Ivydene Gardens Plants: Ground-Cover Plant Name: R
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:-

• Aquatic
• Bamboo
• Bedding
• Bulb
• Conifer - Conifers have no flowers and are used for their foliage and cones
• Deciduous Shrub
• Deciduous Tree
• Evergreen Perennial
• Evergreen Shrub
• Evergreen Tree
• Fern - Ferns have no flowers and are used for their foliage
• Grass - Grass is used for its grass inflorescence and foliage
• Hedging
• Herbaceous Perennial
• Herb
• Odds and Sods
• Rhododendron, Azalea and Camellia
• Soft Fruit
• Top Fruit
• Vegetable
• Wild Flower

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.
 

Ranunculus aconitifolius
'Flore Pleno'

Ranunculus species
No SOL
The sleepy mason bee (Chelostoma florisomne) collects pollen almost exclusively from buttercups and so is dependent on them

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

24 x 18 (60 x 45)

Glossy Dark Green

Small, double, White in
June-July

Being a double flower it is no use to most bees.

"Fair Maids of France, White Bachelor's Buttons, Fair Maids of Kent". Difficult to grow.
Full Sun, Part Shade
Zone 5-9 Moist soil. From alpine meadows in the Pyrenees and northern Spain. Plant among shrubs or streamsides, in rich moist soil.

Companions - cornus mas, cornus stolonifera, carex elata, ajuga, acorus, anthriscus sylvestris 'Ravenswing', forsythia, early spring bulbs (narcissus, muscari), brunnera, primula, crocus.

The Ranunculaceae Group, one of the newest groups in the Hardy Plant Society, was formed in 2007; its aims are to inform, educate and enthuse about numerous ranunculids.

Ranunculus lyallii

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

36 x 14 (90 x 35)

Dark Green

White in
July-September

"Giant Buttercup, Mount Cook Lily".

Raoulia australis

Evergreen Perennial below 24 inches (60 cms) in height

0.5 x 12
(1 x 30)

Grey-Silver

Sulphur-Yellow in
July-September

This makes the thinnest carpet of tiny silvery leaves, and bears almost microscopic yellow, stemless flowers. Grows a carpet by rooting in full sun on scree or extra well-drained soil; rock garden or alpine troughs.
Raoulia hookeri is in effect a slightly larger version; and Raoulia tenuicaulis is a very undemanding, grey-green spreading / creeping. All like gritty soil and are unhappy in cold, wet winters

Zone 7 on dry soil

Rheum palmatum

Deciduous Rhizome Perennial above 72 inches (180 cms) in height

96 x 72 (210 x 180)

Vast Dark Green above, Purple-Red beneath, deeply lobed

Tiny Creamy-Green to Deep Red flowers in feathery spike of 72 (180) height in
July

"Chinese Rhubarb". Dies back in midsummer. An accent plant forming a clump.
Full Sun, Part Shade.
Zone 5-9
Moisture-retentive fertile soil. From China.

Rheum rhaponticum is a parent of the culinary rhubarb which is one of the most productive, dense, weed-smothering crops for untidy kitchen gardens. It enjoys full sun in rich, moist, or even boggy soil, with manure.

Companions - large ferns, hemerocallis, monarda, ligularia, telekia, and other large-scale perennials.

Rheum x cultorum

Vegetable

Dark Green

...

"Rhubarb".
Edible stalks. It has large poisonous leaves and is a great vegetable for ground cover.

Brassicas have masses of leaves that will deter weeds and form good ground cover and ornamental kale is easily grow, providing great leaf colours including white, cream, pink, red and purple from late summer right through autumn and winter. There are cabbage varieties to give you all-year round ground cover including 'Colorsa', a red-veined savoy, and red cabbage such as 'Red Jewel'. Well-grown caluliflowers (Brassica olearacea) are attractive with dark green leaves surrounding a large, rounded curd of flowers that can be white, yellow-green or purple.

Cucurbita pepo - marrows and courgettes have large, divided leaves which form good cover. Why not try outdoor cucumbers or squashes or pumpkins as well?

Pisum sativum - Dwarf pea varieties can be used to cover the ground, redcing weeds during the summer months. Essential for them to be sown closely together to support each other and form a dense carpet. If the pods are not picked regularly the plant will stop growing and turn yellow

Solanum tuberosum - Potatoes are frequently grown to break up hard, compacted soil and suppress weeds.

