus provides the organic polymers to interact with the clay domains and bacterium to stick the 2 grains of sand together. This soil molecule of 2 grains of sand, organic polymers, clay domains and bacterium will disintegrate by the action of the bacterium or fungal enymatic catalysis on the organic polymers. So if a continuous supply of humus is not present, then the soil molecules will break up into sand and clay.
Because the idiots in the UK do not know about this, this is why they weed a bed, throw away the weed, not provide anything in return and expect the soil to take care of itself.
When you go to view gardens open to the public how many times can you see bare earth between plants in a flower bed? There needs to be either a green manure or an organic mulch between the plants, so that leaf litter etc can decompose and become humus to provide the minerals and humus for the plants. That is what you see when you visit a forest where the fallen leaves, branches, animals and birds are left to their own devices, except when a newly qualified university student came to look after a local authority controlled wooded park, when she got the local population to help her and her staff to remove all the undergrowth, leaving bare earth!

 

Cultural Needs of Plants
from Chapter 4 in Fern Grower's Manual by Barbara Joe Hoshizaki & Robbin C. Moran. Revised and Expanded Edition. Published in 2001 by Timber Press, Inc. Reprinted 2002, 2006. ISBN-13:978-0-88192-495-4.

"Understanding Fern Needs
Ferns have the same basic growing requirements as other plants and will thrive when these are met. There is nothing mysterious about the requirements - they are not something known only to people with green thumbs - but the best gardeners are those who understand plant requirements and are careful about satisfying them.
What, then, does a fern need?
 

  1. Water - All plants need water. Water in the soil prevents roots from drying, and all mineral nutrients taken up by the roots must be dissolved in the soil water. Besides water in the soil, most plants need water in the air. Adequate humidity keeps the plant from drying out. Leaves need water for photosynthesis and to keep from wilting.
  2. Light - All green plants need light to manufacture food (sugars) by photosynthesis. Some plants need more light than others, and some can flourish in sun or shade. Most ferns, however, prefer some amount of shade.
  3. Photosynthesis - For photosynthesis, plants require carbon dioxide, a gas that is exhaled by animals as waste. Carbon dioxide diffuses into plants through tiny pores, called stomata, that abound on the lower surface of the leaves. In the leaf, carbon dioxide is combined with the hydrogen from water to form carbohydrates, the plant's food. This process takes place only in the presence of light and chlorophyll, a green pigment found in plant cells. To enhance growth, some commercial growers increase the carbon dioxide level in their greenhouses to 600ppm (parts per million), or twice the amount typically found in the air.
  4. Oxygen - Plants need oxygen. The green plants of a plant do not require much oxygen from the air because plants produce more oxygen by photosynthesis than they use. The excess oxygen liberated from the plants is used by all animals, including humans. What do plants do with oxygen? They use it just as we do, to release the energy stored in food. We use energy to move about, to talk, to grow, to think - in fact, for all our life processes. Although plants don't talk or move much, they do grow and metabolize and must carry on all their life processes using oxygen to release the stored energy in their food.
  5. Air with roots - Roots need air all the time. They get it from the air spaces between the soil particles. Overwatering displaces the air between soil particles with water, thereby removing the oxygen needed by the roots. This reduces the root's ability to absorb mineral nutrients and can foster root-rot. These gases need free access to the roots:-
    • Nitrogen Cycle -
      Nitrogen is the most commonly limiting nutrient in plants. Legumes use nitrogen fixing bacteria, specifically symbiotic rhizobia bacteria, within their root nodules to counter the limitation. Rhizobia bacteria fix nitrogen which is then converted to ammonia. Ammonia is then assimilated into nucleotides, Amino Acids, vitamins and flavones which are essential to the growth of the plant. The plant root cells convert sugar into organic acids which then supply to the rhizobia in exchange, hence a symbiotic relationship between rhizobia and the legumes.
    • Oxygen Cycle -
      No nutrient absorption occurs at the root zone unless oxygen is present.
    • Carbon Dioxide -
      Plant roots uptake carbon dioxide to provide carbon for parts of the foliage.
  6. Minerals - Plants need minerals to grow properly. The minerals are mined from the soil by the plant's root system. If a certain mineral is missing, such as calcium needed for developing cell walls, then the plant will be stunted, discoloured, or deformed.
  7. Temperature - Some plants tolerate a wide range of temperatures, whereas others are fussy. If the temperature is too high or low, the machinery of the plant will not operate satisfactorily or will cease entirely.

    The basic needs of plants are not hard to supply, but growing success depends on attending to these needs with care and exactitude. The remainder of this chapter is devoted to a discussion of these requirements, with the exception of mineral needs, which are discussed in Chapter 5."

 

Only Earthworms provide the tunnels which transport water, gas and nutrients to and from roots.

When the roots of the plant requires the mineral nutrients dissolved in soil water, oxygen and nitrogen intake and waste gases output, it gets it through the action of the earthworm continously making tunnels to provide the transport system.
6000 species of Earthworm have no special respiratory organs. Gases are exchanged through the moist skin and capillaries, where the oxygen is picked up by the hemoglobin dissolved in the blood plasma and carbon dioxide is released. Water, as well as salts, can also be moved through the skin by active transport.
When the earthworms are denied access to the air above ground as in the case of pavements, driveways and patios; then they die and the system round them dies as well. Since the roots are not getting their requirements; then they also die off, and you are left with insufficient live root to support the tree or other plants.

 

11. Plants suitable for covering rose-beds.

The following are all small plants that will not be strong-growing for the purpose, and will help to make the beds more attractive during the 7 months when Hybrid Teas and Floribundas are not in flower. Small spring-flowering bulbs can be grown through them. The more vigorous shrub roses will tolerate many others among the shorter growing plants in this 1000 ground cover table.

Acaena.
Alyssum saxatile.
Arabis.
Aubretia.
Campanula carpatica.
Campanula portenschlagiana.

Cardamine trifolia.
Corydalis lutea.
Corydalis ochroleuca.
Dianthus.
Lysimachia nummularia.
Phlox subulata.

Primula auricula.
Primula vulgaris sibthorpii.
Pulsatilla.
Saponaria ocymoides.
Saxifraga.
Viola.

 

 

 


Topic
Table of this page has moved to the right hand side

Garden Plant Use
ANIMAL RESISTANT PLANTS ,
Aquatic ,
Aromatic Foliage ,

ATTRACTS BEES ,
ATTRACTS BUTTERFLIES ,
Back of Shady Border ,

Bedding ,
Bog Garden ,
Coastal Conditions ,
Containers in Garden
,
COTTAGE GARDEN ,
Crevice Garden ,
CUT FLOWERS ,
Desert Garden ,
EDGE OF BORDER
,
Edibles in Containers ,
Finely Cut Leaves ,
FRAGRANT FLOWERS ,
Front of Border ,
Hanging Basket ,
Hedge ,
Large Leaves ,
Non-Green Foliage 1 ,
Non-Green Foliage 2 ,

Other Garden ,

Pollution Barrier 1
, 2 ,
Raised Bed ,
Rest of Border ,
Rock Garden ,
Scree Bed ,
Specimen Plant ,
Sword-shaped Leaves ,

Thorny Hedge ,
Trees for Lawns ,
Trees for Small Garden ,
Wildflower ,

Windbreak ,
Woodland .

Look for:-
Topic - Camera Photo Galleries showing all 4000 x 3000 pixels of each photo on your screen that you can then click and drag to your desktop:-
in the bottom row of the Topic Table on the right hand side for more than 2000 informative photos to aid your plant choice using the:-
Plant with Photo Index of Ivydene Gardens
- 1187
A 1, 2, Photos - 43
B 1, Photos - 13
C 1, Photos - 35
D 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7,
Photos - 411
with Plants causing damage to buildings in Chilham Village and Damage to Trees in Pavements of Funchal
E 1, Photos - 21
F 1, Photos - 1
G 1, Photos - 5
H 1, Photos - 21
I 1, Photos - 8
J 1, Photos - 1
K 1, Photos - 1
L 1, Photos - 85
with Label Problems
M 1, Photos - 9
N 1, Photos - 12
O 1, Photos - 5
P 1, Photos - 54
Q 1, Photos -
R 1, 2, 3,
Photos - 229
S 1, Photos - 111
T 1, Photos - 13
U 1, Photos - 5
V 1, Photos - 4
W 1, Photos - 100
with Work Done by Chris Garnons-Williams
X 1 Photos -
Y 1, Photos -
Z 1 Photos -
Articles/Items in Ivydene Gardens - 88
Flower Colour, Num of Petals, Shape and
Plant Use of:-
Rock Garden
within linked page

 

There are 180 families in the Wildflowers of the UK and they have been split up into 22 Galleries to allow space for up to 100 plants per gallery.

Each plant named in each of the Wildflower Family Pages may have a link to:-

its Plant Description Page in its Common Name in one of those Wildflower Plant Galleries and will have links

to external sites to purchase the plant or seed in its Botanical Name,

to see photos in its Flowering Months and

to read habitat details in its Habitat Column.

 

It is worth remembering that especially with roses that the colour of the petals of the flower may change - The following photos are of Rosa 'Lincolnshire Poacher' which I took on the same day in R.V. Roger's Nursery Field:-

rosalincolnshirepoacherflot91a1a1a1a

Closed Bud

rosalincolnshirepoacherflot92a1a1a1a

Opening Bud

rosalincolnshirepoacherflot93a1a1a1a

Juvenile Flower

rosalincolnshirepoacherflot94a1a1a1a

Older Juvenile Flower

rosalincolnshirepoacherflot95a1a1a1a

Middle-aged Flower - Flower Colour in Season in its
Rose Description Page is
"Buff Yellow, with a very slight pink tint at the edges in May-October."

rosalincolnshirepoacherflot96a1a1a1a1

Mature Flower

rosalincolnshirepoacherflot97a1a1a1a1

Juvenile Flower and Dying Flower

rosalincolnshirepoacherflot98a1a1a1a1

Form of Rose Bush

There are 720 roses in the Rose Galleries; many of which have the above series of pictures in their respective Rose Description Page.

So one might avoid the disappointment that the 2 elephants had when their trunks were entwined instead of them each carrying their trunk using their own trunk, and your disappointment of buying a rose to discover that the colour you bought it for is only the case when it has its juvenile flowers; if you look at all the photos of the roses in the respective Rose Description Page!!!!

 

Plant Selection by Flower Colour

Blue Flowers

Bedding.
Bulb.
Climber.
Evergr Per.
Evergr Shrub.
Wild Flower.
 

Orange Flowers

Bedding.

Wild Flower.

Other Colour Flowers

Bedding.

Bulb.
Climber.
Evergr Per.
Evergr Shrub.
Wild Flower.

Red Flowers

Bedding.

Bulb.
Climber.
Decid Shrub.
Evergr Per.
Evergr Shrub.
Herbac Per.
Rose.
Wild Flower.

White Flowers

Bedding.

Bulb.
Climber.
Decid Shrub.
Decid Tree.
Evergr Per.
Evergr Shrub.
Herbac Per.
Rose.
Wild Flower.
 

Yellow Flowers

Bedding.
Bulb.
Climber.
Decid Shrub.
Evergr Per.
Evergr Shrub.
Herbac Per.
Rose.
Wild Flower.
 

 

 

Fragrant Plants adds the use of another of your 5 senses in your garden:-
Sense of Fragrance from Roy Genders

Fragrant Plants:-
Trees and Shrubs with Scented Flowers.

Trees and Shrubs with Scented Leaves.

Trees and Shrubs with Aromatic Bark.

Shrubs bearing Scented Flowers for an
Acid Soil
.

Shrubs bearing Scented Flowers for a
Chalky or Limestone Soil
.

Shrubs bearing Scented leaves for a
Sandy Soil
.

Herbaceous Plants with Scented Flowers.

Herbaceous Plants with Scented Leaves.

Annual and Biennial Plants with Scented Flowers or Leaves.

Bulbs and Corms with Scented Flowers.

Scented Plants of Climbing and Trailing Habit.

Winter-flowering Plants with Scented Flowers.

Night-scented Flowering Plants.

Scented Aquatic Plants.

Plants with Scented Fruits.

Plants with Scented Roots.

Trees and Shrubs with Scented Wood.

Trees and Shrubs with Scented Gums.

Scented Cacti and Succulents.

Plants bearing Flowers or Leaves of Unpleasant Smell.
 

Flower Perfume Group:-

Indoloid Group.

Aminoid Group with scent - Hawthorn.

Heavy Group with scents -
Jonquil and
Lily.

