Ivydene Gardens Plants:
Groundcover Plant
Name - S

The plants normally selected by most landscapers and designers are by nature low-growing, rampant, spreading, creep-crawly things and yet the concept of ground cover demands no such thing. The ideal description of a groundcover plant includes:-

• a bold dense mass of leaves completely covering the ground most of the year; evergreens gain gold stars.
• They should require little or no maintenance - if you have to give the plant more than its share of attention, you might as well save your money and spend the time weeding.
• use the plant on ground areas that are difficult to maintain, such as steep banks or boggy patches.
• use the plant to cover areas where not much will grow, such as deep shade or sandy soils.

Ground Cover a thousand beautiful plants for difficult places by John Cushnie (ISBN 1 85626 326 6) provides details of plants that fulfill the above requirements.

Using these groundcover plants in your planting scheme (either between your trees/shrubs in the border or for the whole border) will - with mulching your beds to a 4 inch depth and an irrigation system - provide you with a planted garden with far less time required for border maintainance.

Salix alba var. vitellina
'Britzensis'

Deciduous Tree above 72 inches (180 cms) in height

960 x 360 (2400 x 900)

Dull Green

Yellowish-Green female catkins in
April-May

"White Willow". Bright Orange winter shoots.

Salix apoda

Deciduous Shrub below 24 inches (60 cms) in height

8 x 24 (20 x 60)

Dark Green

Silvery-Grey male catkins in
April

Salix caprea
'Kilmarnock'

Deciduous Shrub 24-72 inches (60-180 cms) in height

60 x 72 (150 x 180)

Dark Green above, Grey-Green beneath

Grey male catkins in
May-June

"Kilmarnock Willow".

Salix elaeagnos

Deciduous Shrub above 72 inches (180 cms) in height

120 x 180 (300 x 450)

Grey in Spring ,Dark Green in Summer, Yellow in Autumn

Green female catkins in
April-June

"Hoary Willow".

Salix hastata
'Wehrhahnii'

Deciduous Shrub 24-72 inches (60-180 cms) in height

36 x 36 (90 x 90)

Bright Green

Silvery-Grey male catkins in
April

Salix helvetica

Deciduous Shrub 24-72 inches (60-180 cms) in height

24 x 16 (60 x 40)

Grey-Green, silver-downy beneath

Silver-Grey catkins in
April

"Swiss Willow".

Salix lanata

Deciduous Shrub 24-72 inches (60-180 cms) in height

36 x 60 (90 x 150)

Dull Dark Green covered in Silvery-Grey wool

Golden-Yellow male catkins in
June

"Woolly Willow".

Salix repens

Deciduous Shrub 24-72 inches (60-180 cms) in height

24 x 60 (60 x 150)

Grey-Green to Bright Green, Silvery beneath

Grey male catkins in
May-June

"Creeping Willow".

Salix repens var. argentea

Deciduous Shrub 24-72 inches (60-180 cms) in height

36 x 72 (90 x 180)

Silky Grey

Gold catkins in
May

Salix retusa

Deciduous Shrub below 24 inches (60 cms) in height

4 x 16 (10 x 40)

Glossy Mid-Green

Grey catkins in
April-May

Salix serpyllifolia

Deciduous Shrub below 24 inches (60 cms) in height

1 x 12 (2 x 30)

Glossy Mid-Green

Silvery-Green catkins in
April-May

"Thyme-leaved Willow".

Salvia nemerosa
'May Knight'

Herbaceous Perennial below 24 inches (60 cms) in height

18 x 12 (45 x 30)

Mid-Green

Violet-Blue in
June-August

"Sage".

Ashwood Nurseries grow about 80 Salvias.

Salvia officinalis
'Purpurascens'

Evergreen Shrub 24-72 inches (60-180 cms) in height

24 x 36 (60 x 90)

Purple in Spring, Grey-Green in Summer, Autumn and Winter

Blue-Purple in
June-August

"Purple Sage".

Salvia x superba

Herbaceous Perennial 24-72 inches (60-180 cms) in height

30 x 24 (75 x 60)

Mid-Green

Bright Violet or Purple in
August-October

"Sage".