Rhodanthemum hosmariense

Evergreen Alpine below 24 inches (60 cms) in height

6 x 12
(15 x 30)

Intensely Silver

White with Yellow centres
in March-October

"Moroccan Daisy". Evergreen Sub-Shrub. Its silver-grey foliage makes an ideal background for its classic daisy-like flowerheads.
Full Sun
Zone 8
Well-drained soil. From Morocco

Rhododendron
'Blue Tit'

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

36 x 36 (90 x 90)

Yellowish-Green juvenile, Mid-Green when mature

Grey-Blue in
April-May

Rhododendron nectar is toxic to bees
All Rhododendrons can be used for Flower Arranging - see other Flower Arranging Plants and plants with scented flowers.
The Scottish Rhododendron Society have articles of interest, with review and yearbook back issues as well as – Hannah Miller have a Guide to getting children started with gardening and garden sustainability

Rhododendron
'Britannia'

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

60 x 84 (150 x 210)

Pale Green

Bright Scarlet in
July

Rhododendron and Azalea nectar is toxic to bees

It should be noted that the common rhododendron (Rhododendron ponticum) and hybrids with Rhododendron maximum are invasive non-native species in the UK. The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (Variation of Schedule 9) (England and Wales) Order 2010 prohibits planting or causing them to grow in the wild.

Rhododendron
'Chikor'

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

24 x 24 (60 x 60)

Dark Green, Bronze-tinted in Winter

Clear Yellow in
May

Rhododendron and Azalea nectar is toxic to bees

• 1 Rhododendron species and hybrids . Rhododendron from the heath family (Ericaceae) is poisonous to bees and humans. It contains an andromedotoxin. It’s common practice for beekeepers to keep their hives closed until the flowering season is over.
  Unfortunately, when I visited Rufford Old Hall in 2023, they had not closed the hives and together with the masonry bees who lived in its outer walls, the bees were visiting the flowering rhododendrons. I did warn the National Trust staff about the poisonous effect.
  "The garden team at Rufford Old Hall carefully manage the hives to ensure a healthy colony, which in turn creates pollinators for the garden and ensures a good crop of honey and apples. Bees are essential to a healthy environment and at Rufford Old Hall there are three hives with new queens, from Rufford’s own stock of bees." - The staff stated that they would inform the garden team, when they would return 2 days later at the beginning of the week. I presume that the garden team carefully remove the honey which is produced during the flowering season of the Rhododendron and Azalea and destroy it, so that neither the bee nor any other living creature will consume its poison.
  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
  Alternative: Foxgloves (Digitalis) are a bee favourite.
   

Rhododendron
'Ginny Gee'

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

30 x 30 (75 x 75)

Dark Green

Pale Purplish-Pink in
May

Rhododendron
'Hino-crimson'

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

24 x 24 (60 x 60)

Dark Green

Brilliant Red in April-June

Rhododendron
'Hino-mayo'

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

24 x 24 (60 x 60)

Dark Green

Clear Pink in
May-July

Rhododendron
'Moerheim'

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

24 x 24 (60 x 60)

Dark Green turn Maroon in Winter

Violet-Blue in
May

Rhododendron calostrotum

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

30 x 36 (75 x 90)

Dark Green above, dense Brown scales beneath

Bright Rose-Purple in
June-July

Rhododendron ferrugineum

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

60 x 48 (150 x 120)

Glossy Dark Green

Rose-Pink to Crimson in
July

"Alpenrose".
Rhododendron and Azalea nectar is toxic to bees

Rhododendron impeditum

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

24 x 24 (60 x 60)

Grey-Green

Purplish-Blue in
May-June

Rhododendron and Azalea nectar is toxic to bees

• 1 Rhododendron species and hybrids . Rhododendron from the heath family (Ericaceae) is poisonous to bees and humans. It contains an andromedotoxin. 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
  Alternative: Foxgloves (Digitalis) are a bee favourite.
   
• Rhododendron impeditum
  

Rhododendron moupinense

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

48 x 48 (120 x 120)

Glossy Dark Green above, Paler Green beneath

White, Deep Rose-Pink or Pink in
March-April

Rhododendron pemakoense

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

24 x 24 (60 x 60)

Glossy Dark Green

Pink to Rose-Purple in
April-May

Rhododendron sargentianum

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

24 x 24 (60 x 60)

Glossy Mid-Green above, densely Golden scaly beneath

Lemon-Yellow or Cream in
May-July

Rhododendron yakushimanum

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

72 x 72 (180 x 180)

Dark Green above, thick, Reddish-Brown indumentum beneath

Pale Pink or White in
May

Rhodothamnus chamaecistus

Evergreen Shrub below 24 inches (60 cms) in height

8 x 10
(20 x 25)

Glossy Bright Dark Green

Clear Pink in
June-July

Rhus glabra

Rhus species
No HB

Deciduous Shrub above 72 inches (180 cms) in height

84 x 84 (210 x 210)

Blue-Green in Spring and Summer, Red in Autumn

Greenish-Red in
June-July

"Scarlet Sumach, Smooth Sumach".

Milky sap is poisonous so wear rubber gloves when handling this plant.

