Low-growing perennials are universal plants that can transform the landscape, complement floral arrangements. They are perfectly combined with all garden and garden crops, are used as dividing planting borders. Low - growing perennial flowers blooming all summer make flower beds well-groomed and attractive. These plants are completely capricious, but still they need to be selected correctly. We offer a review of undersized perennials, learn about their features. Also at the end of the article will be given recommendations for caring for plants.
Varieties
Perennial garden flowers can be of various sizes. We propose to consider low species, which are divided into the following categories:
- undersized ground cover perennials;
- stunted flowers;
- dwarf flowering plants.
Soil protectors received this name due to the fact that they cover the soil cover, protect it from the scorching sun, winds. Low-growing flowers have longer stems; their height does not exceed seventy centimeters.
In addition to sizes, plants are divided into undersized perennials flowering and not flowering. The first will be an excellent decoration of the garden, which will bloom for at least two to three months, that is, throughout the summer season. The second group is also beautiful. Its charm is that undersized perennials have decorative stems, an interesting leaf shape with a unique color. Both groups are often used by gardeners and designers to decorate landscapes.
The advantages of undersized perennials
These plants allow you to create beautiful compositions, and gardeners have found a huge number of advantages in stunted flowers.
- these are jewelry that does not take much time to care;
- plentiful and frequent watering is not required;
- throughout the season, only one or two top dressings are required;
- they are easy to plant, transplant to other places and separate;
- low-growing perennials, blooming all summer, begin to bloom in the first or second year after planting;
- grow and grow quickly;
- perfectly in harmony with other ornamental plants, complement single bushes and trees, decorate a site with garden crops;
- take root on absolutely any soil, there are varieties designed for rocky and sandy soil.
Of course, the main advantage of plants is that they do not have to be planted annually. It is enough to sow once, and then for many years to admire the compositions created by yourself.
The right choice of undersized plants for the site
Before sowing flower beds and plots with undersized perennials, it is worth considering the compatibility of plants. Some may completely not get along with each other. Be sure to consider the requirements of the plants, and the following parameters should be the same for the selected species:
- abundance and frequency of irrigation procedures;
- bush sizes;
- growth rate;
- soil composition and quality;
- fertilizers necessary for top dressing, frequency of their application;
- a way of shelter for the winter period, if necessary;
- requirements for the location of the whisker: in the shade or in the sun.
An equally important requirement in the beauty of the landscape is the compatibility of the shades of the selected plants. They should harmonize well, but it’s a matter of everyone’s taste. Someone like colorful clearings, and someone prefers plain flower beds. Now we offer more specifically to get acquainted with the types of undersized perennials for flower beds and just plots.
Astrantia is large
Today, there are many varieties of this plant. There can be completely different shades, there are even bushes on which multi-colored flowers bloom. Most often, flowers of undersized perennials blooming in white, pink and maroon.
The height of the bushes of this plant does not exceed seventy centimeters. Astrantia is covered with flowers at the very beginning of summer, and completely fades only in the last days of August. In order to consistently appear new buds, it is necessary to remove those that have already faded.
It is advisable to plant astration in a sunny area, but it can also be a slightly shaded place. A zone is suitable where a trellised arbor or hedge casts a shadow. This undersized perennial belongs to the soil composition indifferently, it can grow in absolutely any soil.
Oak sage
Salvia is the second name of this plant, it is also a stunted species that has been growing for several years. Salvia height varies from sixty to eighty centimeters, it is not sprawling, rather compact. It blooms throughout the summer, so it will be a great decoration.
This undersized perennial is very spectacular. The plant looks amazing, it is long inflorescences resembling candles, painted in bright purple. It is necessary to plant sage in shady corners, it loses brightness when it is in the plentiful sun. He is also demanding on soils, moody in leaving.
The soil must be fertile, always moist, so irrigation measures must be carried out in a timely manner. The soil around the bushes needs to be loosened so that air penetrates well, and moisture did not cause a fungal infection or attack by pests. Weeding should be regular, this undersized perennial does not tolerate weed grass. In addition, you need to make a complex of fertilizers at least twice a season, carry out preventive treatments from pests.
