Among the popular plants that are frequently used in rock gardens and informal rockeries in South Africa and other areas having a Mediterranean type climate include aloes, gazanias, proteas, pelargoniums, cacti, ericas, portulacca varieties, small conifers and many of the indigenous bulbs. They can be prostrate, reaching only an inch or two in … FREE delivery (minimum order 2 trays) – 5% discount still applies. Christmas fern is evergreen and drought-tolerant and can grow in both moist and dry soils once established. For areas with more shade, four good choices for evergreen ground covers are Pachysandra terminalis, Fragaria chiloensis, Arctostaphylos "Emerald Carpet," and Satureja douglasii. Perennial groundcovers are an indispensable part of any well designed garden. Subscribe, Bed & Breakfast Accommodation Between pavers: Clumping or non-vigorous species able to cope with the reflective heat off pavers, and perhaps take some light foot traffic. This anaerobic environment suffocates roots causing root rot. Ground cover plants cover the ground quickly, covering bare soil and suppressing weeds. Many species are used for basketry and mat-making in various parts of the world. Picking perennial plants for the landscape is an important choice, as you will be living with those selections for years to come. The tiny, white flowers are followed by attractive, bright red berries. This plant is considered slightly invasive in portions of the Northeast and Northwest U.S., but most gardeners will have no major problems with it. But take note; while the majority are low-maintenance, they are not no-maintenance. They are low growing plants and grow in small clusters that can get up to 12 in (30cm) wide. Not good for small areas and gardens. Use in large areas, under trees, on verges, down shady slopes. The best types of ground cover plants require little maintenance and aren’t invasive. Chaenostoma (= Sutera cordata and pauciflora) and hybrids - Trailing Phlox; 10 cm x 40 cm; will take damp soils so plant at the edge of paving, pathways, driveways where seasonal runoff collects; under trees; hold soils on slopes; between sleepers and perennials; spreads via rooted runners; can die back from the centre; semi-shade to sun; trim to keep compact; moderate frost; moderate water. Between shrubs: Takes some shade, won’t compete too much with the shrub for water and nutrients and is happy to spread across the ground rather than using other plants as a jungle gym. G a r d e n i n g i n S o u t h A f r i c a. We have all types of ground covers for sun! Please note you can add or remove as many filters as you like. Winter rainfall. Can be cut back to ground level. These are low maintenance, easy going plants that can withstand long periods of neglect which make them good candidates for ground cover plants. On this page, we have conveniently grouped together our most common, as well as most popular, selections for use in groundcover plantings. And, while we so often choose plants for their attractive flowers - and why not - our focus here is, function; what does this plant need to do? Plus, this organic cover will provide you with crumbly, healthy soils for the new plants. Uses in landscape design: Can be used as a specimen or accent, good for hedges. The short blades of felt textured, grey green foliage lay nearly flat, giving the illusion of a frosted lawn. Each little blue flower is beautif... View Plant Details, Anthericum saundersiae is a hardy, evergreen, clump forming, grass-like perennial that bears sprays of white flowers and seeds all year round. Making the circle smaller, we should also consider endemic plants, which are plants that occur naturally in a smaller region (e.g. If you'd like to replace some or all of your lawn with ground cover plants, or fill in borders or shady spots, these edible varieties can also serve as a tasty addition to your plate. Size: 6-12 m * 3-4 m. Categories: Trees. What is indigenous? They will still require water as you plant out, around 2 - 3 cm of water per plant to moisten the entire root zone for the average plant. Ask a question. To qualify for this list of the best low-maintenance ground covers, a plant has to meet certain criteria: It must be vigorous enough to fill in an area of the landscape that you need to dress up or … Height: Although they are about 18 inches their … Add a thick mulch layer to prevent water evaporation. as a veranda plant. Aptenia cordifolia - Aptenia; 15 x 60 cm; semi-succulent spreading groundcover; creeping stems; handles salt air, sandy soils and dune conditions; steep banks and rocky ground; controls erosion; fast-spreading. Ground covers can be used in problem areas. Selecting evergreen groundcover plants for zone 9 isn't difficult, although zone 9 evergreen groundcovers must be sturdy enough to withstand the climate's hot summers. These are low maintenance, easy going plants that can withstand long periods of neglect which make them good candidates for ground cover plants. Ground covers are plants that cover the ground like a carpet. It bears yellow daisy-like flowers all year round. Too thick a layer – over 10 cm – limits or blocks oxygen from getting to plant roots. They are naturally low-growing and form attractive mounds or carpets. Annual trimming slows the development of woody growth and keeps them attractive. It is, though, a supremely tough, fast-spreading, evergreen ground that tolerates heat, humidity ... purple, or variegated with pink and white. Too little, on the other hand, encourages shallow rooting resulting in plants that dry out rapidly and drought-prone. Its large rhizomes are easily split. A South African native that prefers well-drained soils, it produces fine daisy-like flowers in a variety of colours. The cultivar Mazeppa forms broad, arching shoots with fine, needle-like foliage and a conifer-like appearance. The challenge is to find a groundcover that is tall and aggressive enough to suppress weeds but not so tall or aggressive that it overgrows other garden plants or escapes its bounds. Perennialplants come back each year to provide visual interest, weed cover, and moisture retention. : Succulent-type leaves and bright magenta pink flowers bare soil and suppressing weeds your needs when mass planted produces daisy-like! 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