Rhus typhina 'Dissecta'

Deciduous Shrub above 72 inches (180 cms) in height

132 x 144 (330 x 360)

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

Greenish-White in
July-August

"Stag's Horn Sumach, Velvet Sumach". From temperate eastern North America. It carries its dark fruit well into winter and has deeply dissected, fern-like foliage.
It is a gaunt, spreading / creeping small tree, often with invasively suckering tendencies. The thick branches are covered when young with dense downy fur. The large pinnate leaves develop brilliant autumn colours, amid which female plants bear showy crimson fruit clusters.
Full Sun
Zones 3-9
Fertile, moist but well-drained soil with protection from wind.

Milky sap is poisonous so wear rubber gloves when handling this plant.

Ribes alpinum

Ribes species
Yes HB, ST, LT, SOL

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

24 x 36 (60 x 90)

Mid-Green

Greenish-Yellow in
April-June

"Mountain Currant, Alpine Currant". Dense, twiggy shrub from northern Europe to Russia will thrive in any reasonable fertile soil.

The ground cover form Ribes alpinum 'Aureum' growing in hummocks, whose leaves are flushed with yellow make sweetly fragrant flowers.

All Ribes can be used for Flower Arranging - see other Flower Arranging Plants and plants with scented flowers. Ribes thrive in sun or part shade in ordinary garden soil.
Full Sun, Part Shade
Zones 5-9
These unisexual plants must be planted in groups to ensure vigorous fruiting

Ribes laurifolium

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

36 x 60 (90 x 150)

Dark Green

Greenish-Yellow in
March-April

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

It has been found that where currants and gooseberries (Ribes uva-crispa No HB, ST, LT, SOL) are interplanted with cherries, honeybees may desert the currant and gooseberry flowers in favour of those of the cherries.

Ribes odoratum

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

72 x 72 (180 x 180)

Bright Green in Spring and Summer, Red and Purple in Autumn

Golden-Yellow in
April-May

"Clove Currant, Buffalo Currant". From prairies and high plains of mid-western USA. The plant is grown mainly for the spicy, clove-like fragrance of its leaves.
Zones 6-9

Ribes sanguineum
'Brocklebankii'

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

36 x 36 (90 x 90)

Pale Yellow

Pale Pink in
April-May

"Flowering Currant, Red Flowering Currant, Winter Currant".
Zones 6-10

Useful for brightening up dark areas, dull corners, and dappled shade, it associates well with plants that have purple foliage or purple, blue, yellow or white flowers such as anchusas, bugles or ceanothus.

Rodgersia pinnata

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

48 x 30 (120 x 75)

Glossy Dark Green

Yellowish-White, Pink or Red in
August-September

"Featherleaf Rodgersia". Reddish stalks. Clump
Full Sun, Part Shade
Zone 5-8
Fertile, moist, humus-rich soil - Mulch with composted bark or leafmould to retain moisture. The young foliage may be damaged by late frosts.

Rodgersia pinnata 'Fireworks'

These Rodgersias like Full Sun, or Part Shade or Full Shade from buildings, rich moist soil, and even boggy. Grand plants for streamside, light woodland, big rock gardens.

Companions - ferns, iris ensata, primula japonica, hosta, helleborus orientalis, astilbe, astrantia, trillium, nectaroscordum siculum, trollius; Rodgersia pinnata 'Superba' makes a wonderful combination with late lilies.

Rodgersia pinnata 'Superba'

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

48 x 30 (120 x 75)

Purplish-Bronze juvenile followed by Glossy Dark Green

Bright Pink in
August-September

Dark red fruit. Clump-forming.
Full Sun, Part Shade
Zone 4-9
Fertile, moist, humus-rich soil.

Rodgersia podophylla

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

60 x 72 (150 x 180)

Bronze when young, Glossy Mid-Green with Brown hairs in Summer, Bronze-Red in Autumn

Creamy-Green in
August-September

spreading / creeping clump.
Part Shade
Zone 5-8
From moist woodland and shaded streamsides in Japan.

Its autumn foliage harmonizes with maples, linderas, aronias, clethras and stephanandras.

Rodgersia sambucifolia

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

36 x 36 (90 x 90)

Dark Green

White or Pink in
July-August

"Elderberry Rodgersia". Earliest to bloom.
Part Shade
Zone 4-9
From moist woodland in western China

Rosa 'Essex'

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

24 x 48 (60 x 120)

Dark Green

Light Reddish-Pink in
July-December

Ground cover rose of dense habit

All Roses - Full Sun
Zone 6b-9b
Roses prefer acidic soil of pH 6.5 (sand) but will tolerate alkaline soils up to pH 7.5 (chalk). Mix 25 litres farmyard manure, or pulverized tree bark with bone meal, in soil before planting. Broadcast rose fertilizer in early Spring.

