Ground Covering Shrubs

Ophiopogon planiscapus 'Nigrescens,' commonly known as Black Mondo Grass, is an ornamental perennial plant renowned for its striking dark foliage and distinctive appearance. This cultivar belongs to the Asparagaceae family and is native to Japan, where it thrives in woodlands and shaded areas. In the United Kingdom, it has gained popularity as a garden ornamental for its unique aesthetic qualities.

The most notable feature of Ophiopogon planiscapus 'Nigrescens' is its almost-black, strappy leaves that grow in dense clumps. The rich ebony colouration intensifies as the plant matures, creating a captivating contrast with other plants in the garden. During the summer months, it produces small, insignificant bell-shaped, pale pinkish-white flowers on delicate stems. However, it is primarily grown for its striking foliage rather than its flowers.

Black Mondo Grass is a low-maintenance plant, making it an ideal choice for gardeners looking to add drama to their landscapes without excessive effort. It thrives in partial to full shade, making it suitable for shaded borders, rock gardens, or even as ground cover beneath trees. This plant is adaptable to various soil types, provided they are well-drained, and it is relatively drought-tolerant once established.

When it comes to care, Black Mondo Grass requires minimal attention. Pruning is optional but can help maintain its tidy appearance. It is generally resistant to most pests and diseases, making it a hassle-free addition to any garden. In colder regions of the UK, some winter protection, such as a layer of mulch, may be beneficial to ensure its survival.

Cotoneaster horizontalis, commonly known as rock cotoneaster or wall spray, is a species of flowering plant in the Rosaceae family. Native to parts of western China, it has become a popular choice in gardens and landscapes due to its hardiness and distinctive appearance.

This deciduous shrub grows in a herringbone pattern, with branches that spread horizontally, forming a low, dense, and attractive ground cover. Typically reaching heights of 0.5-1 metre and spreading up to 2 metres, Cotoneaster horizontalis is well-suited for rockeries, slopes, and as a ground cover for larger garden areas.

Note: Due to vigorous growth of the plant in the first year, its size may vary from 15 cm to 50 cm in width, depending on the season (it generally reaches around 50 cm towards autumn).

The small, glossy, oval-shaped leaves of Cotoneaster horizontalis turn a striking red or purple in the autumn, adding vibrant colour to the garden. In late spring to early summer, the plant produces tiny pinkish-white flowers. Though not particularly showy, these flowers are a valuable source of nectar for pollinators such as bees. By late summer to autumn, the flowers give way to small, bright red berries that persist into winter. These berries are not only visually appealing but also provide food for birds, contributing to local biodiversity.

Cotoneaster horizontalis is known for its adaptability and resilience. It can thrive in various soil types, including poor, dry, and alkaline soils. It prefers full sun but can tolerate partial shade. Additionally, it is relatively low-maintenance, requiring minimal pruning. However, it is advisable to trim back any excessively long or untidy branches to maintain its shape and encourage denser growth.

One concern with Cotoneaster horizontalis is its potential invasiveness. In some regions, it can spread beyond garden boundaries, particularly in areas with mild climates. As a result, gardeners should monitor its growth and manage its spread to prevent it from becoming a nuisance.

Overall, Cotoneaster horizontalis is a versatile and attractive plant, offering year-round interest with its foliage, flowers, and berries. It is an excellent choice for gardeners looking to add texture and colour to their landscapes.

The Juniperus horizontalis 'Icee Blue', often referred to simply as the Icee Blue juniper, is a low-growing, spreading evergreen shrub prized for its vibrant, frosty-blue foliage. This hardy, resilient juniper is well-suited to various landscaping applications, especially as a ground cover or in rock gardens, thanks to its dense, creeping growth habit.

Reaching a mature height of around 10-15 cm (4-6 inches) and spreading up to 1.5-2 metres (5-7 feet), the Icee Blue forms a thick, carpet-like mat that suppresses weeds and provides excellent coverage. The foliage boasts a silvery-blue hue throughout most of the year, turning a purplish-blue in the colder winter months, adding seasonal interest to the garden. This colour transformation makes it particularly popular in ornamental landscapes, where it creates striking contrast against darker foliage plants or brightly coloured flowers.

Juniperus horizontalis 'Icee Blue' is well-known for its hardiness and tolerance of poor soil conditions, making it a practical choice for challenging environments. It thrives in full sun but tolerates light shade, and it prefers well-drained soil, though it can endure dry conditions once established. Its resilience to cold weather and wind exposure is an added benefit, making it suitable for gardens across the UK, including coastal areas.