Aromatic Group with scents - Almond,
Aniseed, Balsamic,
Carnation, Cinnamon, Clove,
Spicy and
Vanilla.

Violet Group.

Rose Group.

Lemon Group with scent -
Verbena.

Fruit-scented Group with scents -
Apricot,
Fruity,
Green Apple,
Orange, Pineapple,
Ripe Apple , Ripe Banana and
Ripe Plum.

Animal-scented Group with scents -
Cat,
Dog,
Ferret,
Fox,
Goat,
Human Perspiration,
Musk,
Ripe Apple and
Tom Cat.

Honey Group.

Unpleasant Smell Group with scents -
Animal,
Fetid,
Fishy,
Foxy,
Fur-like,
Garlic,
Hemlock,
Manure,
Nauseating,
Perspiration,
Petrol,
Putrid,
Rancid,
Sickly,
Skunk,
Stale Lint,
Sulphur and
Urinous.

Miscellaneous Group with scents -
Balm,
Brandy,
Cedar,
Cloying,
Cowslip,
Cucumber,
Damask Rose, Daphne,
Exotic,
Freesia,
Fur-like,
Gardenia,
Hay-like,
Heliotrope, Honeysuckle,
Hops,
Hyacinth,
Incense-like, Jasmine,
Laburnham,
Lilac,
Lily of the Valley, Meadowsweet, Mignonette,
Mint,
Mossy,
Muscat,
Muscatel,
Myrtle-like,
Newly Mown Hay, Nutmeg,
Piercing,
Primrose,
Pungent,
Resinous, Sandalwood, Sassafras,
Seductive,
Slight,
Soft,
Stephanotis,
Sulphur,
Starch,
Sweet,
Sweet-briar,
Tea-rose,
Treacle and
Very Sweet.

 


PERENNIAL - EVERGREEN GALLERY
compares the use and flower shape of plants including the ones from a section of the 1000 Ground Cover Plants detailed in this page of the PLANTS Topic

 


7 Flower Colours per Month in Colour Wheel below

  • for Evergreen Perennials only prior to July 2022,
  • from July 2022 it will compare every plant with flowers in this website
    in this EVERGREEN PERENNIAL Gallery.

Click on Black or White box in Colour of Month.

 

I have updated the plant type and plant use for the Evergreen Perennials by February 2023,

then, I will continue from September 2023 to insert all the 1000 Ground-cover Plants using 'Ground Cover a thousand beautiful plants for difficult places' by John Cushnie ISBN 1 85626 326 6
into the relevant 3 Galleries:-
 
1. Flower Colour Month Comparison Page within Evergreen Perennial Gallery including those of foliage only in January Unusual Flower.

 
colormonthbulb9a1a1a1
 
Ground Cover from PLANTS is within the text box under the thumbnail, and by clicking on the centre of the thumbnail, the page shall be changed
 
  • to its descriptive row within one of these pages in PLANTS Topic -
    1000 Ground
    ...Cover
    A, B, C,
    ...
    D, E, F, G, H, I,
    ... J, K, L, M, N,
    ...O, P, Q, R, S, T,
    ...U, V, W, XYZ

    ...with Ground
    ...Cover for 14
    ...Situation
    s
    1 Dry Shade
    2 Damp Shade
    3 Full Sun
    4 Banks and Terraces
    5 Woodland
    6 Alkaline Sites
    7 Acid Sites
    8 Heavy Clay Soil
    9 Dry Sandy Soil
    10 Exposed Sites
    11 Under Hedges
    12 Patios and Paths
    13 Formal Gardens
    14 Swimming Pools and Tennis Courts.
    Also, Use
    ...Ground Cover
    ...in Landscape
    ...noise reducti
    on

     
2. into Wildflower Shape Gallery pages in this Table:-
 

EVERGREEN PERENNIAL FLOWER SHAPE in Royal Blue -
WILDFLOWER FLOWER SHAPE in Blue -
Click on Text link

Number of Flower Petals

lessershape1meadowrue1a1

cosmoscflobipinnatuspuritygarnonswilliams1a1

irishcflobladderwort1a1

ajugacflo1genevensisfoord1a1

aethionemacfloarmenumfoord1a2

anemonecflo1hybridafoord1a2

anemonecflo1blandafoord1a2

Petal-less
Petal-less

1
1

2
2

3
3

4
4 and could be cross-shaped

5
5

Above 5
Above 5

 

Flower Shape - Simple

anthericumcfloliliagofoord1a1

argemonecflomexicanaflowermissouriplants1a1

geraniumcinereumballerinaflot9a1a

paeoniamlokosewitschiiflot1a1

magnoliagrandifloracflogarnonswilliams1a1

acantholinumcflop99glumaceumfoord1a1a

stachysflotmacrantha1a1

Stars
Stars

Bowls
Bowls

Cups and Saucers

Globes
Globes

Goblets and Chalices

Trumpets
Trumpet

Funnels
Funnels

campanulacochlearifoliapusillacflofoord1a1

clematiscflodiversifoliagarnonswilliams1a1

Ericacarneaspringwoodwhitecflogarnonswilliams1a1

phloxflotsubulatatemiskaming1a1

 

 

 

Bells
Bells

Thimbles
Thimbles

Urns
Urns

Salver-form
Salver-form

 

 

 

 

Flower Shape - Elab--orated

prunellaflotgrandiflora1a2

aquilegiacfloformosafoord1a2

lilliumcflomartagonrvroger1a1

laburnumcflowaterivossiistandardpage1a1

brachyscomecflorigidulakevock1a1

scabiosacflo1columbariawikimediacommons1a1

melancholycflothistle1a1

Tubes, Lips and Straps

Slippers, Spurs and Lockets

Hats, Hoods and Helmets

Stan-dards , Wings and Keels

Discs and Florets

Pin-Cushions

Tufts
Tufts

androsacecforyargongensiskevock1a2

androsacecflorigidakevock1a2

argyranthemumfloc1madeiracrestedyellow1a1

agapanthuscflosafricanusbluekevock1a1

 

 

Flower stem termin-ating with
a Single Flower

Cushion
Cushion

Umbel
Umbel

Buttons
Buttons

Pompom
Pompom

 

 

 

Natural Arrange--ments

bergeniamorningredcforcoblands1a1

ajugacfloreptansatropurpurea1a2

morinacfloslongifoliapershape1a1

eremuruscflo1bungeipershapefoord1a1

amaranthuscflos1caudatuswikimediacommons1a1

clematiscformontanaontrellisfoord1a1

androsacecfor1albanakevock1a2

Bunches, Posies and Sprays

Columns, Spikes and Spires

Whorls, Tiers and Candle-labra

Plumes and Tails

Chains and Tassels

Cloud, Garland and Cascade

Spheres, Domes and Plates

 

Evergreen Perennial Name Index

Herbaceous Perennial Name Index <---

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

I

J

K

L

M

N

O

P

Q

R

S

T

U

V

W

X

Y

Z

 

 

 


and
3. into the following pages in the EVERGREEN PERENNIAL FLOWER SHAPE Gallery:-

shown in the next column --->

followed by continuing to insert all the plants with flowers from Camera Photo Galleries as indicated by
"
Plant with Photo Index" from
Plant with Photo Index of Ivydene Gardens
- 1187 A 1, 2, Index
into the Colour Wheel comparison pages above of EVERGREEN PERENNIAL Gallery in Blue
having started in January 2023.

I will continue to insert all the plants planted in chalk as indicated by
"
from Chalk Garden" from
GARDEN CONSTRUCTION Index using
'A Chalk Garden' by F C Stern. Published by Thomas Nelson and Sons Ltd in 1960
into the Colour Wheel Comparison Pages above of EVERGREEN PERENNIAL Gallery in black.

then the following plants shall be added from

  • Aquatic,
  • Bamboo,
  • Bedding,
  • Bulb,
  • Climber,
  • Conifer,
  • Deciduous Shrub,
  • Deciduous Tree,
  • Evergreen Shrub,
  • Evergreen Tree,
  • Fern,
  • Grass,
  • Hedging,
  • Herbaceous Perennial,
  • Herb,
  • Odds and Sods,
  • Rhododendron,
  • Rose,
  • Soft Fruit,
  • Top Fruit,
  • Vegetable and
  • Wildflower

    Both native wildflowers and cultivated plants, with these
    ...Flower Shape,
    ...
    Uses in USA,

    - after the entries have been completed in the Landscaping List Pages.
     

finally - I am inserting these from February 2023, I will continue to insert all the plants
from the following book on planting sites for perennials, which include most plant types except Annuals and Biennials. She is writing about perennials for use in America.
into the Landscaping List Pages of this Wildflower Shape Gallery and
into the Flower Colour per Month Colour Wheel Comparison Pages above of EVERGREEN PERENNIAL Gallery in royal blue.

Landscaping with Perennials by Emily Brown. 5th printing 1989 by Timber Press. ISBN 0-88192-063-0.

 

 

The following is from the current Site Map of Evergr Perenn Gallery in October 2023:-
 

104 from the 1000 Ground Cover Plants (up to Aster novi-belgii in Plant Selection Level 5 Plant Name - A Index page of Plants Topic) as indicated by
Ground Cover from PLANTS within the text box under the thumbnail, and
described in rows in PLANTS Topic by clicking on the centre of the thumbnail in the relevant Flower Colour Month Comparison Page within this gallery. This number represents the number of 1000 Ground Cover Plants with flowers
plus
those of
foliage only in January Unusual Flower.
See 1000 Ground Cover Name Index from Plants Topic in the extreme right Table.
then, I will continue from September 2023 to insert all the 1000 Ground-cover Plants using 'Ground Cover a thousand beautiful plants for difficult places' by John Cushnie
ISBN 1 85626 326 6
into the Colour Wheel comparison pages above of EVERGREEN PERENNIAL Gallery in Brown,

into Wildflower Shape Gallery and

into EVERGREEN PERENNIAL FLOWER SHAPE Gallery:-

  • Load Plants and transfer table of Groundcover plants B to this table in Plants Name A page within Evergr Per Gallery. Then, close Plants.
  • Load Evergr Perenn Gallery and load Plants Name A page from it onto Safari. Then load Wildflower Shape Gallery. Do 3 plants from the Groundcover plants in Plants Name A page in Evgr Per Gallery by updating them from the internet and changing each plant row to brown when updated. Put the plants flower thumbnail into the relevant pages in these flower colour/month pages and then into the relevant flower shape comparison pages in Wildflower Shape Gallery. Then close Wildflower Shape Gallery and load Plants. Copy the 3 changed and updated brown text rows to the respective rows in Ground cover Plants B page of Plants Topic. Repeat this row until all the plants in that groundcover plant page have been done.
  • When Page B has been done above then, close Wildflower Shape Gallery and load Evgr Per Shape Gallery and using the thumbnails from this gallery copy them to the relevant plant use pages in the Evgr per shape gallery.
  • When the above has been done, then close Evgr per Shape Gallery and open up the relevant plant type gallery to copy the thumbnail to the valid flower colour/month or flower colour comparison pages in that gallery.
    Aquatic
    Bamboo
    Bedding
    Bulb

    Climber
    in 3 Sector Vertical Plant System
    Conifer
    Deciduous Shrub
    Deciduous Tree
    Evergreen Perennial
    Evergreen Shrub
    Evergreen Tree
    Fern
    Grass
    Hedging
    Herbaceous
    Perennial

    Herb
    Odds and Sods
    Rhododendron
    Rose
    Soft Fruit
    Top Fruit

    Vegetable
    Wild Flower
  • When that has been done, then repeat the process for the next groundcover plant page letter.
     

 

 


Landscaping with Perennials by Emily Brown. 5th printing 1989 by Timber Press. ISBN 0-88192-063-0 for planting sites for perennials, which include most plant types except Annuals and Biennials.

Perennials & Ephemerals chapter of Plants for Dry Gardens by Jane Taylor. Published by Frances Lincoln Limited in 1993. ISBN 0-7112-0772-0 for plants that are drought tolerant.
 

Wood-land Site

Shady Places
Site

Rock
Garden in Sun
Site.
In Shade Site.