Rosa 'Flower Carpet'

Rosa species - wild roses and single-flowered roses yield pollen to bees, the remainder are no use to bees.
No HB, ST, LT, SOL

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

30 x 48 (75 x 120)

Shiny, Bright Green

Deep Rose-Pink in July-December

Vigorous Ground cover from Germany.
Zones 4-9

Rosa 'Flower Carpet - 'Amber'. There is also 'Ruby', 'Scarlet', 'Gold', 'Red Velvet', 'Coral', 'Pink', 'Sunshine' and 'White'

See large photos of Rosa 'Flower Carpet - Coral' on page.

"A website devoted to roses, clematis and peonies and all that is gardening related, including selecting, buying, breeding, caring for and exhibiting.  We have cataloged over 44,000 roses and have more than 160,000 photos along with thousands of Rose nurseries, public and private gardens, Rose societies, authors, breeders, hybridizers and publications from all over the world. Click Buy From tab on the Help Me Find page to locate sellers of this rose or Gardens tab to locate public, private and member gardens growing this rose." from Help Me Find in America.

Rosa 'Grouse'

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

24 x 120 (60 x 300)

Shiny Dark Green

Light Pink to near White in
July-September

Very vigorous, trailing ground cover.

Notices above the nursery shop at Great Dixter.

If you wish to grouse, then every page of this over 9,700 page website has more than 1000 links to other pages on this website or to external websites; and some have several thousand, so do not complain about lack of choice of where to go next!!!

Rosa 'Hampshire'

Deciduous Shrub below 24 inches (60 cms) in height

12 x 30 (30 x 75)

Glossy Mid-Green

Scarlet in
July-December

Prostrate ground cover.

"ROSA CHINENSIS 'BOB'S BEAUTY' A selected seedling from R.'Bengal Beauty'. Neater (1.3m x 1m) deeper blood-red single flowers, redder foliage, Apr-May, Jul-Aug, Oct-Nov, Jan-Feb and in between!" from Cotswold Garden Flowers which seems to produce flowers most of the year.

Rosa 'Hertfordshire'

Deciduous Shrub below 24 inches (60 cms) in height

18 x 36 (45 x 90)

Bright Green

Carmine-Pink in
July-December

Ground cover rose of compact, uneven and spiky habit.

Rosa 'Nozomi'

Deciduous Shrub below 24 inches (60 cms) in height

18 x 48 (45 x 120)

Shiny Dark Green

Pale Pink-White in
July-September

Trailing ground cover rose. See its flower photos from bud to dead in Rosa 'Nozomi' page.
It is effective draped over a bank, and in containers, where its branches will arch gracefully over the edge. Use as a background for both Viticella clematis and Clematis 'royal Purple' to provide an exciting colour combination. In a wild garden, combine wild carrots, campions, cranesbills and yarrows.

Rosa 'Pheasant'

Deciduous Shrub below 24 inches (60 cms) in height

20 x 120 (50 x 300)

Glossy Mid-Green

Pink in
July-September

Ground cover rose of creeping habit

Male Pheasant in Mixed Borders at Wisley

Rosa
'Red Blanket'

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

30 x 48 (75 x 120)

Dark Green

Rose-Red paling to White at the petal bases in
July-December

Ground cover rose of spreading / creeping habit

Rosa
'Robin Redbreast'

Deciduous Shrub below 24 inches (60 cms) in height

18 x 24 (45 x 60)

Shiny Mid-Green

Dark Red in
July-December

Dwarf ground cover rose of dense habit

Rosa 'Suffolk'

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

24 x 48 (60 x 120)

Light Green

Scarlet in
June-November

Low-spreading / creeping ground cover.
Orange-Red hips.

Low-growing polyanthas and floribundas can be mass-planted and easily kept to a 36 inch (90 cm) height by occasionally pruning the upright stems.
Almost any strong-growing, climbing rose can be pegged down and used as a ground cover. Tie the long canes at the tips to short stakes. Flower-bearing growth is then forced along the entire length of the cane.
You can also use the ground cover roses.

Interplant with larger phormiums, dark-leaved heucheras, berberis, smoke bush, and with climbers such as tropaeolums, Texensis clematis, or Chilean glory flower. Since this cultivar is prone to blackspot it needs a good, moist soil; extended plantings or very enclosed areas are best avoided.

Rosa 'Surrey'

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

32 x 48 (80 x 120)

Dark Green

Rose-Pink in
July-December

Vigorous mound-forming ground cover shrub rose.

Flowering continues late into the season, and the rose can then associate with penstemons, Japanese anemones and other roses grown for late blooms or for early hips such as Rosa moyesii hybrids and cultivars.

Rosa 'Sussex'

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

24 x 36 (60 x 90)

Mid-Green

Apricot, Pink and Buff in
June-December

Roses are unsurpassed for rapidly covering large, poor soil areas. Weeds can grow through a ground cover of roses; growth is not dense enough to shade them out - weed out between the roses and their roots, then put a 4 inch (10 cm) mulch of Spent Mushroom Compost to keep the area between the roses free of weeds for that season.