Sambucus nigra
'Aurea'

Deciduous Shrub above 72 inches (180 cms) in height

144 x 144 (360 x 360)

Golden-Yellow

Creamy-White in
June

"Black Elder,
Common Elder, Elderberry,
European Elder".

Sambucus racemosa
'Plumosa Aurea'

Deciduous Shrub above 72 inches (180 cms) in height

120 x 120 (300 x 300)

Bronze juvenile turning Golden Yellow

Rich Yellow in
April

"Red-berried Elder".

Sanguinaria canadensis

Deciduous Rhizome Perennial below 24 inches (60 cms) in height

6 x 12 (15 x 30)

Blue-Grey

White in
March-May

"Bloodroot".

Sanguisorbia canadensis

Deciduous Rhizome Perennial 24-72 inches (60-180 cms) in height

72 x 36 (180 x 90)

Dark Green

White in
August-November

"Canadian Burnet".

Santolina chamaecyparissus

Evergreen Shrub below 24 inches (60 cms) in height

20 x 36 (50 x 90)

Grey-White

Yellow in
August-September

"Cotton Lavender".

Santolina chamaecyparissus
'Nana'

Evergreen Shrub 24-72 inches (60-180 cms) in height

24 x 24 (60 x 60)

Silver-Grey

Lemon-Yellow in
July-August

"Cotton Lavender".

Santolina pinnata neapolitana

Evergreen Shrub 24-72 inches (60-180 cms) in height

30 x 36 (75 x 90)

Aromatic Grey-Green

Bright Yellow in
August

Santolina rosmarinifolia

Evergreen Shrub 24-72 inches (60-180 cms) in height

24 x 36 (60 x 90)

Bright Green

Bright Yellow in
August

Saponaria
'Bressingham'

Herbaceous Perennial below 24 inches (60 cms) in height

3 x 12 (7 x 30)

Mid-Green

Deep Pink in
July-September

"Soapwort".

Saponaria ocymoides

Herbaceous Perennial below 24 inches (60 cms) in height

3 x 18 (7 x 45)

Bright Green

Pink in
July-September

"Tumbling Ted".

Saponaria ocymoides
'Alba'

Herbaceous Perennial below 24 inches (60 cms) in height

3 x 18 (7 x 45)

Bright Green

White in
July-September

Sarcocca humilis

Evergreen Shrub 24-72 inches (60-180 cms) in height

24 x 36 (60 x 90)

Glossy Dark Green

Fragrant Pink-tinged White in
January-March

"Christmas Box, Sweet Box".

Sarcocca confusa

Evergreen Shrub 24-72 inches (60-180 cms) in height

72 x 36 (180 x 90)

Glossy Dark Green

Very Fragrant White in
January-March

"Christmas Box, Sweet Box".
Glossy Black fruit.

Sasa veitchii

Evergreen Bamboo 24-72 inches (60-180 cms) in height

48 x indefinite (120 x indefinite)

Green with White edges in Spring and Summer, Green with Straw edges in Autumn and Winter

...

Satureja spicigera

Deciduous Sub-Shrub below 24 inches (60 cms) in height

6 x 12 (15 x 30)

Mid-Green

White in
July-September

Saxifraga
'Bob Hawkins'

Evergreen Perennial below 24 inches (60 cms) in height

6 x 12 (15 x 30)

White-variegated Mid-Green

Greenish-White in
July-September

"Saxifrage".

Saxifraga
'Southside Seedling'

Evergreen Perennial below 24 inches (60 cms) in height

12 x 8 (30 x 20)

Pale Green

White heavily spotted Red in
June-July

Saxifraga exerata subsp. moschata

Evergreen Perennial below 24 inches (60 cms) in height

4 x 12 (10 x 30)

Pale Green

Cream or Yellow in
June-October

Saxifraga exerata subsp. moschata
'Cloth of Gold'

Evergreen Perennial below 24 inches (60 cms) in height

4 x 12 (10 x 30)

Golden

Cream or Yellow in
June-October

Best grown in shade.