Planting on a Sloping Site

Bog Site

Large Peren-nial Site

Cut Flower Site

Outdoor Room
Site

Strip
Site

Plans for Beds and Borders
Site

Beds
Site

Borders Site

 

 

 

Long Bloom-ers

White Flower Colour

Blue or Almost Blue Flower Colour

Lavender Flower Colour

Lavender , called Blue Flower Colour

Yellow Flower Colour

Orange Flower Colour

Pink Flower Colour

Red & Scarlet Flower Colour

Maroon Flower Colour

Flowering Stem between 24-48 inches (60-120 cms)

Flowering Stem over 48 inches (120 cms)

Bloom by Season
Jan-Feb

Bloom by Season
Mar-Apr

 

Bloom by Season
May-Jun

Bloom by Season
Jul-Aug

Bloom by Season
Sep-Dec

Foliage
Blue-Green

Foliage Grey-Green

Foliage Grey

Foliage Varie-gated

 

Foliage Height
1-7 inches (2.5-17.5 cms)

Foliage Height
8-23 inches (20-57.5 cms)

Foliage Height
24- inches
(60 and over cms)

Foliage
Bold

Foliage Finely Cut, Delicate or Comp-ound
+
Finely Cut

Foliage Aromatic

 

Peren-nials for Ground Covering in the Full Sun
+
1, 2

Peren-nials for Ground Covering in Shade

and 3

 

Long Lived

Bulbs to Combine with Peren-nials including Corms

Grasses to Grow with Peren-nials

Sub-shrubs to Grow with Peren-nials

Annuals to Use with Peren-nials

Herbs for Decor-ation as well as Culinary

 

Annuals, Biennials and Peren-nials to grow Annually

Peren-nials which Self Sow

Neat Growers - Good for Beds

 

Peren-nials which prefer Moisture

Peren-nials which do best on Margins of Water

Peren-nials which are Drought Tolerant

Peren-nials which tolerate Dense Shade

Peren-nials for Poor Soil, Full Sun

Tough Peren-nials (or easy Maint-enance)


Alpines without a Garden by Lawrence D. Hills. Published by Faber and Faber Limited in 1953 for cultivation of alpines in pans, troughs and window-boxes, particularly in towns, for gardeners who have only windw-sills or verandas, or flat roof spaces.

Colour All The Year in My Garden by C.H. Middleton. Published by Ward, Lock & Co. for culture.

Perennials The Gardener's Reference by Susan Carter, Carrie Becker and Bob Lilly. Published by Timber Press in 2007 for plants for Special Gardens. It also gives details of species and cultivars for each genus.
 

Ever-green Perennial Form

Mat-forming

Prostrate or Trailing.

Climbing

Cushion or Mound-forming

Spread-ing or Creeping

Clump-forming

Stem-less. Sword-shaped Leaves

Erect or Upright.

Arching

Evergreen Perennial Use

Other than Only Green Foliage +
1, 2

Bedding or Mass Planting

Ground-Cover

In Water

Coastal Condit-ions
+
Coastal

Speci-man Plant

Under-plant

Indoor House-plant

Grow in an Alpine House

Grow in Hanging Basket +
Basket

Grow in Window-box

Grow in Green-house

Fragrant Flowers

Not Fragrant Flowers

Attracts Butter-flies
+ Butterfly Usage
of Plants

Attracts Bees +
1, 2, 3
and Forage Calendar

Grow in Scree

Grow in a Patio Pot

Grow in an Alpine Trough +

Rock Plant

Edging Borders

Back of Border or Back-ground Plant

Into Native Plant Garden

Naturalize in Grass

Natural-ized Plant Area

Resistant to Wildlife

 

Early Spring Border Special Garden

Spring Epheme-rals Special Garden

Summer Border Special Garden

Cottage Garden Special Garden

Late Summer Border Special Garden

Autumn Border Special Garden

Shade Border and Wood-land Garden Special Garden

Back of Border, Alley, and Too Tall for Words Special Garden

Meadow Garden Special Garden

Ever-green Perennial in Soil

Chalk +
A-F, A-F,
A-F, G-L,
M-R, S-Z

Clay +

A-F, G-L,
M-R, S-Z

Sand +
A-F, A-F,
A-F, G-L,
M-R, S-Z

Lime-Free (Acid) +
A-F, A-F,
A-F, G-L,
M-R, S-Z

Peat +

A-F, G-L,
M-R, S-Z

Any +

A-F, G-L, M-R, S-Z

+ Ever-green Peren-nials in Pages in Plants

Peony Use
of Peonies in

UK Peony Index

Fragrant Flowers

Flower Arrangers

Hedge

Growing Tree Peonies in Pots

Front of Border

Rest of Border

Not Green Foliage

Rock Garden

Seaside / Coastal

Tree

Collins Aura Garden Handbooks Trees for Small Gardens by Susan Conder. Published by William Collins Sons & Co Ltd in 1988.
On page 17 , it shows how to plant a tree in a lawn, but:-

  • Only 1 stake should have been used at 45 degrees and meeting the trunk at about 50 cms (20 inches) with that stake inserted into the ground on the side where the wind usually comes from. It's purpose is to stop the tree from being blown out of the ground and for the tree finding out about the weather, so that it then decides whether to strengthen its trunk before going on to extend its trunk and its branches. When stakes support the tree at 6 feet from the ground and stop it moving, then when that support is removed after 2 or 3 years, the first gale may well snap the tree at that point.
  • The tree is surrounded by grass which will rapidly grow back next to the trunk. Grass will absorb all the rain and any nutrients supplied. Thus like the disaster at Gloucester Council, this planting would have been a total waste of time. The root system of a tree extends to the tips of the branches as shown by their diagram on page 21, so no grass should be allowed from the trunk to this width, but bulbs and a 3 inch (7.5cm) depth of mulch like mown leaves should replace that grass. See further details on the right hand side of the Welcome Page in Table 4.
    Below that above description in Table 4; there is a photo of a tree planted in Chatham in a pavement in June 2023. Tarmac was compacted round that tree. By January 2024, that level tarmac had dipped.

    Conclusion:-
  • the roots of the tree had been killed due to using up all the water in its locality,
  • it had used up what nutrients there were within the scope of its roots,
  • it had its access to receiving oxygen or excreting carbon dioxide blocked by the tarmac above it
  • its soil organisms had died due to lack of water, food and oxygen because their access to it had been blocked by the tarmac above it.
  • so the tree roots had died and rotted away - for those which had not already been killed by the compaction above when the tarmac was laid and compacted.
  • When the Type I Roadstone had been pressed down using a whacker plate, a layer of soil laid; the tree planted in that soil, then the tarmac laid over its roots and also pressed down to level that area with the surrounding pavement, then those remaining tree's roots had been killed.
    Could you survive the pressure of a small plate compactor providing 2,400 (1088.622 Kilogrammes) pounds of force per square foot (12 x 12 inches = 144 square inches = 929.03 square centimetres) with compaction going as deep as 8 inches (20cm) on you?
    RuggedMade's largest plate compactor model can deliver 9,000 pounds per square foot and compact to a depth of 34 inches (85 cms), which is below the roots of this tree that was planted. The vibrating plate compactor will get rid of the airspaces between the solids that it is compacting. That means that no water, air, or organisms to make soil can move between those solids and that soil is dead and will continue that way. That means that gradually we are killing the ground round where we live, work and play including that whackered down drive, patio, artificial grass area and paths in your garden contribute their nails in your coffin.
  • Living organisms like humans need to breathe in oxygen and breathe out carbon dioxide. Plants convert that carbon dioxide back to oxygen. Why is that humans are intent on commiting suicide by destroying plants in putting concrete/ tarmac/ bricks over the landscape and not providing the replacement plant material to provide that oxygen?

On page 23 it has diagrams showing how to remove a large limb. The fourth diagram is incorrect and below is why - you should leave the branch collar on the tree instead of cutting it off. In the centre of each trunk and branch there is a section of nerves used by the tree to get information from all of its branches and trunk and then sending replies of what to do about it. You could say that the Branch Collar is like a junction box, where you cut off after it but not before; otherwise the tree still thinks that branch is still there and then will make invalid decisions. These nerve fibres are the last item in the branches/trunk that rot away.

Branch Collar

thumbbranchcollarriverside1

Most gardens of new houses in England in 2023 are too small for trees, and I would recommend using top fruit and soft fruit trained onto the boundaries. If you add a chainlink fence, then you will have plenty of places to tie cordons, espaliers, fans and blackberries. If you want trees, then you can follow their method of putting them into containers as shown on pages 18 and 19, or train the trees as a a 80 (200cm) high hedge and allow 36 inches (90) from the boundary to the lawn for the hedge to grow in with bulbs and mulch between the lawn and the hedge.

This table was copied from
Case 3 Drive Foundations in Clay
to aid you in understanding what so called soil you are left with when a builder leaves your new home and hands it over to you, especially when this new building has been built in a new estate on reclaimed land - boys school knocked down and new buildings built on the rubble or old buildings knocked down and replaced with ones built on the rubble.
On the same Case 3 Drive Foundations in Clay page you will find information on Rainwater Drainage followed by Drive Foundations. I continue to see new drives being built where the rainwater is allowed to exit down the drive to the outside road or down the drive to be collected in a drain from the roof guttering and that drain leads to the public storm drain in the road. Not only does this overload the water companies sewage system and flood other peoples homes, but because more of your land is now waterproof, then the rain cannot sink into your soil and in Medway's case be directed into the chalk and be pumped from there to your home for drinking etc. As Southern water has explained - the amount of rain that is going to fall in the Southeast of England is likely to drop by 30% within the next 30 years since we are progressing to a climate more like the south coast of France. We are building more dwellings on more land and that reduces the land for water collection, so we are going to run out of water. Fuel costs have gone up so creating desalination plants is going to be very expensive. Southern Water which provides the water for Kent, Hampshire, Dorset, Surrey and Sussex is going to build one new reservoir in Havant. By 2030 these counties will not have enough water.

Case Studies Pages
Site Map

Case
1 - Prepare for Sale

2 - Structural Design
.....2a - New Garage
.....2b - Redesign for My Back Garden

 

 

3 - Drive Foundations
.....3a Clay on Sand Subsidence of New House and
...........there are Other Factors causing subsidence. Part
..............of solution is to use
...........Aquadyne Drainage System to transport
..............rainwater within garden area to evergreen
..............plants that can use it.

Pages about soil and why clay causes problems:-
How Soil is created with organic matter and
why Organic Matter is important to Soil?

Soil Formation combines Rock Particles, Humus, Water and Air into Soil Texture with
Soil Structure, which is the interaction between clay domains, organic matter, silt and sand particles. So
How is Clay created? ,
How is Humus made? and
How does Water act in the Soil?

What are the Soil Nutrients besides
the Carbon Cycle and
the Nitrogen Cycle.

What types of organisms are found in the soil? and
how do soil microbes recycle nutrients?

What Pysical changes occur in Soil because of weather? and what Chemical changes occur in Soil because of weather? leading to
how are Chemicals stored and released from Soil? with
how is material lost from the soil?

This leads to an
Action plan for you to do with your soil and

3b Pre-Building Work for Builders to treat polluted soil using phyto-remediation plants.
Perhaps after Builders have read the following section:-

item2a1

Then, they could follow my following Suggested Action Plan for Builders after they have built their houses:-
Lay the
Aquadyne Drainage System round the perimeter of the new garden areas.
Next to it then plant 1 of these Instant Hedges on the non-house wall sides to absorb the rainwater collected by that drainage system:-

  • Screening Boundary Hedge
  • Stock Boundary Hedge
  • Thorny Barrier Hedge
  • Anti-graffiti Hedge or
  • Security Hedge

And finally on the same day pour a depth of 11 inches (27.5 cms) depth of the builders soil mixture detailed below onto the remainder of the new garden areas and alongside the Instant Hedging.

To provide a different requirement from the current plants used in the above Instant Hedges, plants for each of the following could be used instead:-

  • Thorny Hedge
  • Windbreak
  • Use as Garden Hedge
  • Use in Coastal Conditions
  • Use in Woodland Garden
  • Pollution Barrier

A fortnight later the following type of turf containing RTF (Rhizomatous Tall Fescue), bred by Barenbrug Research USA, could be laid over the proposed lawn areas.

The roots of that grass will reach the clay below and stabilise the new builders soil mix, before the proposed owners view the property a month later.

The builders soil mix should within 3 months become roughly the same proportion of clay, silt and sand which is within a Sandy Clay Loam to create a sweet spot for growing plants as shown on How is material lost from the soil? Page, since it will mix with the clay below.

 



4a - Garden Uses
......4b - Garden Plant Plan

5 - Wildlife Garden

6 - Vegetable Garden

7 - Repair of Concrete Pond

8 - Creation of Pond

 

Design Cases

When designing a garden, it is vital to know who and for how long the resulting designed and landscaped garden is going to be maintained by. The book 'The One Hour Garden' describes what maintenance work can be done in the time that you have allotted; and therefore what besides a lawn, you can have in your garden. My redesign and construction work to be done on my 3 gardens - as shown by Case 2 - must be to reduce the maintenance time required to the time I have available. If the gardens are first weeded, pruned, mulched, mown and bare earth converted to lawns using grass seed, then construction can take place in the future - as free time allows during a week or fortnight after the maintenance has been done.