Rosa 'Swany'

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

30 x 66 (75 x 165)

Shiny Dark Green

White in
July-December

Dense ground cover

Rosa 'The Fairy'

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

24 x 48 (60 x 120)

Mid-Green

Light Pink in
September-November

Dense, cushion-forming habit ground cover. See large photos of Rosa 'The Fairy' on page.
Zones 4-9

Use as a bush rose towards the front of the bed, or tumbling its branches over the edge of a dwarf wall, or as a semi-evergreen weeping standard. Pleasing associations are made with miscanthus, hostas, alstroemerias and old roses. Combine the background mound of this rose with Alstromeria 'Charm'.

Rosa (Climbing)
'Golden Showers'

Deciduous Climber above 72 inches (180 cms) in height

120 x 72
(300 x 180)

Glossy Dark Green

Fragrant Golden-Yellow in
June-October

Zones 4-9

See other large photos of Rosa (Climbing) 'Golden Showers' on page.

Rosa (Climbing)
'New Dawn'

Deciduous Climber above 72 inches (180 cms) in height

120 x 96
(300 x 240)

Shiny Mid-Green

Fragrant Blush-Pink in
June-October

An all-time favourite of many rose growers.
Zones 4-10

Rosa (Climbing)
'Zephirine Drouhin'

Deciduous Climber above 72 inches (180 cms) in height

120 x 72
(300 x 180)

Bronzy-Red in Spring, Greyish-Green in Summer and Autumn

Fragrant Cerise-Pink in
June-December

Thornless rose, which can be grown as a pillar rose, over an arch, or as a moderate to large, open shrub. See large photos of
Rosa 'Zephirine Drouhin' on page.
Zones 5-10.
Associate with alliums, nicotianas and cranesbills. It is best trained on an open wire fence like a chainlink fence, where the flow of air is less restricted and then will not suffer from mildew and blackspot, which it wiill if trained against a wall with little air-flow. Blend with Clematis 'Madame Julia Correvon' to provide a contrast of flower shape.

Rosa (Floribunda)
'Dearest'

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

24 x 24
(60 x 60)

Dark Greyish-Green

Salmon-Pink in
June-December

See large photos of Rosa 'Dearest' on page.

Rosa (Floribunda)
'Iceberg'

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

36 x 24 (90 x 60)

Light Green

Pure White in
June-December

The blooms are produced in clusters of up to 15 per spray with a moderate fragrance. This rose can be used as a bedding plant for massed display; it is almost entirely resistant to mildew and suffers only mildly from lack spot. All in all it is one of the best roses produced in the 1900's.
Zones 4-9

See its flower photos from bud to dead in Rosa (Floribunda) 'Iceberg' page.

Rosa (Floribunda)
'Queen Elizabeth'

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

60 x 30 (150 x 75)

Dark Green

Clear Pink in
June-December

See its flower photos from bud to dead in Rosa (Floribunda) 'Queen Elizabeth' page.

Rosa
(Hybrid Tea)
'Grandpa Dickson'

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

30 x 24 (75 x 60)

Mid-Green

Lemon-Yellow in
June-December

See its flower photos from bud to dead in Rosa (Hybrid Tea) 'Grandpa Dickson' page.

Rosa
(Hybrid Tea)
'Lady Sylvia'

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

24 x 24 (60 x 60)

Dark Green

Pale Pink in
June-December

See its flower photos from bud to dead in Rosa (Hybrid Tea) 'Lady Sylvia' page.

Rosa
(Hybrid Tea)
'Madame Butterfly'

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

24 x 24 (60 x 60)

Dark Green

Blush-Pink in
June-December

The very best of soil for roses is a deep stiif loam. The worst soil for roses, after pure sand, or nearly so, is the black soil of the town garden, very porous, and over-full of organic matter. Peaty soils, if rich in character, are quite good for roses, a general rule being that the more gravelly or sandy a soil the less favourable for the rose. An essential for good rose soil is that it should be well-drained, and this means a substratum of porous material, chalk or gravel, not many feet (a collection of 30 cms) below the surface.Gravel has had a bad reputation for roses, but it is not altogether deserved. It is usually considered too dry and hot for roses to thrive in, but really, if a little care is taken to improve it, it will grow very good roses. Tea roses, for example, bloom in perfection on a gravel soil, and many of the briars and the newer hybrids enjoy just such a light, dryish medium. Chalk, providing that it is deep enough below the surface, and that there is a good depth of soil on top, is not a bad sub-soil.
Roses like shelter, and they like an open situation. The dislike wind, although they like fresh air, and hate to be shut in by big trees. The spot to look for, then, is one sheltered from frosts and violent winds, and not close to high hedges or trees. Shelter is desirable from north and east winds, and if there is room for choice, the rose garden should be on the highest part of the available land, other conditions of soil and shelter being equal.
Early November is the best time for planting, though it might be done right through the winter - should conditions be favourable - until the end of March.
First, the soil must be thoroughly broken up to a depth of at least 24-36 inches (60-90).
Next the soil must be thoroughly well-drained. Before the roses arrive the soil should be re-turned to a depth of about 18 inches (45), and a good allowance of manure incorporated with it. The lowest layer of soil in the bed should consist of rich, fairly retentive soil, which will hold a certain amont of water, while the upper layers should be lighter and more friable to encorage the roots to produce plenty of good fibrous roots.
The holes to receive the roots should be dug, from 12 to 18 inches (30-45) square and deep enough, where bush roses or dwarfs are to planted, for the point of junction of the scion and the stock to be covered when planted to a depth of about an inch (2.5).
Where standard roses are being planted, the holes should be about 6 inches (15) deep.