Saxifraga marginata

Evergreen Perennial below 24 inches (60 cms) in height

3 x 12 (7 x 30)

Silver-Grey

White in
April

Saxifraga x urbium

Evergreen Perennial below 24 inches (60 cms) in height

12 x indefinite (30 x indefinite)

Green

White in Summer

"London Pride". Ground Cover Evergreen

Scabiosa graminifolia

Evergreen Perennial below 24 inches (60 cms) in height

10 x 12 (25 x 30)

Mid-Green

Lilac to Violet in
July-September

Prefers alkaline soil.

Schizophragma hydrangeoides

Deciduous Climber above 72 inches (180 cms) in height

480 x 120 (1200 x 300)

Dark Green

Fragrant Creamy-White in
August

Sedum 'Ruby Glow'

Deciduous Perennial below 24 inches (60 cms) in height

10 x 18 (25 x 45)

Green-Purple

Ruby-Red in
August-October

"Stonecrop".

Sedum acre

Evergreen Perennial below 24 inches (60 cms) in height

2 x 24 (5 x 60)

Pale Green

Yellow-Green in
July-September

"Biting Stonecrop, Common Stonecrop, Wallpepper".

Sedum lydium

Evergreen Perennial below 24 inches (60 cms) in height

2 x 8 (5 x 20)

Red-tipped Bright to Mid-Green

White in
July-September

Sedum telephium subsp. maximum
'Atropurpureum'

Deciduous Rhizome Perennial below 24 inches (60 cms) in height

18 x 18 (45 x 45)

Deep Purple

Deep Pink in
September-October

"Orpine".

Sedum rupestre

Evergreen Alpine below 24 inches (60 cms) in height

4 x 24 (10 x 60)

Grey-Green

Yellow
in July-September

"Stone Orpine".

Sedum spathulifolium 'Cape Blanco'

Evergreen Alpine below 24 inches (60 cms) in height

4 x 24 (10 x 60)

Silvery-Green, frequently suffused Purple

Yellow
in July-September

"Stonecrop".

Sedum spectabile
'Brilliant'

Herbaceous Perennial below 24 inches (60 cms) in height

18 x 18 (45 x 45)

Grey-Green

Rose-Pink in
September-October

"Ice Plant".

Senecio abrotanifolius

Evergreen Sub-Shrub below 24 inches (60 cms) in height

12 x 12 (30 x 30)

Glossy Dark Green

Yellow to Orange-Scarlet in
August-October

Senecio cineraria

Evergreen Sub-Shrub 24-72 inches (60-180 cms) in height

24 x 24 (60 x 60)

Felted Silvery-Grey

Mustard-Yellow in
August

Shibataea kumasasa

Evergreen Bamboo 24-72 inches (60-180 cms) in height

48 x 24 (120 x 60)

Rich Dark Green

...

Densely plant if required as ground cover.

Shortia galacifolia

Evergreen Perennial below 24 inches (60 cms) in height

6 x 10 (15 x 25)

Glossy Dark Green turning Bronze-Red in Autumn

White in
June

"Oconee Bells".

Silene schafta

Semi-Evergreen Perennial below 24 inches (60 cms) in height

10 x 12 (25 x 30)

Bright Green

Deep Magenta in
September-November

"Campion, Catchfly".

Skimmia japonica

Evergreen Shrub 24-72 inches (60-180 cms) in height

60 x 60 (150 x 150)

Dark Green

Fragrant White in
May-June

Female plants have Red fruit. Needs light dappled to deep shade.

Skimmia japonica
'Fructo Albo'

Evergreen Shrub 24-72 inches (60-180 cms) in height

24 x 36 (60 x 90)

Dark Green

Fragrant White in
May-June

White fruit.

Skimmia japonica
'Rubella'

Evergreen Shrub 24-72 inches (60-180 cms) in height

60 x 48 (150 x 120)

Red-margined Green

White in
December-April

Skimmia x confusa
'Kew Green'

Evergreen Shrub 24-72 inches (60-180 cms) in height

24 x 48 (60 x 120)

Aromatic Mid-Green

Fragrant Creamy-White in
April-June

Smilacina racemosa

Deciduous Rhizome Perennial 24-72 inches (60-180 cms) in height

30 x 18 (75 x 45)

Mid-Green turn Yellow in Autumn

White in
May-June

"False Spikenard". Red berries.