In Case 4, the combination of the Structural and Planting Designs would create a garden that I would be able to maintain in one day a fortnight. I would install a 3" deep mulch in the spring on the beds, so that I can prune the shrubs/trees and hoe the odd weed; whilst the father mows the lawns, the mother tends the vegetable garden and their teenage daughters play football!!

The children in Case 5 loved to look at creepy-crawlies and wildlife, so that together with low-cost the design for different areas in a terrace house garden was created.

 

Construction Cases

Case 3 is building a drive on clay and it is important to get the part you will not see - the foundations - done correctly.

Case 8 is creating a pond with its pitfalls for foundations.

 

Maintenance Cases

If you are asking someone to maintain your garden, then do provide the complete picture. If as in Case 1, you intend to sell the property, then look at this - as not a maintenance but as a selling job - and get that job done instead.

Case 6 is creating a vegetable garden in a back garden during the maintenance program of one day a fortnight to maintain it and the remainder of the back and front gardens. This was done over 7 years using a crop rotation system

Concrete ponds are likely to crack open due to movement in the ground levels due to being in clay or vibration caused by road traffic if it is fairly close. Case 7 shows no planting shelves for the pond plants.

 

 

 

 

Section below on Problems for Houseowners and Builders when the new home is surrounded by clay and how to solve them.

 

 

 

Problems for Houseowners and Builders when the new home is surrounded clay and how to solve them.

8 problems caused by clay:-

  • In creating a new driveway for a client you can see (from the top photos) that when it rains, that the indentations in the clay caused by my boots do fill with water and then that water does not drain away.
    Solution -
    Had I installed a soakaway under the drive or elsewhere in the back garden below the drive, then it would have filled with water and not drained.
    If the ground is clay, then that soakaway will fill and never empty. In that case if you create that soakaway as a continuous one about 2 feet away from the boundary with it starting 3 feet from house and continuing round to meet the entrance of the drive, then planting privet or yew evergreen hedge in that 2 feet gap between it and the boundary will absorb the water from that driveway. The 2 feet depth of existing clay soil between that extended soakaway and the boundary should be replaced by the following mixture of 1 part existing soil and 1 part sand to provide a soil where the soakaway water can move from the soakaway through the soil to the hedge roots. The french drain used to transport the water should be surrounded by 4 inches of coarse pea-shingle inside an envelope of geotextile to stop that pea-shingle from mixing with the mixed soil.
  • The same happened to a client's house, which subsided after 6 years from being built. The builder had run out of top soil and instead of putting sand as the rest of the back garden was composed of where it had been growing a forest, they put 24 inches (60 cms) of blue clay the full width of the back of the house which sloped up and met the upward sloping lawn laid by the builders. The lawn prevented much of the rainwater from entering the sand underneath and thus draining away and ended up on the 144 inch (360 cms) wide slabbed patio before hitting the house wall and soaking into the blue clay below the slabs. Clay can absorb 40% of its own volume before it turns from a solid to a liquid. When the clay absorbs the water, then the suction on the housewall is sufficient to raise that wall. When it dries out then the wall subsides and so it subsided. The 6th photo down the Case 3a Clay on Sand Subsidence of New House Page shows the blue clay as the dark section at the top of the trench with the sand being dark yellow below it.
    Solution 1 -
    Instead of the patio sloping up the back garden, I installed a concrete foundation for a conservatory with the concrete going 12 inches (30 cms) deeper than the 24 depth of blue clay. Then, t
    he foundation for the new Path/Patio at the back of the house was sloped away from the house at 1:40 and the rain drained to the Gully, thence to the Sump in the middle of the garden. I then bought a powerful Cultivator Tiller and rotovated the back lawn. Using an asphalt rake and a spade with wheelbarrow; I then levelled the remaining back garden lawn in both directions, with the conservatory/path areas sloping away from the house to allow rainwater to be collected and taken to the sump, instead of causing further damage to the house. The levelled lawn then needed a Patio wall to stop the earth from being unsurported. A builder than built the conservatory, the restraining patio wall and the new path/patio.
    Solution 2 -
    If that area of blue clay had been surrounded by the Aquadyne Drainage System (details at bottom of this page) by the original builders to a 36 inches depth, then the problem would never have arisen as all the rainwater would have been transferred to the surrounding sand soil and the underlying sand. Thus the suction power of the clay would have been on the Aquadyne and not the house wall. Since the Aquadyne is plastic it would if it moved up and down and not taken the house wall with it.
  • There are other factors causing Subsidence of Buildings, especially Tree Roots in Clay Soils.
  • I spent some months maintaining the grounds within 5 acres of a new Care Home. The previous use for these 5 acres had been as a boys school. This had been demolished and the rubble then built on for the 5 new residential Care Buildings with its Administration/Kitchen Building. 5000 shrubs and trees were planted and at the end of the first year, I audited what remained - 2000 out those 5000 had died. The builders had generously added a 2 inches (5 cm) depth of topsoil before planting into that and the rubble under it.
    Solution -
    I bought an American Super Tomahawk Chipper/Shredder and shredded the tree/shrub prunings during the winter and applied the shreddings as a mulch in the further beds on the 5 acre estate during the winter to provide nutrients for the surviving plant.
    I did suggest putting a 4 inch mulch of bark on top of the ground in the beds at a trifling cost of £19,000, since digging up the plants and transfering them to a nursery bed, before excaving a further 12 inches (30 cm) and replacing the 14 inch (35 cm) depth with good soil mixed with manure; and then its plants; would have been extremely time consuming and expensive. This money was not forthcoming, so when I started cutting the lawns, I added the mowings to the beds as a mulch. I was told that this was unsightly and to stop doing that - at this point I resigned since the contract for the original planting only included making up the losses in the first year, I could not see that many of the plants would survive in the succeeding years.
    You need a minimum of a spade depth of at least 8 inches (20 cms) of topsoil with a 4 inch mulch of bark or spent mushroom compost surrounding each plant after the planting, plus an irrigation system - that means 12 inches below the top of the bed edging, so that the mulch does not flow out onto the lawn, patio, drive or paths after it has been laid.
  • In maintaining a client's lawn, I found that after rain that their lawn was squelchy. The lawn was laid on a clay topsoil.
    Solution-
    I mowed the lawn quite low and applied
    Top Dressing at the recommended rate. I repeated this twice more once a month. After that, the problem was sorted.
  • I received this from a client - An unsuccessful planting scheme had left bare areas of garden as plants failed to survive winter in the waterlogged clay soil. The loss of numerous plants and the cost of replacing them had left us disheartened.
    Solution -
    A 150mm (6 inch) deep mulch of mixed peat, sharp washed sand and horticultural grit was applied on top of a heavy clay soil to improve its structure, and stop the plants therein from drowning, at £10 a square metre. The mix was:
    • 4 cubic metres of Peat (to provide the Organic Polymers/Organic Matter and Carbon.)
    • 2 cubic metres of Sharp Washed Sand (to provide the sand for the production of microaggregates)
    • 2 cubic metres of Horticultural Grit (to provide larger particles for aggregation)
    • 25kg of Garden Lime (to provide Calcium for the plants and allow clay minerals to bond together to form domains. Once clay minerals are stacked together to form domains, they can then bond with organic matter to form microaggregates)
    • 25 kg of Sulphate of Iron (to provide Iron to act as a trace element and to create soil colloid for buffering chemical nutrients in the soil for later use by plants)
    • 25Kg of Sulphate of Potash ( to provide fertilizer for the plants)

      and the following was sent to me in October 2004:- An unsuccessful planting scheme had left bare areas of garden as plants failed to survive winter in the waterlogged clay soil. The loss of numerous plants and the cost of replacing them had left us disheartened. It was evident that remedial action was needed in the form of a mixture of gravel, sand and peat to create an organic loam. Approximately six inches was added in April and left to settle and do its job. By July there was a noticeable difference in the quality of the soil and the plants. Shrubs with sparse, mottled leaves were looking glossy and robust, overall growth had increased (including the weeds!) and the soil was holding its moisture well. But the biggest difference came in the confidence it gave us to transform the garden. The borders used to be a no-go area between May and September as the clay baked and cracked, but the new soil was easy to handle and weeds could be successfully removed. We realised that there are no quick fixes - the key to a healthy garden is rich, nutritous soil. Once our plants began to thrive we were optimistic that, with good advice, we could create a garden to be proud of.
  • I visited a prospective client whose second laid lawn sloping up from the house in the back garden was needed to be replaced. The turves had dried and the clay soil had also dried with the result that the turves separated. She had had the builder lay a horizontal patio at the back of her new house and the lawn went from there up to the next house. Her home and garden were on clay. I did point out to her that when it rained, then the patio would become a lake and her house would subside, since not only the rain falling on the patio but the rain falling on the lawn would also end up at the patio. I refused to quote for her lawn replacement.
    Solution -
    in next row.
  • When requested by a builder, I visited his site where huge excavators were used to dig the trenches for the drains and utilities. The garden at the back of the showhouse had a downward slope from the garden wall to the house and moss was already growing round the french windows facing the back garden.
    Solution -
    in next Row.

     

 

Builders do sell the original topsoil including

  • the grass,
  • the zone of organic matter and the
  • zone where mineral and organic matter are mixed

where the new building and its garden areas are to be built.

soil11casestudies

The consolidated parent material (bedrock) is usually sand, chalk or clay with flint possibly. At the end of building; the builders rubble is covered with possibly only a 2 inch (5 cms) depth of imported topsoil, which might be the washings from the sugar beet in the sugar industry. This is covered with turf and the unsuspecting public is offered the result. As likely as not one of their gardens slopes towards the house and even with the modern depth of foundation wall, there is no guarantee that subsidence will not occur.

 

If every garden of a new house had a 12 inch depth of soil removed from its new garden area, then at the end of the building work, the Aquadyne Drainage System would be laid round the entire boundary. Next to it then plant the relevant Instant Hedge on the non-house wall sides to absorb the rainwater collected by that drainage system

soil15casestudies1

The mix to change clay soil into a friable useful soil in less than 4 months for the above domestic garden problem was in royal blue colour typing. Using the burgundy colour typing components, the builder could create the following soil mix for his gardens:

  • 4 cubic metres of Peat (to provide the Organic Polymers/Organic Matter and Carbon.)
  • 2 cubic metres of Sharp Washed Sand (to provide the sand for the production of microaggregates).
  • 2 cubic metres of Horticultural Grit (to provide larger particles for aggregation)
    752,000 tons of glass are now recycled annually in the UK. Crushed glass (cullet) is used in Agriculture and landscape applications, such as top dressing, root zone material or golf bunker sand, so builders could replace the Sharp washed Sand and the Horticultural Grit with cullet.
  • 25kg of Garden Lime (to provide Calcium for the plants and allow clay minerals to bond together to form domains. Once clay minerals are stacked together to form domains, they can then bond with organic matter to form microaggregates).
    Poultry litter -
    Uric acid and organic nitrogen (N) in the bird excreta and spilled feed are converted to ammonium (NH4+) by the microbes in the litter. Ammonium, a plant-available N form, can bind to litter and also dissolve in water. Ammonium is a highly reactive ion that bonds with sulfates, nitrates and phosphates to form ammonium salts that improve the nutrient value of litter when land applied as fertilizer.
    Plasterboard (is gypsum - Calcium sulfate dihydrate normally pressed between a paper facer and backer)
    wastage in the UK is estimated to be 300,0000 tonnes per year
    . Builders could replace the Garden Lime with the reaction of the poultry litter on the gypsum.
    The recommendations stated in the RHS article are for the finely ground garden lime (calcium carbonate) sold in garden centres in kilograms (kg) per square metre or ounces per square yard. They are based on the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) recommendations for incorporation into the top 20cm (8in) of soil and are enough to raise the soil pH to pH6.5. This is considered the best all-round pH for the majority of garden plants.
  • 25 kg of Sulphate of Iron (to provide Iron to act as a trace element and to create soil colloid for buffering chemical nutrients in the soil for later use by plants)
  • 25Kg of Sulphate of Potash ( to provide fertilizer for the plants)

If water with 150 kgs of clay was first added to the Concrete TruckMixer and then the required volume of cullet followed by the required volume of waste plasterboard, the mixture is then mixed for an hour. If the cullet/waste plasterboard mixture is passed through the poultry houses to mix with the poultry litter on the litter floor before being collected into the next Concrete TruckMixer, then the houses would be cleaner and smell less. The required volume of waste from beer making could replace the Peat above and the requisite Sulphate of Iron and Sulphate of Potash could be added to the Concrete TruckMixer before that mixture from the Poultry Farm litter floor is added.

