How do you choose which groundcovers to plant? * 6 easy-to-grow, hard-to-buy fruits * 5 ways to get a better strawberry crop * Grow figs: planting, care & harvest. Use NoMow ground cover plants for attractive lawns, banks, sloping sections, and landscaping. In frost-free areas it doesn't always die down fully, which means the older foliage needs to be cut off, otherwise it ends up looking shabby. Australian Native Ground Cover Range by Plant Native! 12. KING OF BROMELIADS (VRIESEA HIEROGLYPHICA): In frost-free subtropical (or very sheltered) gardens, these striped bromeliads are the perfect underplanting for palms. Consult our team for help with an order, particular plants, or design advice. In the house. Particularly noteworthy: 'Fire Power' and 'Gulfstream'. it does defoliate in winter, leaving a tangle of bare stems until spring. Break of Day Read more. Tui love it, says groundcover guru Margaretha Graham of A La Fois. BUGLEWEED (AJUGA REPTANS 'BLACK SCALLOP'): Ajuga flourishes in shady woodlands but for the full effect of this modern cultivar's blue flowers and jet-black foliage, plant in full sun. RENGA RENGAS (ARTHROPODIUM CIRRATUM): It can be difficult to get good cover in the dry shade of old trees, but these natives do the job nicely, provided they aren't hit by heavy frosts. BAMBOO IRIS (IRIS JAPONICA X CONFUSA): Plant this hybrid crested iris as a lower, more glamorous alternative to Dietes grandiflora. A hardy ground covering or matt forming plant with deep green foliage all year round. Not only is it drought-hardy and a magnet for bees and nectar-eating birds, it is incredibly long flowering. Cut it back when young to promote a bushy, creeping habit. 7. New Zealand Native Ground Cover Plants: A practical guide for gardeners and landscapers Lawrie Metcalf and Roy Edwards. Vitex lucens. It'll travel up to 2m. At A La Fois, 'Whirlwind' ('Honorine Jobert' is similarly pure of petal) grows pondside with ponga ferns. 2. Its lupine-like flowers turn into blackened seed pods which are often used in dried flower arrangements. Planting NZ Native plants is always an unbeatable choice. The spring flowers are worth it, however. HEN AND CHICKS (ECHEVERIA ELEGANS): For dry, coastal soils, this blue-grey rosette-forming succulent looks striking and is quick to reproduce. Easy to propagate by division. STAR JASMINE (TRACHELOSPERMUM JASMINOIDES): This multipurpose climber with fragrant starry white flowers can be grown up wires or topiary frames or left to its own devices at ground level. Leptinella 'Platt's Black' has smaller darker leaves than its dioica cousin (number 3). CREEPING FIG (FICUS PUMILA): A self-clinging climber that can also be employed as a groundcover. 8. JAPANESE ANEMONES (ANEMONE X HYBRIDA): The old adage that one man's weed is another's wildflower is true of Japanese anemones. Liriope muscari. They look like grape muscari bulbs on stout, erect stems. Also called blue false indigo for its blue springtime flowers, baptisia is a native prairie plant with deep roots that push through the toughest clay soil. This Australian native evergreen has a compact habit with clusters of rich red spidery flowers from winter to late spring. If your goal with ground cover for your garden is to help with fringing and … Check out our range of Ground Cover Plants products at your local Bunnings Warehouse. Perfect to be planted in pots, in rockeries and fringing water features. 