Solanum crispum
'Glasnevin'

Semi-Evergreen Climber above 72 inches (180 cms) in height

240 x 120 (600 x 300)

Dark Green

Lilac-Purple in
July-October

"Chilean Potato Tree".
Yellowish-White fruit.

Solanum jasminoides
'Album'

Semi-Evergreen Climber above 72 inches (180 cms) in height

240 x 120 (600 x 300)

Glossy Dark Green

Fragrant White in
July-December

"Potato Vine".

Solanum laciniatum

Evergreen Shrub 24-72 inches (60-180 cms) in height

72 x 60 (180 x 150)

Mid-Green

Dark Blue in
July-December

"Kangaroo Apple". Bright Orange fruit.

Solanum tuberosum

Vegetable

Dark Green

...

"Potato".

Solidago
'Golden Wings'

Herbaceous Perennial 24-72 inches (60-180 cms) in height

72 x 36 (180 x 90)

Mid-Green

Golden-Yellow in
September-October

"Golden Rod".

Solidago virgaurea subsp. minuta

Herbaceous Perennial below 24 inches (60 cms) in height

6 x 10 (15 x 25)

Mid-Green

Deep Yellow in
September-October

Good for a rock garden.

Sophora japonica
'Pendula'

Deciduous Tree above 72 inches (180 cms) in height

120 x 120 (300 x 300)

Glossy Dark Green, turn Yellow in Autumn

White in
September-October

"Japanese Pagoda Tree".

Sorbaria sorbifolia

Deciduous Shrub 24-72 inches (60-180 cms) in height

72 x 120 (180 x 300)

Dark Green

White in
August-September

Sorbus aucuparia
'Sheerwater Seedling'

Deciduous Tree above 72 inches (180 cms) in height

360 x 180 (900 x 450)

Mid to Dark Green in Spring and Summer, Yellow or Red in Autumn

White in
May

"Mountain Ash, Rowan".
Orange-Red berries.

Sorbus sargentiana

Deciduous Tree above 72 inches (180 cms) in height

240 x 240 (600 x 600)

Dark Green in Spring and Summer, Orange and Red in Autumn

White in
July

Sorbus vilmorinii

Deciduous Tree above 72 inches (180 cms) in height

192 x 156 (480 x 390)

Glossy Dark Green

White in
June-July

Sorbus x thuringiaca
'Fastigiata'

Deciduous Tree above 72 inches (180 cms) in height

480 x 144 (1200 x 360)

Glossy Dark Green turn Yellow-Brown in Autumn

White in
June

Spartium junceum

Deciduous Shrub above 72 inches (180 cms) in height

120 x 96 (300 x 240)

Dark Green

Fragrant Golden-Yellow in
July-October

"Spanish Broom".

Spiraea cantoniensis

Deciduous Shrub 24-72 inches (60-180 cms) in height

72 x 120 (180 x 300)

Blue-Green

White in
July

Spiraea japonica
'Allgold'

Deciduous Shrub below 24 inches (60 cms) in height

18 x 24 (45 x 60)

Golden-Yellow

Pink in
August-September

Spiraea japonica
'Bullata'

Deciduous Shrub below 24 inches (60 cms) in height

16 x 20 (40 x 50)

Very Dark Green

Deep Pink in
July-August

Spiraea japonica
'Goldflame'

Deciduous Shrub 24-72 inches (60-180 cms) in height

30 x 30 (75 x 75)

Orange-Red in Spring, Bright Yellow in Summer, Pale Green in Autumn

Deep Rose-Pink in
July-August

Spiraea japonica
'Little Princess'

Deciduous Shrub below 24 inches (60 cms) in height

20 x 36 (50 x 90)

Dark Green above, Grey-Green beneath

Rose-Pink in
July-August

Spiraea japonica
'Shirobana'

Deciduous Shrub 24-72 inches (60-180 cms) in height

30 x 36 (75 x 90)

Dark Green above, Grey-Green beneath

Both Deep Pink and White in
July-September

Stachys byzantina

Evergreen Perennial below 24 inches (60 cms) in height

12 x 24 (30 x 60)

Densely White-Woolly on Grey-Green

Magenta in
July-October

"Lambs' Ears, Lambs' Lugs,
Lamb's Tails,
Lambs' tongues".