That soil mixture could then be mixed for 30 minutes before applying it to the garden areas of the new houses built by the builder to an 11 inch (27.5 cms) depth. The resulting mixture would then integrate with the clay and create a deep topsoil within 3 months.

All the requirements for a soil as shown in the figure above would then have mixed together and time will increase the bacteria and get a new soil structure created.

The following type of turf could then be laid over the proposed lawn areas a fortnight later:-

RTF (Rhizomatous Tall Fescue), bred by Barenbrug Research USA, produces rhizomes (an underground stem) that send a shoot up to the soil surface while extending new roots downwards. In fact, RTF can root to 1.5 metres deep giving it a chance to tap into water reserves that normal lawn turf cannot reach.
Because RTF is suited to almost all soil types and needs little maintenance and minimal irrigation, gardeners will be rewarded with beautiful lawns, rich in colour and disease resistant, not only in the summer but all year round. During the winter months, the lawn will hold its lush green colour and can resist frost and darker corners. With the onset of spring the rapid germination and quick spring green-up means that lawns are greener earlier.

 

 

There is other compostable waste that could be used in the above mixture - The following is from a farmer who runs Riverford Organic Farmers who deliver weekly boxes of vegetables, meat etc from their farms to the homes of members of the public in Britain in his weekly epistle dated Monday 4th December 2017:-

 

 

"So why now, in my 57th year, have I seen the light?

  • Firstly, given the environmental impact of livestock, we need a more sustainable source of fertility than muck.
  • Secondly, I met a man who sent 10 tonnes of cooked crab waste, packed with valuable nutrients, to landfill every week at huge cost to him and the environment,
    then another bloke in the pub looking for a home for 1000's of tonnes of wood chip;
    the perfect high carbon material to mix with the nitrogen-rich crab.
  • Thirdly, our agnostic and practical farm team attest to compost soil and its crop improving properties.
  • Fourthly, I met Milan, a highly practical Bulgarian organic grower and compost expert who, with alchemist wizardry, seems to be able to make compost from almost anything given a thermometer and loader. Milan brewed up a little crab, wood chip and spent wool insulation and tried some of the resulting compost on my cardoons and artichokes; they love it.

So, I have seen the errors of my youth and come inside. Milan tells me we have only just started.

It is shocking how much compostable material is wasted at such cost to our environment:

  • food waste,
  • sewage sludge,
  • whey,
  • wood chip,
  • hedge trimmings,
  • seafood waste,
  • abattoir waste.

The reasons are:-

  • Partly the unintended consequences of well-meaning environmental and health legislation;
  • partly the chronic failing of businesses and our market economy to solve complex long-term problems involving bulky, perishable, highly variable and locally specific raw materials; and
  • partly that the alternatives are just too cheap.

Time is running out; we cannot afford 100% safety when environmental destruction is 95% certain if we continue on our current path."

 

If the above waste was turned into compost that would last as a mulch like spent mushroom compost, which lasts for 2-3 years with 25-35% loss replenishment each year in the autumn, then it could be sold to the above home owners in bags to put alongside their hedges, in planted pots and in the flower beds throughout the year.
The present system of commercial composting of the garden waste taken from the domestic Brown Bins by the refuse collectors each week in England produces a soil conditioner to provide nutrients for the soil instead of a mulch material. The weeds as well as the purchased cultivated plants happily eat it and it is treated as a richly fertilized earth under it instead of a seaparate mulch; as I discovered in a client's garden. It does not provide the benefits that a mulch does of stopping the germination of weed seeds and a reduction of moisture loss.
Jersey Royals Potatoes are grown using seaweed harvested from Jersey beaches as a natural fertilizer. If the soil conditioner detailed in the previous paragraph was spread first and natural non-dried seaweed was added on top as a mulch, then the advantages of a mulch would occur and reduce the garden owner's time in weeding his/her garden. This mulch could be added - onto the new soil created from the waste ingredients above - after 2 months from when that soil had been installed and annually after that. Jersey seed potatoes could be planted in this mulched area to provide many health benefits to its garden owners in the form of their own organically grown food.
Builders could then sell new houses with healthy soil by

  • including red clover green manure seeds sown 2 months after the new soil has been installed to fix nitrogen from the air, weed suppression and improve the soil structure and
  • the promise of the new owners producing their own potato crop!!!

If you cannot be bothered to buy the commercially produced soil conditioner and collect your own seaweed to be harvested from beaches, then the following could still provide these other benefits in the same time slots as in above paragraph:-
To promote healthy growth of potted indoor and outdoor plants and to provide the trace elements (that other soil stimulants do not provide) ; you might consider using the following from Burncoose Nurseries:-
"All-purpose Seaweed Stimulant
All-purpose organic concentrated seaweed feed that is a ready to use, derived from sustainable harvested kelp, that can be used on all outdoor and indoor plants, except acid loving plants, use our Ericaceous seaweed stimulant instead.
The product contains very high levels of auxins and cytokins that are naturally plant growth promoters.
The natural hormones in Empathy All Purpose Seaweed are taken up by the plant and promote faster and stronger root and shoot growth. They will also promote the development of beneficial bacteria, microbes and the Mycorrhizal Fungi in the soil."

You can incorporate seaweed into your own diet to give you Iodine for proper thyroid function, if nothing else appeals.

 

China sells a lot of seaweed.

The Cornish Seaweed Company sells edible Cornish Seaweed and
Maine Coast Sea Vegetables in America sells edible seaweeds harvested from the North Atlantic.
It would appear that if you want seaweed as a mulch for your garden, then you will have to go and collect it yourself as the farmers do on Jersey.

The following is from No Dig Vegetable Garden Website:-
"Seaweed in the garden, how do I love thee... let me count the ways:

  • 1 Seaweed fertilizer is actually a bit mis-named. It is more of a tonic, due to the low quantity of nitrogen and phosphorus... although it does have the full range of properties in it to improve your soil. As well as supplying bulk to condition the soil, seaweed contains around 60 trace elements, growth hormones and nutrients, and fungal and disease preventatives. Interestingly any soil imbalances, such as a deficiency of nitrogen, will be corrected by adding seaweed which will balance the soil environment so that nitrogen fixing bacteria are helped along.
  • 2 Seaweed stays put if you put it on the garden. It doesn't blow away or clump together or roll away.
  • 3 Seaweed deters pests. Birds don't like to get hurt with it when it's hard and scratchy and don't like getting tangled with it when it's wet and slinky.
  • 4 Same with dogs, cats and many other critters. It's just too darned awkward, and for some animals the smell is off-putting.

What's the best way to use seaweed on the garden?

  • Firstly, there is no need to wash seaweed because the sand and salt water clinging to it contains essential elements that will benefit plants. Unless you happen to have a high sodium content in your soil, remember, there is no need to wash seaweed before using it in or on your garden.
  • Secondly, don't try cutting seaweed up with a mower because there are stones, sand and shells hiding in it.
  • Thirdly, dry and hard seaweed is just as phenomenal for plant growth as when it's wet and soft. The older and harder it is, obviously the longer it will take to break down and supply nutrients to the soil for feeding your plants.
  • Fourthly, many countries have rules about protecting their marine coastlines, which includes the harvesting of seaweed. Commercial operators you are not, so it's unlikely you will deplete this resource by strolling along the local beach and filling up a bag with seaweed.
    However check beforehand, and if you can't find any information about your area, or there are no notices on the beach, follow these guidelines:
  • It is fine to pluck floating seaweed and seaweed below the high tide mark. Seaweed that has washed up above the high tide mark often makes a valuable contribution to the biodiversity of the beach and surrounds. It helps stops sand erosion and provides a habitat for local plant and insect life."

 

Finally, we should not forget about Noise Reduction for the new residents of the estate just built.

See last row in the midlle table for further details.

Nor should we forget about the changes required for the infrastructure (see Pre-Building Work for Builders with Polluted Soil Page)

.

 

 

 

 

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See Ground-cover Height in Plant Selection Level 5
 

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or
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or
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PLANTS FOR SOIL
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Info - Any Soil
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Info
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Following parts of Level 2a,
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and also
Companion Plants to aid this plant Page,
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Native to UK WildFlower Plant in its Family Page in this website

and/or
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Explanation of Structure of this Website with User Guidelines Page for those photo galleries with Photos (of either ones I have taken myself or others which have been loaned only for use on this website from external sources)

To see what plants that I have described in this website see
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...A, B, C, D, E,
...F, G, H, I, J, K,
...L, M, N, O, P, Q,
...R, S, T, U, V, W,
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0-24 inches 1, 2, 3
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Photos - Fern
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Photos - Herbac Per
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Photos - Vegetable

 

Photos - with its link; provides a link to its respective Plant Photo Gallery in this website to provide comparison photos.
Click on required comparison page and then centre of selected plant thumbnail. Further details on that plant will be shown in a separate Plant Description webpage.
Usually the Available from Mail Order Plant Nursery link will link you to the relevant page on that website.
I started this website in 2005 - it is possible that those particular links no longer connect, so you may need to search for that plant instead.

When I started, a click on the centre of the thumbnail ADDED the Plant Description Page, now I CHANGE the page instead. Mobile phones do not allow ADDING a page, whereas stand alone computers do. The User Guidelines Page shows which Plant Photo Galleries have been modified to CHANGE rather than ADD. All have been changed February 2024.

------------

Ground-cover Height
Ground Cover. How to use flowering and foliage plants to cover areas of soil by Mineke Kurpershoek.
ISBN 1 901094 41 3
Plant combinations for normal garden soil,
Plant combinations for sandy soil,
Plant combinations for clay soil,
Woodland, heaths and wet soil and
Shrubs for slopes and large beds chapters are useful

0-24 inches
(0-60 cms)
1,2,3
24-72 inches
(60-180 cms)
4,5,6
Above 72 inches
(180 cms)
7 --->


PLANTS PAGE MENU

REFINING SELECTION
Plant Selection by
Flower Colour
Level 3a
Blue Flowers
Photos -
Bedding

Bulb
Climber
Evergr Per
Evergr Shrub
Wild Flower

Orange Flowers
Photos -
Bedding

Wild Flower

Other Colour Flowers
Photos -
Bedding
Bulb
Climber
Evergr Per
Evergr Shrub
Wild Flower

Red Flowers
Photos -
Bedding

Bulb
Climber
Decid Shrub
Evergr Per
Evergr Shrub
Herbac Per
Rose
Wild Flower

White Flowers
Photos -
Bedding

Bulb
Climber
Decid Shrub
Decid Tree
Evergr Per
Evergr Shrub
Herbac Per
Rose
Wild Flower

Yellow Flowers
Photos -
Bedding

Bulb
Climber
Decid Shrub
Evergr Per
Evergr Shrub
Herbac Per
Rose
Wild Flower

Photos - 53 Colours in its Colour Wheel Gallery
Photos - 12 Flower Colours per Month in its Bloom Colour Wheel Gallery

Plant Selection by Flower Shape
Level 3b
Photos -
Bedding
Evergr Per
Herbac Per

Plant Selection by Foliage Colour
Level 3c
Aromatic Foliage
Finely Cut Leaves
Large Leaves
Other
Non-Green
Foliage 1

Non-Green
Foliage 2

Sword-shaped Leaves


PRUNING
Plant Selection by Pruning Requirements
Level 4
Pruning Plants


GROUNDCOVER PLANT DETAIL
Plant Selection Level 5
Plant Name - A from Ground Cover a thousand beautiful plants for difficult places by John Cushnie
ISBN 1 85626 326 6

Plant Name - B
Plant Name - C
Plant Name - D with Ground Cover. How to use flowering and foliage plants to cover areas of soil by Mineke Kurpershoek.
ISBN 1 901094 41 3
Plant combinations for normal garden soil.
Plant combinations for sandy soil.
Plant combinations for clay soil.
Woodland, heaths and wet soil.
Shrubs for slopes and large beds.