Rosa
(Hybrid Tea)
'Ophelia'

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

24 x 24 (60 x 60)

Dark Green

Soft Pink in
June-December

Rosa
(Hybrid Tea)
'Pascali'

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

36 x 24 (90 x 60)

Dark Green

White in
June-December

See its flower photos from bud to dead in Rosa (Hybrid Tea) 'Pascali' page.

Rosa
(Hybrid Tea)
'Peace'

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

48 x 36 (120 x 90)

Dark Green

Creamy-Yellow in
June-December

The flowers seem impervious to weather conditions and succeed in a wide range of climates, though the yellow turns pale in hot conditions while the pink flushes become more pronounced. Use for beds, borders, hedges and for cutting, and it is one best roses to grow in standard form.
Zones 4-9

See its flower photos from bud to dead in Rosa (Hybrid Tea) 'Peace' page.

Rosa pimpinellifolia
(Rosa spinosissima)

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

36 x 48 (90 x 120)

Dark Green

Creamy-White in
July

"Burnet Rose, Scotch Rose, Scots Rose". It is a small, suckering shrub, forming dense thickets of slender, upright stems set with innumerable small bristles and spines. The tiny leaves are in proportion to the little white or pale pink, fragrant flowers. A native of coastal sand dunes in northern Europe, it is very tolerant of dry soils.
Purplish-Black hips.

See its photos in Rosa pimpinellifolia page.

Rosa eglanteria

Deciduous Shrub above 72 inches (180 cms) in height

144 x 96 (360 x 240)

Grey-Green

Blush-Pink in
August

"Eglantine Rose, Sweet Briar".
Red Hips

See its photos in Rosa eglanteria page.

Rosa rugosa
'Alba'

It should be noted that rosa rugosa is an invasive non-native species in the UK. The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (Variation of Schedule 9) (England and Wales) Order 2010 prohibits planting or causing it to grow in the wild.

Deciduous Shrub above 72 inches (180 cms) in height

84 x 72 (210 x 180)

Dark Green

Fragrant White in
June-November

"Hedgehog Rose, Japanese Rose, Ramanas Rose" grows on sandy seashores in Japan. It makes a dense, free-branching shrub with sharp thorns on its stems. Useful as hedge to keep people, etc out.
Red to Orange-Red hips.
Zones 3-10

Rosa rugosa is one of the best seashore plants, withstanding considerable salt spray without damage. The spreading / creeping, underground roots make it an excellent binder for slopes or sandy soil.

See its photos in Rosa rugosa 'Alba' page.

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

Leafcutter bees line their nests with discs, about 1 cm across, cut from the edges of soft leaves from May-Aug. Rose leaves are particularly favoured.

Rosa
'Fru Dagmar Hastrup'

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

36 x 48 (90 x 120)

Mid-Green

Clove-scented Silver-Pink in
June-November

Dark Red hips. See large photos of Rosa 'Fru Dagmar Hastrup' on page.

Rosa rugosa
'Hansa'

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

48 x 36 (120 x 90)

Dark Green

Reddish-Purple in
June-November

Rosa rugosa
'Rubra'

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

72 x 60 (180 x 150)

Dark Green

Crimson-Purple in
June-November

See its photos in Rosa rugosa 'Rubra' page.

Rosmarinus officinalis
'Aureus'

Rosmarinus officinalis
No HB, ST, LT, SOL

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

60 x 60 (150 x 150)

Yellow-marked Dark Green

Purple-Blue to White in
May-July

"Rosemary".
Rosmarinus officinalis is one of the finest low-growing plants for arid climates, commonly a spreading / creeping shrub of irregular habit with aromatic needle leaves, white beneath and green to grey-green above.
All Rosmarinus can be used for Flower Arranging - see other Flower Arranging Plants and plants with scented flowers.
Full Sun
Zone 8
Any well-drained soil; it does not tolerate soggy soil. Little or not fertilizer is required.

