Gardening Australia – September 2019

PHOTOS

GAP PHOTOS/RICHARD BLOOM, ALAMY, KIM WOODS RABBIDGE, GAP PHOTOS/JERRY PAVIA

tropical T

subtropical ST

arid/semi-arid A

warmtemperate WT

coldtemperate CT

CLIMATEZONES

POSITION

fullsun semi-shade shade

suitableforedgesonly

DESIGN

NATIVE VIOLET

(Viola hederacea & V. banksii)

With deep-green, kidney-shaped leaves

and purple and white fl owers for most

of the year, native violets are one of the

prettiest groundcovers for shade. Trailing

stolons travel widely. When watered, the

plants grow throughout summer; if not,

theydiebackandreshootwithrain.

5–10cm(tallestinshade) 1.5m

T T ST W

KIDNEY WEED

(Dichondra repens)

Widely used as a grass substitute in shady

spots, this native groundcover has creeping

stems and circular green leaves. Grow

fromseedorplugs.Eitherleaveittogrow

ormowitonahighsetting,aswithlawn.

Itneedsamplewaterinfullsun.

5–10cm(tallestinshade) 1.5m

TSTAWTCT

DWARFMONDOGRASS

(Ophiopogonjaponicus‘Nana’)

Thislow-growing,strappyplantwithdark

greenleavesandamoundinghabitisvery

popularasaformaledgingplantbetween

pavers,eventhoughitisamoundingplant.

Keepmoist,especiallyinsunnypositions.

7.5cm 20cm

T ST A WT CT

SILVER CARPET

(Dymondia margaretae)

A low groundcover that tolerates poor,

sandy soil, this plant has green leaves

with white undersides and forms new

roots as it spreads. Raise pavers slightly

as, while it is fl atish, it mounds a little.

Small yellow daisy fl owers are produced

inspring,summerandearlyautumn.

3–4cm 60cm

A WT CT

DWARF BLUE CHALKSTICKS

(Senecio serpens syn.

Kleinia repens)

This bluish-coloured succulent has small,

fi nger-like leaves, and spreads into a dense

mat. It is easily crushed by foot traffi c if

positioned between pavers but is perfect

for growing along the edges. The plantis

droughttolerantandsurviveslight frost.

15cm 30cm

ST A WT CT

CLOCKWISE

FROM OPPOSITE

Dichondra repens and D. ‘Silver

Falls’ mingle with blue fescue

(Festuca glauca) between

concrete pavers; Dymondia

margaretae binds together

some crazy paving,  anked by

rows of purple lobelia; kidney

weed (Dichondra repens) can

be grown in sunny and shady

spots; dwarf blue chalksticks

soften the edges of a path

made from a combination

of paving slabs and pebbles.

GARDENING AUSTRALIA SEPTEMBER 2019 61