'Tinkerbell' grows in tidy clumps, can be propagated by division every few years to bulk up its numbers and is ideal for hot, dry areas.Don't let the reputation of agapanthus as runaway roadside weeds deter you from planting the modern varieties, which have been bred to have better manners. It wasn't much fun at first but, after a few months, they realised the clay was no longer sticking to their boots and spades with such tenacity, which encouraged them to keep at it until their soil was friable. [L J Metcalf; Roy Edwards] -- "There is increasing enthusiasm for using native plants in gardens throughout New Zealand. SMALL MAT FORMING PLANT,FAST GROWING GROUND COVER,WILL SCRAMBLE OVER ROCKS, FRAGRANT WHITE FLOWERS I.. $1.70. Red autumn berries are a bonus. Generally tolerant of a wide... Arthropodium cirratum Great for snuggling up to the edges of paths and paving stones. Our five hectare native plant nursery situated on the outskirts of Rangiora, North Canterbury specialise in New Zealand native plants, hedging and plants for landscaping. Whether you want to cut down your weeding time (or your herbicide use), easy-care groundcovers are your allies. Those blush-pink adolescent fronds have evolved like a natural sunscreen, allowing it to cope with more UV than most ferns. PURIRI. "Don't put in one plant here and there. Best planted in full sun, in free draining soil rich in organic matter. 4. Plant in filtered shade and let its rhizomes make their own way, slowly, into the sun. 2. Each tray of plants covers 2-3 square metres and… It has a tendency to yellow off at the ends if not groomed. MONDO GRASS (OPHIOPOGON PLANISCARPUS): This taller grass-like mondo species grows to 30cm and looks best as a shaggy fringe to contrast with hard landscaping. They also have recommendations for medium-sized groundcover plants that are perfect for edging and fringing. BLACK MONDO (O. GLACUOUS PIRIPIRI … This ground cover has notoriety as a no mow lawn plant which makes it perfect for apartment courtyards as a homage to the kiwi backyard. Though attracted by the north-facing aspect, high location (above the fog line) and frost-free microclimate, they were rather less enamoured by the property's heavy yellow clay soil. Also look out for Callistemon 'Great Balls of Fire' which is shy to bloom but has racy red new foliage (it looks like a bottlebrush crossed with Photinia 'Red Robin'). Bold evergreen foliage. This book is aimed at helping gardeners and landscaping professionals to select and care for native ground-cover plants in order to create low-maintenance, good-looking, and sustainable gardens. We grow 85% of what we sell which enables us to offer the best quality plants for sale at the very best prices all inclusive of GST. 11 ground covers for your garden Grevillea Mondo grass (Ophiopogon sp.) TRAILING FUCHSIA (F. PROCUMBENS): A nifty native sprawler, although Unless you’ve got plenty of dosh to spend on plants, it’s no quick fi x. Whether you want to grow them in garden beds or as borders around paths, we've got a great range of flowering plants or different leaf colours to brighten up any outdoor space. Article by Scott Johnston. FRINGE FLOWER (LOROPETALUM 'CHINA 'PINK'): For purple groundcover, what could be prettier than this Chinese shrub with weeping tiers of wine-red foliage and hot pink witch hazel flowers? Isotoma (Isotoma axillaris) Australian Harebell (Isotoma) is a native ground cover that thickly grows … Other selections extend baptisia's color range to white, yellow, and purple. This can be achieved in a space too small to warrant a lawn mower. Trailing Indigo Bush. There's also a white-flowered cultivar and a variegated version, 'Gold Band', which has wider leaves edged with garish yellow. Brachyscome White Wash Read more. Plants To Go is the online plant nursery of Riverside Horticulture. SACRED BAMBOO (NANDINA DOMESTICA): A longtime florists' favourite for its bold evergreen foliage (which colours up in autumn) and red berries. 3. Clip as groundcover or a low hedge. GST Add to cart From low ground covers, small and large shrubs to trees and climbers. SPOTTED LEOPARD (LIGULARIA 'AUREO-MACULATA'): Ligularias are invaluable for soggy spots like the edges of ponds, and for poorly drained soils. Bergenias tick all the boxes but if their candy-pink blooms put you off, plant 'Bressingham White', deep burgundy 'Bressingham Ruby' or the large-leafed 'Marshmallow', which fades from white to a tasteful pale pink. Check. "The first thing we did was put down five tonnes of gypsum," recalls Margaretha. Store AdminOur Site by: WebTrendz. ESCALLONIA (ESCALLONIA LAEVIS 'GOLD BRIAN'): This evergreen shrub has the Midas touch in spring, producing bold yellow foliage that fades over summer. Article from stuff.co.nz. ADDRESS: 34 Kohupatiki Road,RD 2,Hastings 4172,New Zealand. It can also be used as an alternative lawn in deep shade. 