Plant Name - E
Plant Name - F
Plant Name - G
Plant Name - H
Plant Name - I with How about using staging in your unheated greenhouse and stock it with bulbs and ferns for looking at from the house from autumn to spring, before using it for salads during the spring/summer from The Culture of Bulbs, Bulbous Plants and Tubers Made Plain by Sir J. L. Cotter.
Plant Name - J
Plant Name - K
Plant Name - L If you have no garden but only a concrete or tarmac area why not use 1 of the 8 Garden on a Roll garden borders and then maintain your garden using their Maintaining your border instructions.
Plant Name - M Importance of providing a mulch with the ground cover
Plant Name - N
Plant Name - O
Plant Name - P
Plant Name - Q
Plant Name - R
Plant Name - S
Plant Name - T
Plant Name - U
Plant Name - V
Plant Name - W
Plant Name - XYZ with Ground cover plants for 14 Special Situations:-
1 Dry Shade
2 Damp Shade
3 Full Sun
4 Banks and Terraces
5 Woodland
6 Alkaline Sites
7 Acid Sites
8 Heavy Clay Soil
9 Dry Sandy Soil
10 Exposed Sites
11 Under Hedges
12 Patios and Paths
13 Formal Gardens
14 Swimming Pools and Tennis Courts
Why grass/lawn should never be used as a groundcover
and
Why seaweed is a necessary ingredient for gardens
The 1000 Ground Cover plants detailed above will be compared in the Comparison Pages of this Wildflower Shape Gallery and in the flower colour per month comparison pages of Evergreen Perennial Gallery starting in November 2022


Then, finally use
COMPANION PLANTING to
aid your plant selected or to
deter Pests
Plant Selection Level 6


THE REASON WHY FLOWERS WHICH ARE NOT SINGLE ARE NO USE TO BEES:-

  • In some double-flowered varieties all of the reproductive organs are converted to petals — as a result, they are sexually sterile and must be propagated through cuttings. Many double-flowered plants have little wildlife value as access to the nectaries is typically blocked by the mutation.

The following details come from Cactus Art:-

"A flower is the the complex sexual reproductive structure of Angiosperms, typically consisting of an axis bearing perianth parts, androecium (male) and gynoecium (female).    

Bisexual flower show four distinctive parts arranged in rings inside each other which are technically modified leaves: Sepal, petal, stamen & pistil. This flower is referred to as complete (with all four parts) and perfect (with "male" stamens and "female" pistil). The ovary ripens into a fruit and the ovules inside develop into seeds.

Incomplete flowers are lacking one or more of the four main parts. Imperfect (unisexual) flowers contain a pistil or stamens, but not both. The colourful parts of a flower and its scent attract pollinators and guide them to the nectary, usually at the base of the flower tube.

partsofaflowersmallest1a1a

 

Androecium (male Parts or stamens)
It is made up of the filament and anther, it is the pollen producing part of the plant.
Anther This is the part of the stamen that produces and contains pollen. 
Filament This is the fine hair-like stalk that the anther sits on top of.
Pollen This is the dust-like male reproductive cell of flowering plants.

Gynoecium (female Parts or carpels or pistil)
 It is made up of the stigma, style, and ovary. Each pistil is constructed of one to many rolled leaflike structures.
Stigma
This is the part of the pistil  which receives the pollen grains and on which they germinate. 
Style
This is the long stalk that the stigma sits on top of ovary. 
Ovary
The part of the plant that contains the ovules. 
Ovule
The part of the ovary that becomes the seeds. 

Petal 
The colorful, often bright part of the flower (corolla). 
Sepal 
The parts that look like little green leaves that cover the outside of a flower bud (calix). 
(Undifferentiated "Perianth segment" that are not clearly differentiated into sepals and petals, take the names of tepals.)"

 

The following details come from Nectary Genomics:-
"NECTAR. Many flowering plants attract potential pollinators by offering a reward of floral nectar. The primary solutes found in most nectars are varying ratios of sucrose, glucose and fructose, which can range from as little a 8% (w/w) in some species to as high as 80% in others. This abundance of simple sugars has resulted in the general perception that nectar consists of little more than sugar-water; however, numerous studies indicate that it is actually a complex mixture of components. Additional compounds found in a variety of nectars include other sugars, all 20 standard amino acids, phenolics, alkaloids, flavonoids, terpenes, vitamins, organic acids, oils, free fatty acids, metal ions and proteins.

NECTARIES. An organ known as the floral nectary is responsible for producing the complex mixture of compounds found in nectar. Nectaries can occur in different areas of flowers, and often take on diverse forms in different species, even to the point of being used for taxonomic purposes. Nectaries undergo remarkable morphological and metabolic changes during the course of floral development. For example, it is known that pre-secretory nectaries in a number of species accumulate large amounts of starch, which is followed by a rapid degradation of amyloplast granules just prior to anthesis and nectar secretion. These sugars presumably serve as a source of nectar carbohydrate.

WHY STUDY NECTAR? Nearly one-third of all worldwide crops are dependent on animals to achieve efficient pollination. In addition, U.S. pollinator-dependent crops have been estimated to have an annual value of up to $15 billion. Many crop species are largely self-incompatible (not self-fertile) and rely almost entirely on animal pollinators to achieve full fecundity; poor pollinator visitation has been reported to reduce yields of certain species by up to 50%."

The following details about DOUBLE FLOWERS comes from Wikipedia:-
"Double-flowered" describes varieties of flowers with extra petals, often containing flowers within flowers. The double-flowered trait is often noted alongside the scientific name with the abbreviation fl. pl. (flore pleno, a Latin ablative form meaning "with full flower"). The first abnormality to be documented in flowers, double flowers are popular varieties of many commercial flower types, including roses, camellias and carnations. In some double-flowered varieties all of the reproductive organs are converted to petals — as a result, they are sexually sterile and must be propagated through cuttings. Many double-flowered plants have little wildlife value as access to the nectaries is typically blocked by the mutation.

There is further photographic, diagramatic and text about Double Flowers from an education department - dept.ca.uky.edu - in the University of Kentucky in America.

"Meet the plant hunter obsessed with double-flowering blooms" - an article from The Telegraph.
 

 

Top ten plants that are bad for bees from Countryfile Magazine

"Lavender, alliums, fuschias, sweet peas - keen gardeners know the very best flowers to entice bees to their gardens. But what about plants that are  bad for bees? Here is our expert guide to the top ten plants that you should avoid to keep bees happy and buzzing, plus the perfect alternatives.

1. Rhododendron
Spectacular and beautiful, not many people know the common rhododendron hides a poisonous secret – its nectar is toxic to bees. It’s common practice for beekeepers to keep their hives closed until the flowering season is over. The resulting honey from rhododendrons has also been known to contaminate honey, making it unsafe for humans to eat.
Alternative: Clematis have beautiful, wide flowers and are 100 per cent bee-friendly.

2. Azalea
Rhododendron’s sister, azaleas are also toxic to bees.
Alternative: Foxgloves (Digitalis) are a bee favourite and despite being poisonous if consumed by humans, they are both honey and bee safe.

3. Trumpet flower, or angel’s trumpet (Brugmansia suaveolens)
Though ornamental and sweet smelling, the trumpet flower’s nectar can cause brood death in bees and is best avoided.
Alternative: Try honeysuckle (Lonicera) instead for deliciously scented results.

4. Oleander (Nerium oleander)
Harmful to butterflies as well as bees, oleander has a severe effect on hives. Nectar taken to the hive concentrates as it dries out, which increases the amount of toxins and usually results in a mass hive wipeout. 
Alternative: Snapdragons (Antirrhinum majus) are equally as bright and arguably more attractive in small or large gardens.

5. Yellow Jessamine (Gelsemium sempervirens)
Pleasantly aromatic and attractive as they are, bees are often poisoned by the vines and flowers of the yellow jessamine and its toxins are said to be as severe as hemlock.
Alternative: Plant Black-eyed Susans (Rudbeckia hirta) in tubs and along fences for a pretty, easy-to-grow substitute.

6. Mountain Laurel (Kalmia latifolia)
Part of the blueberry family, the mountain laurel is an evergreen shrub with sweet, white or pink flowers when in bloom. Pretty they may be, but the honey produced by mountain laurel is toxic to humans and is often bitter tasting.
Alternative: Lilacs (Syringa) are both beautiful and wonderfully sweet smelling. Easy to grow and are loved by bees and butterflies. 

7. Stargazer lily (Lilium 'Stargazer')
Stunning but deadly to cats, stargazer lilies’ pollen is poisonous to bees.
Alternative: Hollyhocks (Alcea) are impressive and just as beautiful as the stargazer but bee-friendly.

8. Heliconia Exotic and interesting, heliconia, or lobster-claws as its sometimes called, is very toxic to bees. You should not prune your heliconias, as the 'stem' is actually made up of rolled leaf bases and the flowers emerge from the top of these 'pseudostems'. However, each stem will only flower once, so after flowering you can cut that stem out. This is recommended, to encourage more flowering, to increase airflow in between the stems of your plant, and also to generally tidy it up and improve the appearance.
Alternative: Although not quite as exotic, hyacinths are fragrant, gorgeous and easy to grow. Hyacinth bulbs are poisonous; they contain oxalic acid. Handling hyacinth bulbs can cause mild skin irritation. Protective gloves are recommended.

9. Bog rosemary (Andromeda polifolia -
All parts of the plant contain andromedotoxin and are considered poisonous)
Not to be confused with the herb, bog rosemary is acutely poisonous and the honey produced from the nectar of Andromeda polifolia contains high enough levels of grayanotoxin to cause full body paralysis and potentially fatal breathing difficulties due to diaphragm paralysis.
Alternative: Why not try planting a classic rosemary bush (Rosmarinus officinalis) – aromatic, resilient and favoured by bees.

10. Amaryllis (Hippeastrum)
Now most commonly recognised as decorative Christmas flowers, amaryllis are gorgeous in bloom but their pollen produces toxic honey. Bulbs, chewing or ingestion of the bulbs, leaves or flowers poisons goats and sheep with Lycorine (An emetic) and small amounts of alkaloids.
Alternative: Dahlias are a highlight of late summer gardens. Beautiful and simple to grow, dahlias often flower until the first frosts of the year."

This is another list of Plants toxic to bees, which includes:-
Aesculus californica,
Angelica triqueta,
Asclepias species,
Astralagus species,
Astralagus lentiginosus,
Camellia thea,
Corynocarpus laevigata,
Astralagus miser v. serotibus,
Cuscuta species,
Cyrilla racemiflora,
Ochrama lagopus,
Solanum nigram,
Sophora microphylla,
Tillia species,
Veratrum cailfornicum,
Zygadenus cenesosus.


There is always room in a garden for bulbs, especially the ones for bees for butterflies:-

BULB FLOWER SHAPE GALLERY PAGES

lessershapemeadowrue2a1a1a1a1

alliumcflohaireasytogrowbulbs1a1a

berberisdarwiniiflower10h3a14c2a1a1

irisflotpseudacorus1a1a

aethionemacfloarmenumfoord1a1a

anemonecflo1hybridafoord1a1a

anemonecflo1blandafoord1a1a

Number of Flower Petals

Petal-less

1

2

3

4

5

Above 5

anthericumcfloliliagofoord1a1a1

alliumcflo1roseumrvroger1a1a

geraniumflocineremuballerina1a1a1a1a1a1

paeoniamlokosewitschiiflot1a1a1

paeoniaveitchiiwoodwardiiflot1a1a

acantholinumcflop99glumaceumfoord1a

stachysflotmacrantha1a1a1

Flower Shape - Simple

Stars with Single Flowers

Bowls

Cups and Saucers

Globes

Goblets and Chalices

Trumpets

Funnels

 

digitalismertonensiscflorvroger1a1a

fuchsiaflotcalicehoffman1a1a1

ericacarneacflosspringwoodwhitedeeproot1a1a1a

phloxflotsubulatatemiskaming1a1a1

 

 

 

Flower Shape - Simple

Bells

Thimbles

Urns

Salverform

 

 

 

 

prunellaflotgrandiflora1a1a

aquilegiacfloformosafoord1a1a

acanthusspinosuscflocoblands1a1a

lathyrusflotvernus1a1a

anemonecflo1coronariastbrigidgeetee1a1a

echinaceacflo1purpurealustrehybridsgarnonswilliams1a1a

centaureacfloatropurpureakavanagh1a1a

Flower Shape - Elabor-ated

Tubes, Lips and Straps

Slippers, Spurs and Lockets

Hats, Hoods and Helmets

Stan-dards, Wings and Keels

Discs and Florets

Pin-Cushions

Tufts and Petal-less Cluster

 

androsacecforyargongensiskevock1a1a

androsacecflorigidakevock1a1a

argyranthemumflotcmadeiracrestedyellow1a1a

armeriacflomaritimakevock1a1a

anemonecflonemerosaalbaplenarvroger1a1a

 

 

