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Plant talk: Good things come in small packages

By Ellen Presley
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Veronica ‘Georgia Blue’ (Speedwell) has lovely dainty blue flowers amid small dark green leaves that turn burgundy in winter.

By Ellen Presley

Anderton Nursery

There are many occasions when you need low growing perennials to fill in between paving stones, along the edge of a border, between rocks in an alpine garden or to add to a container. To add interest to your garden, I’ve chosen some of the lesser known varieties of ground covers. Play with the colours and textures to give your garden that individual charm.

Arabis alp. Caucasica ‘Variegata’ (Wall Cress): Although more commonly known is the red or purple version with solid green leaves, this charming evergreen plant comprises a mounding cushion of grey green and creamy white leaves with masses of sweetly fragrant white flowers with yellow centres. It is only six to eight inches tall and spreads to 12-18 inches, making it the perfect choice to tuck in amongst the sunny rock garden. It is both deer and rabbit resistant and drought tolerant once established. After it blooms in the spring, make sure you give it a hard prune in order to maintain that compact bushy shape. In winter, the plant requires good drainage. Zone 4-9

The difficult to find Polygala chamaebuxus ‘Kamniski’ (Milkwort) is a vigorous little evergreen which has the most amazing fragrant purple/violet snapdragon like blooms with yellow centres. This showy dwarf shrub is only six-to-eight inches tall and slowly spreads to 24 inches wide. It blooms March to May and is drought tolerant and low maintenance. Originally found growing in the Dolomites in Italy, these plants prefer part shade during the heat of the summer but will tolerate full sun if it is well watered with good drainage. They love cool peaty conditions, such as those found along a rock ridge, on wood sloops or in the shady alpine garden. Zone 6-8

I really like this new sedum. Sedum ‘Lemon Ball’ grows four-to-six inches high and 10-12 inches wide with bright chartreuse-yellow foliage and lovely yellow star-shaped flowers. Plant in full sun to part shade and average well drained soil. You can add this plant to anywhere: rock gardens, containers, raised beds, or along the edge of the garden. It is very similar to Sedum ‘Angelina’ only brighter and more mounding. Drought tolerant once established, ‘Lemon ball’ is super easy to grow and maintain, adding interest to the garden all year round.

Veronica ‘Georgia Blue’ (Speedwell) has lovely dainty blue flowers amid small dark green leaves that turn burgundy in winter. It may look delicate but it is a tough, low maintenance plant that can handle sun or shade. This drought tolerant ground cover is both deer and rabbit resistant. It usually blooms April to May but removing faded flowers will encourage it to bloom longer. Veronica is wonderful in containers or on rock walls and makes a charming companion to spring bulbs. It grows six inches tall and spreads one-to-three feet. The beautiful showy blue flowers attract butterflies. Zone 6

An introduction from New Zealand, Cotula squalida (Brass button) forms a thick tight carpet of interesting green feathery fern like foliage. This ground cover is two inches high and requires minimal weeding; great for in between paving stones and can handle light foot traffic.

Erodium chamaedryoides (alpine geranium) is adorable. This enchanting little miniature geranium has the most charming flowers amid small leaves. Each blossom has a delicate soft cream and light green centre, surrounded by several petals of shell pink with deep pinked veining. It grows under six inches and spreads six-to-nine inches and is fabulous for the fairy garden, in rock or alpine gardens or as an accent in containers. Although Erodium can grow in part shade, they prefer the full sun and will produce more blooms with more light. A hardy plant that is drought tolerant once established and is sure to win over the fairies.

A new twist on a garden favourite is Ajuga ‘Sparkler’ (Bugleweed). Ajugas are known for their thick dark green shiny foliage but this one is covered with creamy white splashes that add light to the garden. In cooler temperatures, the foliage takes on amazing pink tones and in warmer weather the leaves become even more variegated - definitely a good accent plant in containers, as a ground cover or as an edging for the border. It grows three inches high and will spread 14 inches across. The flowers will bloom in June and July, attracting both butterflies and hummingbirds. It can take full sun to part shade, moist but well drained soils and is very low maintenance once established.

Big showy flowers are lovely in the garden, but it is often the smaller ones or the detail to the garden edge that makes it seem complete. There is a whole world of interesting ground covers with a variety of colours and textures. Take a look at your garden and see if it could welcome one of these gems to your creation. Happy Gardening.