'Little Drummer Boy' is also recommended. 'BLACK DRAGON'): Black mondo is slower than green, so plant it more closely. Lest you think this hands-on pair, who do it all themselves, have very deep pockets, think again. (Dalea greggii) Native to Texas and Mexico. SHORE LEPTINELLA (L. SQUALIDA): Honey, I shrunk the ferns! 8. Nic gives expert tips on how to use native ground cover in you garden on Whānau Living Follow us! Plant in part-shade. Clip it regularly to keep it growing flat, otherwise it will climb over itself to form a 1.5m shrub. 'Variegatus' is compact (to 30cm) with creamy yellow strappy foliage, while 'Ogon' is a brighter golden colour. Because of the incline, Terry was initially hesitant to lay bark mulch to keep the weeds down – "he thought it was all going to end up down in the ponds," says Margaretha – but they now agree that a mulch of bark fines (composted fine bark) is invaluable. "Divide, divide, divide," is her motto. Celmisia species Terry drew up the garden's original layout on a 1.5m length of greaseproof lunch paper and they've stuck to it, although not everything has gone to plan. Clip it often to keep its soft, juvenile form rather than its shrubby adult form. Check. Cut them hard -- it only takes eight or nine weeks before they're back to their best. Groundcover, Native Trees and Shrubs, Our Top recommendations for Shrubs, Perennial, Shrubs Acaena caesiiglauca, Bidibidi – 1.3Ltr $ 7.95 incl. It copes with clay soil as well as sand, but it can go a bit bald as it ages. Lay slug bait. Greenleaf Nurseries ships plants nationwide for your convenience and ease. DWARF AGAPANTHUS (AGAPANTHUS 'TINKERBELL'): Short in stature with vibrant variegated foliage, this blue-flowered dwarf agapanthus is a sterile cultivar so won't spread by seedy stealth. In pots or free-draining soil, they need next to no care and slowly grow into a rosette almost 1m wide and high. Start with the Grahams' recommendations for creeping and carpeting groundcovers. They ordered a truckload, and indeed a truckload turned up, but it was all in individual 50kg bags. Mazus radicans, the swamp musk. PROSTRATE MINGIMINGI (COPROSMA 'TAIKO'): This selected form of low-growing Coprosma propinqua is our expert Margaretha Graham's pick of the prostrate coprosmas, forming a thick, rugged green mat when clipped. An annual application of slow-release fertiliser makes the world of difference to its health. It flowers like it's on steroids. These toughies thrive where nowt else will, which is a blessing (if you're filling gaps) and a curse (if you're trying to get rid of them). Let it spill over the edge of a rockery or soften the lines of a concrete retaining wall or paved path, for example. Get this from a library! ... Good ground cover. Though the dinner plate-leafed Ligularia reniformis is the undisputed champion of contemporary gardens, it easily gets to 1m tall or more, whereas the spotted leopard stays lower and thus is better suited to use as groundcover. Hebe. There is increasing enthusiasm for using native plants in … It divides and spreads readily. "They sit on it and drink the nectar." Sign up for newsletter today. Day Lilies Rhizome Native Plant Gardening Tropical Garden Showy Flowers Trees To Plant Coastal Gardens Plants Ground Cover. PUKUPUKU (DOODIA AUSTRALIS): There's more to this knee-high native rasp fern than just a pretty face. LILY OF THE VALLEY (PIERIS JAPONICA 'TEMPLE BELLS'): Panicles of cream spring flowers offset new bronze foliage. Easy-care. 4. SAND COPROSMA (COPROSMA ACEROSA 'HAWERA'): This mat-forming, hardy, low-maintenance coprosma is tough enough to withstand a rough-and-tumble lifestyle. The most common solution is to plant ground covers, but that’s a long-term and often expensive cover-up. Grevillea laurifolia. It's also good advice to remember if you're keen on larger shrubs that are perfect as groundcover. 