Hillside ground cover

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32720, 24 September 1971, Page 11

Hillside ground cover

Before planting in steep areas, particularly where there has been excavation or filling, it is necessary to ensure that the ground is stable, that it has consolidated reasonably well and that there is no likelihood of a subsidence. '

At planting time pockets should either be scooped out of the bank so as to form horizontal platforms, or preferably sloped back into the bank. This will allow any rain which falls to soak into the ground around the plant and not run away down the incline. Firmness of planting is essential whether on the bare slope itself or between cracks, crevices and openings between rocks and the walling. Hand weeding round the plants, particularly the more prostrate kinds, will be necessary not only because any other methods may be difficult to acomplish but also to ensure that the subjects establish themselves as quickly as possible without competition from anything else. Banks and similar such places are usually exposed. For this reason my choice is for well-developed .but small plants rather than the same kinds and varieties of a larger size—the latter generally do not establish themselves so quickly nor do they pro-

vide cover more quickly. The following are a few suggestions for hillside ground cover: Hot dry banks: arctotis; arctosta'phylos uva - ursi; grevillea species; verbena chamaldrifolia; halimium ocymoides and lasianthum formosum; Hyperium calycinum; Juniperus horizontalis squamata, sabina tamariscifolia and repanda; Cotoneaster horizontalis and dammeri; Lippia nodiflora; thymus species; Rosmarimus lavandulaceus; Eunonymus fortune! minima and radicans Silver Queen; coprosma kirkii; Lantana sellowiania; gazanias; mesembryanthemums; erica and calluna species; berbens gracilis. Moist or shady banks: Ajuga reptansin variety; saxifraga stolonifera; convallaria; Lysimachia mimmularia; vinca species; fuchsia procumbens; cotoneasters and coprosma (as above).

Arctostaphylos Uva-ursi is the red bearberry or bear’s grape of the Northern hemisphere and often sold as nevadensis. It is a tough but attractive prostrate shrub with bright green leathery leaves and pinkish-white pitcher-shaped flowers followed by shining red berries. A member of the Ericaceae family it bears a close resemblance, when in flower, to

the arbutus; one plant will cover at least 20 sq. ft of ground.

Halimiums form a group of plants very closely related to : helianthemum. Halimium i lasianthum formosum is one i of the hardiest of the species, of low growing, spreading stature—2ft to 3ft high, with golden-yellow flowers which have a chocolate coloured blotch near the base of the petals; they are about 2in across and appear in late spring. Halimium ocymoides forms a densely bushy plant with downy-grey leaves and bears panicles of bright yellow flowers with purple brown spots at the base of each petal. It grows about two feet tall. The Grevilleas are well known for hardiness and almost continuous flowering. The juniperina trinerva grows 2ft to 3ft across and bears orange-red terminal flowers. The laurifolia (socalled laurel grevillea) is a very attractive prostrate plant of considerable vigour (100 square feet can be covered by one specimen). The foliage is large, oval, dark green with/ scarlet tonings on the older leaves. The flowers are large, scarlet tooth brush shaped; it is not commonly available. Some others of merit include the ericafolia nrostrata, biternata and ilicifolia.

Lippa nodiflora is another Australian native. It has small oval sage green foliage and bears pink clover-like flowers. Verbena chamaedrifolia is an ideal ground cover giving a blaze of scarlet colour from spring onwards to early autumn. It grows easily and is most suitable for poor soils and coastal conditions.

Lysimachia nummularia is the familiar Creeping Jenny, a plant of prostrate habit, rounded foliage and small yellow flowers,. Fuchsia procumbens is a New Zealand native, a delicate half-hardy deciduous fuchsia. The flowers are very attractive and the flowering period lasts from spring well into the summer. Large oval berries add interest to this little plant which is ideal for sheltered, moist and shady positions. Due to genetical variations in these plants, berries are not produced by some of them.