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

It succeeds best on light, dry soils. On chalk, the bush grows smaller, but is more fragrant. The shrub is well suited as a low evergreen hedge, particularly when one is required for the bee garden, for it never fails to attract.

Rosmarinus officinalis
'Prostratus'

Evergreen Shrub below 24 inches (60 cms) in height

6 x 12
(15 x 30)

Dark Green

Purple-Blue in
May-July

"Dwarf Rosemary" will grow in well-drained soil in full sun, and in maritime gardens to create rooting carpets.
Rabbit Resistant - see other Rabbit Resistant Plants.
A mass planting can be expected to mound up to 24 inches (60 cm), particularly as plants mature.

Whether in a border or pot, rosmarinus officinalis can be associated with lavenders, cistus, and phlomis. It makes a wonderful addition to a sunny sitting area, where its fragrance can be fully appreciated.

Rubus pentalobus
 

Evergreen Shrub below 24 inches (60 cms) in height

4 x indefinite (10 x indefinite)

Glossy Dark Green

White in
July-September

Red fruit. It is a creeping shrub with rooting stems, and lobed, crinkled, glossy green leaves, pale-felted beneath. Its white flowers are half hidden by the leaves. Zone 7. Use in dry garden

Rubus
'Betty Ashburner'

Evergreen Shrub below 24 inches (60 cms) in height

12 x indefinite (30 x indefinite)

Glossy Mid-Green

White in
July-September

Rubus odoratus

Deciduous Shrub above 72 inches (180 cms) in height

96 x 96 (240 x 240)

Dark Green

Fragrant Purple-Pink in
July-October

"Flowering Raspberry".

Rubus thibetanus

Deciduous Shrub above 72 inches (180 cms) in height

96 x 96 (240 x 240)

Dark Green densely Grey-hairy above, densely White-hairy beneath

Red-Purple in
July-September

All Rubus thrive in sun or shade, and are not particular as to soil.

The striking white stems of this plant harmonize with the pale-spotted leaves and white fklowers of Pulmonaria 'Sissinghurst White'. The combination depends on the stems of the rubus not being pruned away until they start to be hidden by its leaves (usually in mid- to late-spring). Later-flowering bulbs can be planted through the pulmonaria to add height while the rubus is laid low.

Rubus tricolor

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

24 x indefinite (60 x indefinite)

Glossy Dark Green, White-hairy beneath

White in
July-September

Edible raspberry-like Red fruit. It has long, trailing and rooting stems, covered with red-bristles, polished dark green leaves with white reverse.
Zone 7.
Use in dry garden, where this is one of the most rapid and satisfactory of covers.

Rubus 'Benenden'

Deciduous Shrub above 72 inches (180 cms) in height

120 x 120 (300 x 300)

Dark Green

Pure White in
May-June

Arching, thornless shrub has peeling bark.
Full Sun
Zones 5-9
Moist, well-drained soil. Rubus cane-like stems bear flowers and fruits in their second year. After fruiting, cut the canes back to ground level.

Rudbeckia fulgida 'Goldsturm'

Rudbeckia species are North American plants and good bee plants in supplying winter stores for honeybees
No HB, ST, LT, SOL

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

24 x 12 (60 x 30)

Mid-Green

Golden-Yellow in
September-November

"Black-Eyed Susan, Cone-flower". Erect, needs no staking, long-blooming, long-lived, vigorous. Stake early.
Full Sun
Zone 3-10
Fertile, moisture-retentive, but well-drained soil. Native to a wide range of open and shaded and dry or damp habitats in south and east USA.

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

Companions - grasses, aster, helianthus, boltonia, chrysanthemum, artemisia, eupatorium rugosum 'Chocolate', solidago, x solidaster, helenium, crocosmia, salvia, eryngium, dahlia 'David Howard'.

Ruscus aculeatus

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

30 x 30 (75 x 75)

Glossy Dark Green

Green in
September-January

"Butchers Broom, Box Holly" is a small shrub forming impenetrable thickets of stout, erect, green stems. The 'leaves', which are in fact cladodes or modified stems, are spine-tipped and closely packed on the upper parts of the stems. Tiny flowers are followed, on female plants, by showy scarlet-red berries. The butcher's broom will grow even in dense shade, and can be divided if new clumps are needed elsewhere in the dry garden.
Tough, erect, branching clump-forming plant from northern Africa.
These plants will tolerate anything from Full Sun to Part Shade and any soil as long as it is not waterlogged.
Zones 7-10
Use them where you do not want people or animals to walk across!!!

Ruscus hypoglossum

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

18 x 36 (45 x 90)

Glossy Mid-Green

Green in
September-January

Male and female plants required for female plants to produce Red berries.
Rabbit Resistant - see other Rabbit Resistant Plants.