Low-maintenance by nature, the Icee Blue juniper requires little care once established. Occasional pruning can help maintain its shape and control its spread, but it generally grows uniformly and resists disease well. Its salt tolerance also makes it a reliable option for areas near roads or pathways treated with de-icing salt. Overall, Juniperus horizontalis 'Icee Blue' is a versatile, visually appealing, and low-effort shrub that adds year-round colour and texture to a variety of garden settings.

Cyrtomium fortunei, commonly known as Fortune's holly fern, is a robust evergreen fern native to East Asia. This perennial plant is prized for its attractive, holly-like fronds that bring a touch of lush greenery to gardens and indoor spaces alike.

The fronds of Cyrtomium fortunei are its most distinctive feature, growing up to 60 cm in length. They are dark green, glossy, and pinnate with 10-20 pairs of leaflets that are sharply serrated, resembling holly leaves. The leaflets are arranged alternately along the central stem, creating a dense and bushy appearance. This fern thrives in shady or semi-shady conditions, making it ideal for woodland gardens, shaded borders, or as an understory plant beneath larger shrubs and trees.

Cyrtomium fortunei prefers moist, well-drained soil rich in organic matter. It is relatively low-maintenance, requiring minimal pruning and feeding. Regular watering is necessary to keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. In colder climates, it can tolerate temperatures down to -10°C, though it benefits from a layer of mulch to protect the roots during harsh winters.

Propagation of Cyrtomium fortunei is typically achieved through division in spring or by sowing spores. Division involves separating the root ball into smaller sections, each with a portion of the rhizome and fronds, and replanting them in a suitable location. Spores can be collected from the undersides of mature fronds and sown in a controlled environment to produce new plants.

In addition to its ornamental value, Cyrtomium fortunei is also known for its resilience against pests and diseases, making it a reliable choice for gardeners. Its ability to thrive in low-light conditions and its evergreen nature ensure that it provides year-round interest, contributing to the texture and depth of planting schemes.

Ceratostigma plumbaginoides, commonly known as hardy plumbago or leadwort, is a low-growing, herbaceous perennial plant native to China. It is prized for its vibrant blue flowers and attractive autumn foliage, making it a popular choice in UK gardens.

This hardy plant typically grows to a height of 30-45 cm, forming a dense, mat-like ground cover. Its slender, wiry stems bear oval, mid-green leaves that turn a rich red or bronze in autumn, providing a striking contrast to its late-summer blooms. From August through to October, Ceratostigma plumbaginoides produces clusters of vivid cobalt-blue, five-petalled flowers, which resemble those of the plumbago plant, hence its common name.

This plant thrives in well-drained soil, preferring full sun to partial shade, although it can tolerate a range of soil types, including poorer, rocky conditions. It is relatively drought-tolerant once established, and its creeping habit makes it ideal for planting at the front of borders, in rock gardens, or as ground cover beneath shrubs. In milder regions of the UK, it may remain evergreen, though it typically dies back in colder areas, regrowing from its roots in spring.

This plant is low-maintenance and is also beneficial for pollinators, attracting bees and other insects with its nectar-rich blooms.

Overall, this plant is a versatile, attractive addition to gardens, offering months of interest with its late-season flowers and colourful foliage, especially when other plants have begun to fade for the winter.

Juniperus squamata 'Holger' is a distinct cultivar of the flaky juniper, recognized for its ornamental appeal and adaptability. This evergreen conifer showcases a unique blend of blue-green and yellow foliage, presenting a striking visual contrast. Specifically, the new growth typically emerges in a bright, golden-yellow hue, gradually transitioning to a more muted blue-green as the needles mature.

This slow-growing juniper boasts a compact and spreading habit, making it a favorite for a range of garden applications. Given its low-profile growth, 'Holger' is an ideal candidate for rock gardens, ground covers, and even containers. The texture and color of its needles add year-round interest to the landscape.

Moreover, Juniperus squamata 'Holger' is celebrated for its resilience. It's notably drought-tolerant once established, allowing it to thrive in various conditions, especially in regions with water restrictions. This cultivar also requires minimal maintenance, further enhancing its appeal to gardeners of all experience levels.

Additionally, 'Holger' exhibits resistance to common pests and diseases that might afflict other garden plants, ensuring its place as a hardy and dependable garden specimen. Overall, its combination of visual charm and sturdiness makes it a coveted choice for diverse horticultural applications.