As a result of painstaking care, Salvia will reward you with unique beauty. But this is not its only purpose, everyone knows that sage is a medicinal plant that can overcome any ailments and protect against them.
Seaside Armeria
This plant has many species. Each is not like the other, so it is very difficult to characterize. But all species are very unpretentious, they do not require frequent watering, absolutely any soil composition is suitable for growth. Armeria grows well even in sandy and clay soil, and it has a positive attitude to shadow and the sun. With this plant you can decorate rock gardens and stone rockeries. Its flowering lasts all summer, you can see a photo of the undersized perennial in this article.
Sea Alissum
This is a very resistant and tenacious plant. Alyssum is a short perennial in the literal sense. The height of the plant does not exceed twenty centimeters, it spreads on the ground, decorating it with its unique beautiful flowering.
Alyssum blooms for a very long time, the first flowers appear in May, and the latter are able to meet the first frost and snow. If this perennial grows in a region where winters are mild, then it does not die off, it only falls asleep, and with the first sunlight it continues to grow and develop. If you decide to plant this plant at home, and the winters are harsh in the region, then you can not worry about sheltering alissum, it is winter-hardy and will survive even the most severe frosts. The color of the plant can be white, pink, purple and yellow.
Crimson Arenaria
This is an ideal plant for decorating alpine slides and rockeries. Perennial can grow on any soil, even on stones and sand, it is absolutely not moody, does not require special care. The plant can not be watered, it blooms even in drought, which tolerates well. Its height is up to fifteen centimeters, and the shoots are crimson.
Arenaria begins to bloom in June, and continues until late fall, it may meet snow. Flowers - in the form of small stars painted in white or pale pink.
Perennial chrysanthemums
There are many types and colors of undersized perennials of chrysanthemum. Plants were especially fond of Russian gardeners. It’s not even a matter of great diversity and beauty, it’s just one of the few decorative perennial plants that can survive the most severe winters and capricious climates.
Flowering begins later than in other perennial flowers, approximately in the second half of July. But the virtues of the species are that they can bloom until they are hit by real frost.
Geranium Balkan
This type of perennial stunted plant can become a year-round decoration of the garden, because even in winter it does not get rid of foliage. The height of the bushes is up to twenty-five centimeters; they are decorated with foliage of a deep dark green shade of carved shape. In autumn, the color changes to bright red and yellow, in combination with the snow "dunes" around it looks amazing.
The flowers are purple or red, blooming in June. During flowering, which lasts until the end of the warm season, the garden is wrapped in a delicate floral aroma.
Related Highlander
This is another type of perennial that prefers to remain in the leaves even in winter. A distinctive feature is the unchanging color of the leaves, they remain green all year round. Flowering begins in May or June, stops only at the end of September.
Leaves are lanceolate, and inflorescences are executed in the form of an ear of purple color. This plant will decorate any garden or park, looks great among stones and near ponds. An unpretentious creature can grow on any soil, no matter how rough it may be. It does not need frequent watering, tolerates dry seasons well. It is also not necessary to loosen the growing area of the highlander, but for the beauty of the garden, weeding is necessary. The color of the flowers will be especially saturated if you plant the plant in a sunny place.
Growing recommendations
Like most perennials, the undersized species are unpretentious, they do not need any special care. But in order for the site to be really beautiful, and not overgrown with wild flowers, it’s worth it to put your hand and work hard.
- Timely pruning of wilted flowers will maintain the attractiveness of the site and the health of the plant, allow it to bloom for a longer time.
- It is necessary to create a fence made of stones, metal or plastic parts so that excessive growth does not occur.
- Perennial border perennials should be planted a little at a distance from the edge of the flower bed or border. It is worth remembering that the plant grows rapidly.
- Watering should be done by the drip method.
- If plants need shelter for the winter, choose only breathable covering materials or use spruce paws.
- Choose such perennials that will complement each other, and the flower bed will not be without flowers. It is necessary to plant both early flowering and those that bloom late, but also end in late autumn.
Using our recommendations, you will create flower beds, pleasing to the eye all summer and autumn.