Flower Shape - Elabor-ated

Cushion

Umbel

Buttons with Double Flowers

Pompoms

Stars with Semi-Double Flowers

 

 

 

bergeniamorningredcforcoblands1a1a1

ajugacfloreptansatropurpurea1a1a

lamiumflotorvala2a1a1

astilbepurplelancecflokevock1a1a1

berberisdarwiniiflower10h3a1433a1a1a1a1

berberisdarwiniiflower10h3a1434a1a1a1a1

androsacecfor1albanakevock1a1a

Natural Arrange-ments

Bunches, Posies and Sprays (Group)

Columns, Spikes and Spires

Whorls, Tiers and Cande-labra

Plumes and Tails

Chains and Tassels

Clouds, Garlands and Cascades

Sphere, Dome (Clusters), Drumstick and Plate

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FURTHER BULB FLOWER SHAPE GALLERY PAGES


Bulbs - a complete handbook of bulbs, corms and tubers by Roy Genders. Published in 1973 by Robert Hale & Company.
Contents

History, Culture and Characteristics

  • Early History
  • Botanical Characteristics of Bulbs, Corms and Tubers
  • Propagation
  • Bulbs in the Woodland Garden
  • Bulbs in Short Grass is detailed in Ivydene Gardens Bulb, Corm, Rhizome and Tuber Gallery Site Map
  • Bulbs in the Shrubbery
  • Spring Bedding
  • Summer Bedding
  • A border of bulbs
  • Bulbs for the alpine garden
  • Bulbs for trough garden and window box-
  • Bulbs for alpine house and frame
  • Bulbs in the home
  • Scent in bulbs
  • Diseases and pests of bulbs and corms

Alphabetical Guide - Pages 154-543 provides an Alphabetical Guide to these bulbs, with each genus having a description with details of culture, propagation and details of each of its species and varieties:-
"Cardiocrinum (Liliaceae)
A genus of three species, native of the Himalayas and eastern Asia, which at one time were included in the genus Lilium. They differ in that their bulbs have few scales, while the seed capsules are toothed. They are plants of dense woodlands of Assam and Yunnan, where the rainfall is the highest in the world and they grow best in shade and in a moist humus-laden soil. The basal leaves are cordate, bright-green and glossy; the flowers trumpet-like with reflexed segments. They are borne in umbels of 10 to 20 on stems 10 to 12 ft (120-144 inches, 300 to 360 centimetres) tall. In their native land they are found growing with magnolias and rhododendrons.
Culture
The bulbs are dark green and as large as a hockey ball. Plant 24 (60) apart early in spring, away from a frost pocket, and with the top part exposed. Three bulbs planted together in a spinney or in a woodland clearing will present a magnificent site when in bloom. They require protection from the heat of summer and a cool root run; they are also gross feeders so the soil should be enriched with decayed manure and should contain a large amount of peat or leaf-mould. The bulbs will begin to grow in the warmth of spring, and by early June the flower stems will have attained a height of 96 (240) or more and will be bright green with a few scattered leaves. The basal leaves will measure 10 (25) wide, like those of the arum. The flowers appear in July and last only a few days to be replaced by attractive large seed pods, while the handsome basal leaves remain green until the autumn. The flower stems are hollow.
Propagation
After flowering and the dying back of the leaves, the bulb also dies. Early in November it should be dug up, when it will be seen that three to 5 small bulbs are clustered around it. These are replanted 24 (60) apart with the nose exposed and into soil that has been deeply worked and enriched with leaf mould and decayed manure. They will take two years to bear bloom, but if several are planted each year there will always be some at the flowering stage. To protect them from frost, the newly planted bulbs should be given a deep mulch either of decayed leaves or peat shortly after planting, while additional protection may be given by placing fronds of bracken or hurdles over the mulch.
Plants may be raised from seed sown in a frame in a sandy compost or in boxes in a greenhouse. If the seed is sown in September when harvested, it will germinare in April. In autumn the seedlings will be ready to transplant into a frame or into boxes, spacing them 3 (7.5) apart. They need moisture while growing but very little during winter when dormant. In June they will be ready to move to their flowering quarters such as a clearing in a woodland where the ground has been cleaned of perennial weeds and fortified with humus and plant food. Plant 24 (60) apart and protect the young plants until established with low boards erected around them. They will bloom in about eight years from sowing time.
Species
Cardiocrinum cathayanum. Native of western and central China, it will grow 36-48 (90-120) tall and halfway up the stem produces a cluster of oblong leaves. The funnel-shaped flowers are borne three to five to each stem and appear in an umbel at the top. They are white or cream, shaded with green and spotted with brown and appear early in July. The plant requires similar conditions to Cardiocrinum giganteum and behaves in like manner.
Cardiocrinum cordatum. Native of Japan, it resembles Cardiocrinum giganteum with its heart-shaped basal leaves, which grow from the scales of the greenish-white bulb and which, like those of the paeony (with which it may be planted), first appear bronzey-red before turning green. The flowers are produced horizontally in sixes or eights at the end of a 72 (180) stem and are ivory-white shaded green on the outside, yellow in the throat and spotted with purple. They are deliciously scented.
Cardiocrinum giganteum. Native of Assam and the eastern Himalayas where it was found by Dr Wallich in 1816 in the rain-saturated forests. It was first raised from seed and distributed by the Botanical Gardens of Dublin, and first flowered in the British Isles at Edinburgh in 1852. Under conditions it enjoys, it will send up its hollow green stems (which continue to grow until autumn) to a height of 120-144 (300-360), each with as many as 10 to 20 or more funnel-shaped blooms 6 (15) long. The flowers are white, shaded green on the outside and reddish-purple in the throat. Their scent is such that when the air is calm the plants may be detected from a distance of 100 yards = 3600 inches = 9000 centimetres. Especially is their fragrance most pronounced at night. The flowers droop downwards and are at their best during July and August. The large basal leaves which surround the base of the stem are heart-shaped and short-stalked."

Agapanthus is on pages 159-160 with Anemone on pages 169-175.

with these Appendices:-
 

A -
Planting Depths (Out-doors)

B -
Bulbs and their Habitat

C -
Planting and Flowering Times for Out-door Cult-ivation

D -
Flowering Times for Indoor Bulbs

E -
Bulbs with Scented Flowers

F -
Common Names of Bulbous plants

G -
From Sowing time to Bloom


Bulbs in Cultivation including vital bulb soil preparation from

Bulbs for Small Garden by E.C.M. Haes. Published by Pan Books in 1967:-

Bulbs in the Small Garden with Garden Plan and its different bulb sections

A choice of Outdoor Bulbs

False Bulbs

Bulbs Indoors

Bulb Calendar

Planting Times and Depth

Composts

Bulb Form

Mat-Forming

Prostrate or Trailing

Cushion or Mound-forming

Spreading or Creeping

Clump-forming

Stemless. Sword-shaped Leaves

Erect or Upright

Bulb Use

Other than Only Green Foliage

Bedding or Mass Planting

Ground-Cover

Cut-Flower
1
, 2

Tolerant of Shade

In Woodland Areas

Under-plant

Tolerant of Poor Soil

Covering Banks

In Water

Beside Stream or Water Garden

Coastal Conditions

Edging Borders

Back of Border or Back-ground Plant

Fragrant Flowers

Not Fragrant Flowers

Indoor House-plant

Grow in a Patio Pot
1
, 2

Grow in an Alpine Trough

Grow in an Alpine House

Grow in Rock Garden

Speciman Plant

Into Native Plant Garden

Naturalize in Grass

Grow in Hanging Basket

Grow in Window-box

Grow in Green-house

Grow in Scree

 

 

Natural-ized Plant Area

Grow in Cottage Garden

Attracts Butter-flies

Attracts Bees

Resistant to Wildlife

Bulb in Soil

Chalk 1, 2

Clay

Sand 1, 2

Lime-Free (Acid)

Peat

 

 

Bulb Height from Text Border

Brown= 0-12 inches (0-30 cms)

Blue = 12-24 inches (30-60 cms)

Green= 24-36 inches (60-90 cms)

Red = 36+ inches (90+ cms)

Bulb Soil Moisture from Text Background

Wet Soil

Moist Soil

Dry Soil

Flowering months range abreviates month to its first 3 letters (Apr-Jun is April, May and June).

Click on thumbnail to change this comparison page to the Plant Description Page of the Bulb named in the Text box below that photo.
The Comments Row of that Plant Description Page links to where you personally can purchase that bulb via mail-order.

PLANT USE Plant Selection Level 1
Bee Forage Plants
Attracts Bird/Butterfly
Photos - Butterfly

Bee Pollinated Plants for Hay Fever Sufferers in Bee Pollinated Calendar and Index Galleries
0-24 inches (0-60 cms)
24-72 inches (60-180 cms)
Above 72 inches (180 cms)

Photos - Bee Pollinated Plant Bloom per Month
Blooms Nov-Feb
Blooms Mar-May
Blooms Jun-Aug 1, 2
Blooms Sep-Oct

There are other pages on Plants which bloom in each month of the year in this website:-

 

 


There is always room in a garden for perennials, even if there is not enough room for shrubs.

Ivydene Gardens Extra Pages of Plants
Shrub/Perennial Growth Habit List - Mat-Forming

When selecting plants, you should start by using what you already have in the garden; especially mature shrubs and some of your perennials.
Growth Habit - The way a plant grows is genetically determined. How well individual plants grow varies with:

  • availability of light,
  • exposure to wind,
  • and competition for food and space with other plants.

So, if you wish to see your plant at its best, rather than as a plant within a hedge effect, please give it room to grow to produce its natural growth habit.

Mature shrubs and perennials will have one of the following growth habits:-

Mat-forming.
Stems densely cover the ground and
the flowers extend above.
alchemillacfor1alpinafoord1
Alchemilla alpina

Prostrate or Trailing.
Stems spread out on the ground and
the flowers are borne close to the foliage.
linariafor1alpina1
Trailing Linaria alpina

Clump-forming.
Leaf-stalks and
flower stems arise at ground level to form a dense mass.
anemonecforblandawikimediacommons1
Anemone blanda

Stemless.
Leaf-stalks and
flower stems arise at ground level.
tulipaforapeldoorn1
Upright Stemless Tulipa 'Apeldoorn' 4L24R

Cushion or Mound-forming.
Tightly packed stems form a low clump and
the flowers are close to the foliage.
saxifragaforcebennensis1a
Cushion Saxifraga cebennensis

Spreading or Creeping.
Stems extend horizontally then ascend, forming a densely packed mass.
prunellaforgrandiflora1a
Spreading Prunella grandiflora

Erect or Upright.
Upright stems stand vertical, supporting leaves and
the flowers.
Ericalusitanicageorgehuntflostalkgarnonwilliams1a
Erica lusitanica 'George Hunt'

Climbing and Scandent.
Long flexible stems are supported by other plants or structures.
bomareafloscaldasii1a
Tuberous-rooted Bomarea caldesii twining climber

Arching.
Long upright stems arch over from the upright towards the ground.

The Herbaceous Perennial Gallery,
Evergreen Perennial Gallery,
Deciduous Shrub Gallery and the
Evergreen Shrub Gallery compare colour photographs of some of the following plant growth habits in thumbnail form and larger size form.

The following pages lists these
Shrub/Perennial Growth Habits:-
Mat
Prostrate / Trailing
Cushion / Mound
Spreading / Creeping
Clump
Stemless
Erect or Upright
Climbing
Arching

You may not have room in your garden for trees, but you can plant them in containers.

Ivydene Gardens Extra Pages of Plants
Tree/Shrub Growth Shape List - Oval

When selecting plants, you should start by using what you already have in the garden; especially mature trees and shrubs.
Growth Shape - The way a plant grows is genetically determined. How well individual plants grow varies with:

  • availability of light,
  • exposure to wind,
  • and competition for food and space with other plants.

So, if you wish to see your plant at its best, rather than as a plant within a hedge effect, please give it room to grow to produce its natural growth habit.

Each tree or shrub will have one of the following growth shapes:-

Rounded / Spherical

croundedshape1
 

Flattened Spherical

cflattenedsphericalshape1
 

Ovoid / Egg-shaped

ceggshapedshape1
 

Broad Ovoid

cbroadovoidshape1
 

Narrow Weeping

cnarrowweepingshape1
 

Broad Weeping

cbroadweepingshape1
 

Columnar

ccolumnarshape1a1
 

These diagrams come from a very useful book called
Van den Berk on Trees
ISBN 90-807408-8-8
written to answer customer's questions over 50 years to these Dutch growers.

