The so-called green rugs, or plants, creeping on the ground, are in great demand among gardeners. Such popularity is easily explained by the simplicity of cultivation, care and high decorativeness. Literally in a year, many of the ground cover species form the so-called pillows that easily cover all the shortcomings of the site, decorate it and prevent the spread of weeds.
Using groundcover in design
It should be noted that representatives of the most diverse groups of plants, including bulbous, dwarf shrubs, creepers, perennial grasses, succulents, etc., possess the ability to spread along the ground and braid everything around. Each of them has its own characteristics, flowering time, and growth rate . In general, garden creeping plants (photo representatives - in the text) are in great demand among landscape designers. They are used in the design of small areas (alpine hills, rockeries, individual stones with recesses, the space along the paths, flower beds). We offer several expert recommendations on how to plant creeping plants:
- Choose perennial flowers of various varieties, species groups and plant them in the neighborhood to create a contrasting combination of leaves, shapes, shades.
- Plants of the same variety look best in group planting or as a frame of paths, flower beds.
- Take into account the growth rate of plants and control their population in the designated area. Plants spreading on the ground (photos and names will help you make a choice) are able to quickly braid the entire flowerbed, drowning out other flowers.
We offer you the most popular and original types for the design of flower beds. They are distinguished by high decorativeness and unpretentiousness, good growth rate. In just a couple of years, you will get amazing colorful islands.
Saxifrage
The genus of perennial plants owes its name to its amazing ability to grow in the most inaccessible crevices of rocks. The height, depending on the species and variety, ranges from 5 to 70 cm. Leaves of various shapes are collected in a basal rosette, star-shaped flowers, usually collected in a panicle inflorescence. Color in nature from white to pale pink, yellow. A large number of varieties has been developed; they are appreciated not only for the formation of “pillows” of beautiful flowers, but also as a decorative and deciduous plant. The large size variation allows the use of these creeping plants for alpine hills and borders, flower beds with other perennials.
Stonecrop, or sedum
This is a genus of plants of the family Crassulaceae. Perennial succulent plants are extremely unpretentious in culture and are able to grow even in the presence of a tiny lump of earth. These are very diverse plants: from small leaves with a decorative rosette to tall ones with lush multi-colored inflorescences. Especially spectacular is the combination of different types of stonecrop in one place. This is a real find for the garden. Among the many species, it is worth noting stonecrop white, false, caustic, mountainous, rocky, Eversa, Lydian, plate. Semi-shrub forms look luxurious in group and single plantings along paths, on a lawn and rocky hill.
Young
Another genus of unusual garden plants from the family Crassulaceae. They can be identified by a beautiful rosette, assembled from dense, leathery leaves, resembling a rose shape. The color can be different: green, crimson, with a brown fringing, etc. Flowering looks no less spectacular than the plant itself. Above the rosette of leaves rise tall and thick peduncles, strewn with flowers of various colors. These are unpretentious plants capable of growing in a crevice of stones, creeping along the surface and propagating by small “children”.
Stalk
A perennial garden plant used to decorate rockeries and rock gardens. It forms dense pillows of silver-green leaves, which in the middle of summer are covered with many star-white snow-white flowers. One of the most unpretentious and hardy plants, which covers the soil with an even and elastic carpet in a short time. Choose the sunniest and warmest areas for it. The soil for stalks requires loose and nutritious. The creeping plant is not afraid of drafts and winds, it is resistant to freezing even in the coldest winters.
Periwinkle
Perennial herb with a long flowering period. A characteristic feature of the periwinkle is its tenacious and durable leaves, which are preserved even under snow. It blooms one of the very first. Charming and lovely plants creeping on the ground are most often associated with periwinkle. Varieties with different leaf colors have been bred, but these forms are not as resistant to freezing as traditional ones. Distinguish the periwinkle large, small, pubescent. Plants are completely undemanding, develop well in the sun and in the shade, in the round-trunk circles of fruit trees. Any soil is suitable, but loose and nutritious is preferable. You can use a periwinkle to strengthen the soil on the slopes, complement shrubs, as an ampel plant.
Phlox awl
A carpeted plant with narrow and stiff leaves pointed at the end and resembling an awl in appearance. The plant is low (15-17 cm) with large flowers of purple, white, pink, purple in a wide variety of colors. On alpine hills and flowerbeds forms spectacular and vibrant evergreen rugs. The plant is very unpretentious and is able to adapt to the most adverse climatic conditions. However, for normal development and flowering, plants creeping on the ground prefer sandy and rocky landscapes with good lighting and plenty of solar heat. The awl-shaped phlox is characterized by drought resistance, does not tolerate moisture stagnation.
Iberis evergreen
A perennial ground cover plant from the cabbage family, growing up to 30 cm in height, the diameter of one specimen reaches 40 cm. Dark green leaves are whole-cut in shape, smooth, in length - up to 7 cm. Abundant flowering lasts for a month, however, decorativeness persists throughout the season . The plant has been known in horticulture for a long time, it was introduced into the culture in 1679, and since then many varieties and forms have been developed that differ in size and shade of flowers. Iberis is unpretentious and will grow on almost any soil. It looks especially good in workouts, on lawns, along curbs, in company with other perennials of a contrasting color.
Portenschlag Bell
A rare plant in our gardens that has a unique appearance. The perennial bell forms dense pillow-shaped bushes (up to 30 cm in diameter). Decorative leaves are leathery and glossy, blooming in early summer with a characteristic star-shaped, bright purple hue. A relatively winter-hardy species, however, in the northern regions it requires winter shelter. It develops best in sunny and warm areas, on fertile and non-acidic soil.
These are far from all ground cover plants. Creeping garden flowers, presented in the article, are most common in our climatic conditions, are unpretentious, resistant to many external factors, and therefore are perfect for experiment. Plant them in groups or singly, fill the rock garden and rockery, create a bright spot in the middle of a bright lawn. Picturesque and vibrant flowers along with emerald and unusual greens will create spectacular islands that attract attention.