Stachys byzantina
'Silver Carpet'

Evergreen Perennial below 24 inches (60 cms) in height

5 x 12 (12 x 30)

Intensely Silvered, Greyish-White

Non-flowering

Stachys candida

Deciduous Sub-Shrub below 24 inches (60 cms) in height

6 x 12 (15 x 30)

White-felted Grey-Green

White in
July-September

Stephanandra incisa
'Crispa'

Deciduous Shrub 24-72 inches (60-180 cms) in height

24 x 24 (60 x 60)

Bright Green in Spring and Summer, Orange-Yellow in Autumn

Greenish-White in
June

Stipa gigantea

Evergreen Grass above 72 inches (180 cms) in height

96 x 48 (240 x 120)

Mid-Green

Silvery Purplish-Green spikelets in
July-September

"Giant Feather Grass, Golden Oats".

Symphoricarpus albus var. laevigatus

Deciduous Shrub 24-72 inches (60-180 cms) in height

72 x 72 (180 x 180)

Dark Green

Pink in July-September

"Snowberry".
Pure White fruit.

Symphoricarpus x chenaultii
'Hancock'

Deciduous Shrub 24-72 inches (60-180 cms) in height

36 x 120 (90 x 300)

Bronze in Spring, Bright Green in Summer and Autumn

White in
June-July

Dark Pink fruit

Symphoricarpus x doorenbosii
'Magic Berry'

Deciduous Shrub 24-72 inches (60-180 cms) in height

48 x 48 (120 x 120)

Light Green

White in
August-September

Symphytum
'Goldsmith'

Deciduous Rhizome Perennial below 24 inches (60 cms) in height

12 x 12 (30 x 30)

Dark Green with Gold and Cream markings

Pale Blue, Cream or Pink in
May-June

"Comfrey".
Best suited to Wild Gardens

Symphytum
ibericum

Deciduous Rhizome Perennial below 24 inches (60 cms) in height

16 x 24 (40 x 60)

Mid-Green

Pale Yellow in
June-July

"Comfrey".
 

Syringa meyeri
'Palibin'

Deciduous Shrub 24-72 inches (60-180 cms) in height

60 x 60 (150 x 150)

Mid-Green

Fragrant Lavender-Pink in
June-July

"Lilac".

Syringa pubescens microphylla
'Superba'

Deciduous Shrub 24-72 inches (60-180 cms) in height

72 x 72 (180 x 180)

Mid-Green

Rose-Pink in
May-October

"Lilac".

Syringa sweginzowii

Deciduous Shrub above 72 inches (180 cms) in height

144 x 96 (360 x 240)

Mid-Green

Fragrant Pale Pink to Lilac-Pink or White in
June-July

"Lilac".

Syringa vulgaris
'Charles Joly'

Deciduous Shrub above 72 inches (180 cms) in height

132 x 120 (330 x 300)

Bright Green

Deep Purple-Red in
June-July

"Common Lilac". Prefers alkaline soil.

Syringa vulgaris
'Madame Lemoine'

Deciduous Shrub above 72 inches (180 cms) in height

144 x 132 (360 x 330)

Mid-Green

White in
June-July

"Common Lilac".

Height in inches (cms):-

25.4mm = 1 inch
304.8mm = 12 inches
12 inches = 1 foot
3 feet = 1 yard
914.4mm = 1 yard

I normally round this to
25mm = 1 inch
300mm = 30 cms = 12 inches =1 foot,
900 mm = 3 feet = 1 yard and
1000mm = 100 cms = 1 metre = 40 inches