Oval

covalshape1a

 

Broad Fan-shaped/ Broad Vase-shaped

cbroadfanshapedshape1a

 

Narrow Conical / Narrow Pyramidal

cnarrowconicalshape1a
 

Broad Conical / Broad Pyramidal

cbroadpyramidalshape1a
 

Narrow Vase-shaped/ Inverted Ovoid

cnarrowvaseshapedshape1a
 

Fan-shaped/ Vase-shaped

cfanshapedshape1a
 

Single-stemmed Palm , cyad, or similar tree

csinglestemgardentia1a1
Wild Date Palm

Multi-stemmed Palm, cyad, or similar tree

cmultistemmedpalmshape1a
Areca Palm

 

The Deciduous Tree Gallery,
Evergreen Tree Gallery,
Deciduous Shrub Gallery and the Evergreen Shrub Gallery compare colour photographs of some of the following plants in thumbnail shape and larger size shape.

The following pages list these shapes for the trees:-
Plant Selection by Form
Level 2b
Tree Growth Shape
Columnar
Oval
Rounded / Spherical
Flattened Spherical
Narrow Conical
Broad Pyramidal
Ovoid / Egg
Broad Ovoid
Narrow Vase
Fan
Broad Fan
Narrow Weeping
Broad Weeping
Single-stem Palm
Multi-stem Palm

If you still have not enough room for trees,
then you can create hedges with trees,
screens with topfruit and softfruit on chainlink fencing
or fruit-bearing areas using chainlink supports on walls.

Plant Selection by Garden Use
Level 2c
Coastal Conditions
Containers in Garden
Edibles in Containers
Hanging Basket
Hedge
Photos - Hedging
Pollution Barrier 1, 2
Thorny Hedge
Windbreak
Woodland


Plant Selection by Garden Use
Level 2cc Others
Specimen Plant
Trees for Lawns
Trees for Small Garden

Choose 1 of these different Plant selection Methods:-

1. Choose a plant from 1 of 53 flower colours in the Colour Wheel Gallery.
2. Choose a plant from 1 of 12 flower colours in each month of the year from 12 Bloom Colours per Month Index Gallery.
3. Choose a plant from 1 of 6 flower colours per month for each type of plant:-
Aquatic
Bedding
Bulb
Climber
Conifer
Deciduous Shrub
Deciduous Tree
Evergreen Perennial
Evergreen Shrub
Evergreen Tree
Hedging
Herbaceous Perennial
Herb
Odds and Sods
Rhododendron nectar is toxic to bees
Rose
Soft Fruit
Top Fruit
Wild Flower
4. Choose a plant from its Flower Shape:-
Shape, Form
Index

Flower Shape
5. Choose a plant from its foliage:-
Bamboo
Conifer
Fern
Grass
Vegetable
6. There are 6 Plant Selection Levels including Bee Pollinated Plants for Hay Fever Sufferers in
Plants Topic.
or
7. when I do not have my own or ones from mail-order nursery photos , then from March 2016, if you want to start from the uppermost design levels through to your choice of cultivated and wildflower plants to change your Plant Selection Process then use the following galleries:-
Create and input all plants known by Amateur Gardening inserted into their Sanders' Encyclopaedia from their edition published in 1960 (originally published by them in 1895) into these
Stage 1 - Garden Style Index Gallery,
then
Stage 2 - Infill Plants Index Gallery being the only gallery from these 7 with photos (from Wikimedia Commons) ,
then
Stage 3 - All Plants Index Gallery with each plant species in its own Plant Type Page followed by choice from Stage 4a, 4b, 4c and/or 4d REMEMBERING THE CONSTRAINTS ON THE SELECTION FROM THE CHOICES MADE IN STAGES 1 AND 2
Stage 4a - 12 Bloom Colours per Month Index Gallery,
Stage 4b - 12 Foliage Colours per Month Index Gallery with
Stage 4c - Cultivation, Position, Use Index Gallery and
Stage 4d - Shape, Form Index Gallery
Unfortunately, if you want to have 100's of choices on selection of plants from 1000's of 1200 pixels wide by up to 16,300 pixels in length webpages, which you can jump to from almost any of the pages in these 7 galleries above, you have to put up with those links to those choices being on
the left topic menu table,
the header of the middle data table and on
the page/index menu table on the right of every page of those galleries.

Pruning

Pruning Made Easy - A gardener's Visual Guide to when and how to prune everything, from flowers to trees by Lewis Hill. Published by Storey Publishing as one of its Storey's Gardening Skills Illustrated Series in 1997.
ISBN 1-58017-007-2. Lewis Hill owned Berryhill Nursery.

The illustrations combined with the text tell you precisely what to do in the above book.

I have spent a long time investigating the state of the trees in pavements within Funchal in Madeira and I have taken 100's of photos to show what happens when any tree is pruned and allowed to rot followed by the inside rot being set light to. You can look at the welcome page, and below this leads on to the start page of the 100's of photos linked to in the comments on cavity repair, for further details.
 

Chapter

Contents

Comments

Reasons to prune

Pruning with a purpose.
Pruning when planting or transplanting.
Pruning to train.
Pruning to control size.
Pruning for appearance.
Pruning for health.
Pruning for production.
Pruning for rejuvenation.
Pruning to create a barrier.

 

Tools and Equipment

Clippers and loppers.
Sharpening pruning shears.
Shearing equipment.
Tree paints and sealers.
Tool storage.

 

Pruning Methods

A proper pruning cut.
Pruning at different life stages.
When to prune.
Training.
Shearing.
Pinching.
Removing large limbs.
Beheading.
Disbudding.
Thinning fruit.
Basal pruning.
Root pruning.

 

Ornamental trees and shrubs

Pruning a bare-root shrub.
Pruning container-grown or balled-and-burlapped plants.
Pruning flowering trees.
Pruning Flowering Shrubs.
Pruning a viburnum.
Pruning a lilac.
Restoring an old flowering tree or shrub.
Turning a shrub into a tree.
Pruning shrubs that produce fruit or berries.
Plants with coloured bark.
Shrubs and trees that need special care in pruning.
Pruning roses.
General rose maintenance.
Pruning a hybrid tea rose.
Pruning shrub and species roses.
Pruning climbers and ramblers.
Pruning tree roses.
Choosing a tree or shrub.

 

Shade trees

Basic tree shapes.
Choosing the proper tree.
Pruning at planting time.
Maintenance pruning.
Basal pruning.
Care of mature trees.
Tree surgery.
Cavity repair.

Cavity repair.
"1. Clean out the cavity carefully. Remove all dirt, old bark, insects, and rotten wood right down to soil wood, much as a dentist cleans out a tooth prior to filling it, If possible, flush out the area with clean water." Fine.

"2. Smooth out the rough edges with a heavy-grit file" No, that would tend to remove the remains of the branch collar and further damage the tree.

"3. Fill the hole with a good tree-cavity sealer. Asphalt compounds, such as those used in patching driveways and roofs, are suitable..."
No, asphalt as well as concrete are solid and may shrink slightly as they dry out leaving a gap where the water, insects can get back in and rot the tree.

I suggest the following:-
"Solution to holes in trees.
Remove ... rot within the hole. Then blast the remaining rot with a high pressure water hose to try and clear more of the rot. Spray with Boron (a water based preservative kills only wood boring insects - not spiders, birds or bats) as a treatment for insect, wet and dry rot attack. While it is still wet, apply a layer of Expanding Foam to the bottom of the hole. Immediately place bottles on this and allow to set for 5 minutes. Apply another layer of expanding foam and another layer of bottles. The aim of the bottles is to occupy space, they are not there as a deterrent. That is why the foam has to be in contact with the inside of the tree not the glass bottle. The poisons in the foam will kill anything eating it and the foam does stick better when wet with water. Keep up this operation until the hole is covered. 
Leave to set and then paint the foam surface twice with a recommended water-based, but not oil-based, sealant.

Solutions to stop creating holes in trees.
When a branch is cut off, remember to cut it off on the other side of the Branch Collar. (See Figure 1 - Optimum position of the final pruning cut in "Guide to Tree Pruning" by the Arboricultural Association which shows the branch collar within and outside the tree. My Comments: I disagree with their recommendation not to apply wound paint as you can see the result if you do not paint trees which are dehydrated, starved and gassed as these trees in the pavements of Madeira are.) 
Once that is done, then immediately apply Boron and 2 coats of protective sealant as used for holes in trees above." from Photo Damage to Trees in Madeira Page 1.

I also saved the yew tree in my local churchyard.

Pruning evergreens

What is an evergreen.
Needled evergreens.
Shearing basics.
How to shear.
Shearing specimen evergreens.
A shearing timetable.
Shearing dwarf evergreens.
Creating a dwarf evergreen.
Shearing windbreaks and screens.
Pruning needled evergreens.
Broadleaf evergreens.
Renewal pruning.

 

Pruning hedges

Starting a new hedge.
Shearing a hedge.
Making an arch in your hedge.
Reviving an old hedge.
Formal hedges.
Hedges for barriers.
Flower- and berry-producing hedge plants.
Hedges needing careful maintenance.
Annual hedges.
Low-maintenance hedges.

 

Artistic pruning

Topiary.
Topiary frames.
Espalier.
Creating a cordon.
English fences.
Pollarding and coppicing.
Pruning a Japanese-style garden.

 

Pruning fruit trees

Pruning a bare-root fruit tree at planting time.
Pruning a young fruit tree.
Fruit-tree pruning styles.
Prune for quality fruit.
Repair pruning.
Prune to manage your tree's size.
Prune to keep your tree healthy.
Managing suckers.
Dealing with sunscald.
When to prune fruit trees.
Pruning dwarf fruit trees.
Pruning to make trees bear.
The old orchard.
Pruning sanitation.
Pruning spur-type fruit trees.
Specific trees: apple; apricot; cherry; citrus; fig; peach and nectarine; pear; plum; quince; tropical and semitropical fruits.
Cutting grafting wood.

A solution for grass round trees depriving them of water and nutrients; using the expertise of DLF.
If the turf was uplifted during August/September using a fork for a distance of 24 inches (60 cms) round the base of the tree trunk in the grass and placed upside down beyond that 24 inches, that would expose the roots of that tree. 10 grammes of PM105 which is equal parts of Alsike White Clover, Red Clover, White Clover, Yellow Trefoil and Birdsfoot Trefoil could be added to a bucket, with 50 grammes of
Rehofix MK1500 Bulking Granules (these are corn skin granules and biodegradable and used as a carrier for the PM105). This mixture could be mixed with 12 grammes of Groweb Tackifier (a gelling agent that when mixed with water, swells becoming highly viscous, binding the seed and the Rehofix and sand to the soil surface. It also stops anybody else from taking the seeds, whether it is wind, bird, or human). This is then distributed onto the exposed soil between the trunk and the water ring created by the overturned turf slabs. Then 2 bags of sharp sand are spread over the sown seed to prevent birds from eating the seeds and to cover the exposed roots of the tree. This is followed by spraying 2 gallons of water on top of the sand, and the wildflower seeds can then grow through the sand with the clover. The clover are legumes and would fertilise the tree roots. Since there is usually quite a bit of rain from October to March, irrigation of these wildflowers would be unnecessary and having grown during that autumn/winter period, these plants would probably be okay for the following spring/summer growing conditions. The replacement of the turf with these wildflowers would stop that area of turf from drinking all the rain that falls on it and if any fertiliser was applied on top of it, from it using all of it and the tree getting none.

Pruning small fruits

Grapes.
Pruning bare-root grapes at planting time.
The Kniffen system.
Pruning an old grapevine. The bush fruits: blueberry, cranberry, currant and gooseberry, elderberry.
The bramble fruits.
Maintenance pruning of brambles.
Strawberries.

 

Nut trees

Planting a nut tree.
Early training of nut trees.
Almond.
Black Walnut and Butternut.
Chestnut.
Filbert.
Hickory.
Pecan.
Walnut.

 

Vines and ground covers

Pruning a woody vine.
Pruning a wisteria.
Pruning clematis.
Climbing roses.
Rejuvenating an overgrown vine.
Working a remodeling or painting job around a vine.
Twining vine.
Clinging vines.
Annual vines.
Pruning ground covers.

 

Garden plants and houseplants

Reasons to prune perennials.
Perennial herb plants.
Perennial food plants.
Pruning Houseplants.
Prune to rejuvenate.
Hanging baskets.
Pruning for winter storage.
Root pruning.

 

Bonsai

Choosing your specimen.
Containers.
Equipment.
Soil mixture.
Planting.
Pruning at planting time.
Early training.
Maintenance pruning.
Care of your bonsai.
Root pruning and repotting.

 

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