The so-called green rugs, or plants creeping along the ground, are in great demand among flower growers. Such popularity is easily explained by the ease of cultivation, care and high decorative effect. Literally in a year, many of the ground cover species form so-called pillows that easily cover all the imperfections of the site, decorate it and prevent the spread of weeds.
Using ground cover plants in design
It should be noted that representatives of a wide variety of plant groups, including bulbous, dwarf shrubs, creepers, perennial grasses, succulents, etc., have the ability to creep 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 of representatives - in the text) are in great demand among landscape designers. They are used in the design of small areas(alpine slides, rockeries, individual stones with recesses, space along the paths, flower beds). We offer some recommendations from experts on how to plant creeping plants:
- Choose perennial flowers of different 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 a group planting or as a frame for paths, flower beds.
- Remember the growth rate of plants and control their population in the allotted area. Plants creeping along the ground (photos and names will help you make a choice) are able to braid the entire flower bed in a short time, drowning out other flowers.
We offer you the most popular and original types for decorating 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 rock crevices. 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, as a rule, are collected in a panicle inflorescence. Color in nature from white to pale pink, yellow. A large number of varieties have been bred, they are valued not only for the formation of "pillows" of beautiful flowers, but also as an ornamental leafy plant. A wide range of sizes allowsuse these creeping plants for alpine slides and borders, flower beds with other perennials.
Sedum, or sedum
This is a genus of plants in the Crassulaceae family. Perennial succulent plants are extremely unpretentious in culture and are able to grow even in the presence of a tiny clod of earth. These are very diverse plants: from small leaves with a decorative rosette to tall ones with lush multi-colored inflorescences. The combination of different types of stonecrop in one place looks especially impressive. This is a real find for the garden. Among the numerous species, it is worth noting stonecrop white, false, caustic, mountainous, rocky, Evers, Lydian, thick-leaved. Semi-shrub forms look luxurious in group and single plantings along paths, on lawns and rocky hills.
Rejuvenated
Another genus of unusual garden plants from the Crassulaceae family. They can be identified by a beautiful rosette, assembled from dense, leathery leaves, resembling a rose in shape. The color can be different: green, crimson, with brown edging, etc. Flowering looks no less impressive than the plant itself. High and thick flower stalks rise above the rosette of leaves, strewn with flowers of various colors. These are unpretentious plants capable of growing in the crevice of stones, creeping along the surface and multiplying in small "children".
Yaskolka
Perennial garden plant used for decorating rockeries and rock gardens. Forms dense cushions of silver-green leaves, which in the middlein summer they are covered with many star-shaped snow-white flowers. One of the most unpretentious and hardy plants that covers the soil with an even and elastic carpet in a short time. Choose the sunniest and warmest areas for it. The soil for the sapling 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 herbaceous plant with a long flowering period. A characteristic feature of the periwinkle is its tenacious and durable leaves, which persist even under the snow. It blooms one of the very first. Charming and cute plants creeping along the ground are most often associated with the periwinkle. Varieties with different leaf colors have been bred, but these forms are not as resistant to freezing as traditional ones. Distinguish periwinkle large, small, pubescent. The plants are completely undemanding, they develop well in the sun and in the shade, in the near-stem circles of fruit trees. Any soil is suitable, but loose and nutritious is preferable. You can use the periwinkle to strengthen the soil on the slopes, to complement shrubs, as an ampelous plant.
Styloid Phlox
Carpet plant with narrow and hard 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, lilac color in a wide variety of colors. On alpine hills and flower beds it formsspectacular and bright evergreen rugs. The plant is very unpretentious and able to adapt to the most adverse climatic conditions. However, for normal development and flowering, plants creeping along the ground prefer sandy and rocky landscapes with good lighting and plenty of solar heat. Phlox subulate is drought-resistant, does not tolerate stagnant moisture.
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, smooth, up to 7 cm long. Abundant flowering continues for a month, however, the decorative effect persists throughout the season. The plant has been known in horticulture for a long time, it was introduced into culture in 1679, since then many varieties and forms have been bred, differing in size and shades of flowers. Iberis is unpretentious and will grow in almost any soil. Looks especially good in flower beds, on lawns, along borders, in company with other perennials in a contrasting color.
Portenschlag Bell
A rare plant in our gardens with a unique appearance. Perennial bell forms dense cushion bushes (up to 30 cm in diameter). Decorative leaves are leathery and glossy, blooming in early summer, the flowers are characteristic star-shaped, bright purple hue. Relatively winter-hardy species, however, in the northern regions requires winter shelter. Develops best onsunny and warm areas, on fertile and non-acidic soil.
This is not all ground cover plants. The creeping garden flowers presented in the article are the most common in our climatic conditions, unpretentious, resistant to many external factors, and therefore are perfect for an experiment. Plant them in groups or singly, fill rock gardens and rockeries, create a bright spot in the middle of a bright lawn. Picturesque and bright flowers, together with emerald and unusual greenery, will create spectacular islands that attract attention.