11. DWARF GARDENIA (GARDENIA 'RADICANS'): Also known as the groundcover gardenia, 'Radicans' is a sensational fragrant cultivar with small, glossy leaves and a compact habit. Hedges & screening. Mountain Daisy. COPROSMA (COPROSMA KIRKII): A horizontally inclined native that forms a knitted mat of shiny, olive foliage. Groundcover, Native Trees and Shrubs, Our Top recommendations for Shrubs, Perennial, Shrubs, Native Trees and Shrubs, Perennials, Evergreen, Groundcover, native, Perennial, Perennials, Shrubs, Evergreen, Groundcover, Our Top recommendations for Shrubs, Perennials, Shrubs, Evergreen, Groundcover. A New Zealand Native that can be grown all around the country. At À La Fois Gardens on Auckland's North Shore, Margaretha and Terry Graham are the groundcover gurus. Liriope Muscari - Lilyturf. Visit us today for the widest range of Plants products. NZ CUSHION BUSH (SCLERANTHUS BIFLORUS): In stony soil, gravel or containers of free-draining succulent mix, this humpy, hillocky, moss-lookalike is like a pet -- it's impossible not to reach down and give it a pat. 13. (If you're short on garlic chives, you can eat the leaves.). DWARF MONDO (OPHIOPOGON 'NANA'): Once it fills out, weeds have no hope of infiltrating the dense, grass-like foliage of mass-planted mondo. 6. Check. 10. CREEPING GREVILLEA (G. 'MT TAMBORITHA'): This is the most popular groundcover grevillea in Australia, and for good reason. Great for windy, exposed situations. For moist shade, it's vigorous and you can walk on it. The flowers are acid yellow. BABY'S TEARS (SOLEIROLIA SOLEIROLII): In moist, shady, frost-free gardens, there's no stopping baby's tears. Note: it's toxic to grazing animals. We make ordering your plants simple and hassle free for you. No matter what size or style of yard you have, there are loads of ground cover plants that can fill empty spaces. 'Royal Purple' is the most common variety, though 'Big Blue' is more striking, with flower spikes up to 50cm tall. BOTTLEBRUSH (CALLISTEMON 'LITTLE JOHN'): This short, showy Aussie bottlebrush is tough, brings in birds and makes a brilliant loose hedge that's rarely without flower. Pratia Angulata. 2. Creeping Phlox (Phlox subulata) Creeping phlox is a short plant often seen covering the side of a hill … Plants for paving Whether it's the track to the front door, a meander through trees and shrubs, a pathway through the vege beds, or the way to the clothes line, any path and the plants to accompany it can be one of the most enticing features in a garden. It'll spread out or grow up, whichever way you chop it. It can take a little frost but prefers a temperate climate. Don't skimp when buying dwarf mondo for a large area as sparsely spaced, slow-growing plants are a devil to weed around. … GLACUOUS PIRIPIRI (ACAENA CAESIIGLAUCA): The eerily blue-green bidibid or New Zealand burr is a slow-to-spread alpine groundcover that needs good drainage. Popular, beautiful garden lily useful in mass planting or for groundcover. Ground Cover Plants for restoration of backdunes INTRODUCTION A range of native ground cover plants dominate the zone between the sand binding foredunes and the coastal shrub and tree zones landward (refer to Dunes Trust Handbook Article No. New Zealand native plants are not generally considered to be very colourful. Biddibiddi. A herb that forms thick patches, it has white flowers. Easy care and both heat and frost tolerant. Shade- and sun-tolerant. It grows 1m x 1m and could well be the answer to your most difficult situation, be it a clay bank or eroding coastal cliff. But what if you’re a keen gardener and a slope is the only ground you have? It proved to be a blessing in disguise as it made the task of spreading it evenly over their prospective garden beds that much easier. 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