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 Plant list: Low and spreading plants
Low and spreading plants make excellent ground cover, and can effectively ‘soften’ straight lines of borders and paving areas. And you can grow taller plants up through drifts of them
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| Latin name: | | Juniperus horizontalis |
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| Common name: | | Creeping juniper |
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| Type of plant: | | Shrub |
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| Hardiness: | | Hardy |
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| Flower colour: | | N/A |
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| Leaf colour: | | Blue green |
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| Height and spread: | | 50cm x 2.5m (2ft x 8ft) |
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| Description: | |
A prostrate wide spreading evergreen conifer that has aromatic leaves and produces pale blue-grey berries. Some cultivars have needles that turn purple in winter. Can become a bit invasive.
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| Latin name: | | Ajuga reptans |
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| Common name: | | Bugle |
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| Type of plant: | | Perennial |
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| Hardiness: | | Hardy |
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| Flower colour: | | Bright blue |
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| Leaf colour: | | Dark green |
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| Height and spread: | | 15cm x 1m (6in x 3ft) |
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| Description: | |
Tolerant of both direct sun and shade, this evergreen creeping perennial spreads freely by runners.The flowers are born on short spikes and the leaves are spoon-shaped.
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| Latin name: | | Epimedium |
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| Common name: | | Barrenwort |
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| Type of plant: | | Perennial |
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| Hardiness: | | Hardy |
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| Flower colour: | | Usually yellow |
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| Leaf colour: | | Bronzy turning glossy green |
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| Height and spread: | | 35cm x 45cm (13in x 18in) |
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| Description: | |
A clump forming evergreen perennial with three large leaflets. In spring clusters of small hanging flowers, most commonly yellow, appear. An excellent ground cover plant.
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| Latin name: | | Alchemilla mollis |
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| Common name: | | Lady's mantle |
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| Type of plant: | | Perennial |
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| Hardiness: | | Hardy |
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| Flower colour: | | Greenish yellow |
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| Leaf colour: | | Pale green |
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| Height and spread: | | 50cm x 50cm (2ft x 2ft) |
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| Description: | |
A clump-forming perennial with rounded leaves, that have crinkled edges up to 15cm (6in) across – they look beautiful just after rain. The sprays of tiny flowers may be dried for indoor decoration.
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| Latin name: | | Geranium |
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| Common name: | | Cranesbill |
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| Type of plant: | | Perennial |
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| Hardiness: | | Hardy |
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| Flower colour: | | White, blue, mauve, pink, red |
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| Leaf colour: | | Mid-green |
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| Height and spread: | | 20cm to 25cm x 20cm to 90cm (8in to 10in x 8in to 3ft) |
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| Description: | |
Geraniums are often grown as ground cover, and some are semi-evergreen. Most prefer full sun, although some like shade. In summer the mounds of foliage are smothered in cup-shaped flowers.
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