Ruscus hypophyllum

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

24 x 36 (60 x 90)

Dark Green

Green in
September-January

Male and female plants required for female plants to produce Red berries.

Ruta graveolens

Ruta graveolens
No HB, ST

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

36 x 30 (90 x 75)

Blue-Green

Dull Yellow in
July-September

"Common Rue". Deeply cut foliage, which can cause the skin rash photodermatitis if touched.
Suitable for dry well-drained garden in full sun; hardy in all but the coldest gardens. Cutting back in spring helps to keep the plants bushy.

Ruta graveolens
'Jackman's Blue'

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

24 x 24 (60 x 60)

Blue-Green

Mustard-Yellow in
July-September

Suitable for dry well-drained garden in full sun; hardy in all but the coldest gardens. Cutting back in spring helps to keep the plants bushy.

It can be used as edging or in a gravel garden and associates with sages, halimiums and white-flowered cistus. Its blue-green foliage contrasts well with alchemillas and golden marjorams, and to those in white, yellow or blue foliage or flowers.

Site design and content copyright ©December 2006. Page structure changed September 2012. Height x Spread in feet changed to Height x Spread in inches (cms) May 2015. Data added to existing pages December 2017. Zone and Companion Data added April 2022. The 1000 Ground Cover plants detailed above will be compared in the Comparison Pages of the Wildflower Shape Gallery and in the flower colour per month comparison pages of Evergreen Perennial Gallery starting in November 2022. 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.  

Height in inches (cms):-

25.4mm = 1 inch
304.8mm = 12 inches
12 inches = 1 foot
3 feet = 1 yard
914.4mm = 1 yard

I normally round this to
25mm = 1 inch
300mm = 30 cms = 12 inches =1 foot,
900 mm = 3 feet = 1 yard and
1000mm = 100 cms = 1 metre = 40 inches

Details of smaller Ranunculus, Raoulia, Rhododendron, Rhodothamnus and Rosa 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.
 

Plant Combinations for Sandy Soil

Action to assist in Light Sandy soil maintenance is given in the row above and this is required annually.

Plants

Comments

Sun lovers - You can achieve a design with grey-leaved plants, interspersed with smaller or larger groups of taller perennials and a single shrub. Because the grey-leaved plants predominate they are used as a basis, with suggestions for plants which can be combined with them.

Grey Foliage with white and yellow flowers and plants that combine with these

• Yarrow (Achillea chrysocoma),
• pearl everlasting (Anaphalis),
• mouse ear (Cerastium),
• Raoulia,
• catchfly (Silene uniflora 'Robin Whitebreast') and the
• bunnies' ears (Stachys byzantina 'Silver Carpet')

all have grey leaves and either white, yellow or inconspicuous flowers.

If the above plants are planted together; the effect of different heights and size of leaf will be rather messy and unclear. Plant the above as the background ground cover and the ones in the next column within that background.

• Acaena buchanii and Acaena magellanica being silver-leaved species of the pirri-pirri-bur form pretty vigorous ground cover. Add a few groups of grey-leaved grasses for their contrasting shape to make an interesting picture. The ground-covering Festuca glauca and Koeleria glauca are especially suitable, to which can be added the tall, also grey-leafed blue oat grass Helictotrichon sempervirens, for a striking feature.
• Gypsophila, with its delicate flowers, can best be planted next to a plant which has a strong leaf structure, for example Geranium renardii.
• For a taller feature among the grey-leafed ground cover you can choose one of the beautiful cultivars of the common German flag, Iris germanica. The tall, sword-shaped leaves which are grey-green, stand out very well here.
• The Yucca has a similar structure, forming a stout clump of leaves with tall sprays of white flowers.
• The tall mulleins, especially Verbascum bombyciferum, with splendid rosettes of grey, felty leaves and yellow flowers like huge torches that can easily reach 60 inches (150 cms), a real must.
• Annuals that deserve a place in this predominantly grey planting include Gazania pinnata with yellow flowers and the white Senecio cineraria.

The above comes from Ground Cover. How to use flowering and foliage plants to cover areas of soil by Mineke Kurpershoek. Published by Rebo Productions Ltd in 1997. ISBN 1 901094 41 3

Contents

• Chapter 1 What are ground-cover plants?
• Chapter 2 Plant combinations for normal garden soil
• Chapter 3 Plant combinations for sandy soil
• Chapter 4 Plant combinations for clay soil
• Chapter 5 Woodland, heaths and wet soil
• Chapter 6 Shrubs for slopes and large beds
• Chapter 7 The A to Z of plants for ground cover.
   

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.

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.

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:-

Closed Bud

Opening Bud

Juvenile Flower

Older Juvenile Flower

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."

Mature Flower

Juvenile Flower and Dying Flower

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.