Juniperus communis 'Greenmantle' is a low-growing, spreading cultivar of the common juniper, valued for its dense, evergreen foliage and adaptability in a variety of landscapes. This dwarf groundcover juniper forms a dense mat, typically reaching only 6 to 12 inches in height but spreading up to 4 to 5 feet wide, making it ideal for erosion control on slopes, rock gardens, and as a ground cover in larger garden beds.

The 'Greenmantle' cultivar showcases soft-textured, needle-like foliage that varies in color from vibrant green to bluish-green, depending on the season and light exposure. Unlike many other juniper cultivars, which can develop sharp, spiny foliage, 'Greenmantle' is relatively soft to the touch. This attribute makes it particularly suitable for use in spaces where people may frequently walk or touch the plant.

Known for its resilience, Juniperus communis 'Greenmantle', tolerating cold winters and hot summers with ease. It prefers full sun and well-drained soil but is highly adaptable to various soil types, including sandy or rocky terrain. Once established, it exhibits excellent drought tolerance, requiring minimal watering and making it an ideal choice for low-maintenance and xeriscape gardens.

Another distinguishing feature of 'Greenmantle' is its ability to grow in poor soil conditions where other plants may struggle, allowing it to thrive in challenging locations. This cultivar also offers ecological benefits; it provides shelter for small wildlife and birds and is resistant to deer, which often avoid junipers due to their aromatic foliage.

Overall, *Juniperus communis* 'Greenmantle' is a versatile and hardy plant with an attractive, low-maintenance appeal, offering ground coverage and year-round color in a variety of landscapes. Its durability and dense growth habit make it a practical yet attractive choice for enhancing garden structure and texture.

Juniperus pfitzeriana 'Old Gold', commonly known as 'Old Gold' Juniper, is a popular ornamental evergreen shrub recognized for its striking golden-yellow foliage. This cultivar is a product of the species Juniperus pfitzeriana, which is often used in garden landscapes due to its aesthetic appeal and easy-care nature.

The 'Old Gold' Juniper displays a compact and spreading habit, typically reaching a height of 3 to 4 feet with a wider spread of up to 6 feet. What makes it particularly distinct is its foliage coloration. While the new growth emerges bright gold, older needles present a richer, deep golden hue. During colder winter months, this foliage often takes on a beautiful bronze tint, adding seasonal interest to gardens.

Its slow-growing nature, combined with its ability to tolerate a variety of soil conditions, makes it an ideal choice for a range of landscaping applications. Whether used as ground cover, border plantings, or focal points, this juniper brings color and texture to the garden throughout the year.

Moreover, Juniperus pfitzeriana 'Old Gold' is notably drought-tolerant once established, making it suitable for xeriscaping. It requires minimal maintenance and is generally resistant to common pests and diseases, including deer, thus further enhancing its appeal to gardeners and landscape designers alike.

The Chamaecyparis lawsoniana 'Pearly Swirls', commonly known as Lawson’s Cypress 'Pearly Swirls', is a unique cultivar prized for its compact, slow-growing, and ornamental nature. This dwarf conifer is cherished in gardens for its distinctive swirling foliage, which exhibits a captivating blend of cream, light green, and pearly white hues, especially prominent on its younger growth. The foliage is dense, feathery, and arranged in soft, rounded tufts, giving the plant a gentle, delicate appearance. As it matures, ‘Pearly Swirls’ develops a slightly conical or irregular shape, though it remains relatively small, making it an excellent choice for containers, rockeries, and small garden spaces.

Reaching a modest height of about 60–90 cm (2–3 feet) and a spread of around 30–60 cm (1–2 feet) over several years, Chamaecyparis lawsoniana 'Pearly Swirls' is notably low maintenance and resilient, requiring minimal pruning to retain its shape. It prefers a well-draining, slightly acidic soil and does best in a location with full sun to partial shade. However, it is somewhat sensitive to drought, so it benefits from regular watering during dry periods, particularly when newly planted.

Hardy to approximately -15°C (5°F), this cultivar is suitable for a range of climates across the UK, though protection from harsh winter winds can help maintain its vibrant foliage colouration. Due to its petite size and attractive foliage, 'Pearly Swirls' works well in mixed borders or as a focal point in smaller garden designs. It also complements heathers, dwarf rhododendrons, and other compact shrubs, adding year-round interest with its eye-catching, variegated leaves.

Overall, Chamaecyparis lawsoniana 'Pearly Swirls' is a delightful addition to gardens, bringing texture, colour, and elegance with minimal effort, appealing to both seasoned gardeners and beginners alike.