USEFUL TRAILING PLANTS

Evening Star, Issue 20132, 23 March 1929, Page 24

USEFUL TRAILING PLANTS

For the furnishing of more or less upright walls, for covering the stone edges of paths, or for' clothing the larger, prominent stones of the rock garden, there is a host of plants of a trailing or creeping habit eminently suited to the purpose (says the ‘ Gardeners’ Chronicle,’ London). The Aeaenas are attractive plants for sun impositions, and quickly form dense, evergreen carpets, the glaucous foliage of A. Bucbananii being particularly attractive. The aubretias are very popular, and never look more beautiful than when allowed to trail over the crevices of a low stone wall, when they present a charming sight in the spring. There are many beautiful varieties varying in shades of colour. Dr Mules being of a deep violet purple: Eire King, rich crimson; Mocrhoimii, a soft rosy lilac; and Lavender, a charming lavender blue. Arcnaria balcarica is a tiny creeping plant which covers largo areas in a short time, and boars myriads ol small white flowers; it delights'in a moist situation. Cerastium Bierbersteinii and C. tomentosum arc rapid growing plants with attractive grey foliage, but they are very rampant, and should bo given positions where they cannot easily encroach. Gaultheria procumbens forms creeping masses of glossy foliage, its small white llowers being followed by red berries, and it is particularly suitable for covering tho edges of paths in shady positions. The smaller-growing gypsopbilias are ideal subjects fox: covering' loav stone

walls, and are sun lovers. G. ceraslioides is a true trailer, bearing a profusion of white and violet-streaked 'flowers: G. repens and G. r. rosea arc also attractive plants of a creeping habit. . . For dry, sunny positions the heliantbemums are extremely satisfactory subjects, their pretty, dwarf, evergreen foliage being covered in summer with small, rose-like llowers in various shades of pink, crimson, and yellow. There arc also many good double varieties which are very showy. Hypericum reptans, athough not a true trailer, is a dwarf plant of spreading habit, with pale green leaves and large, deep yellow flowers, and is valuable because of its late flowfcring habit. Linaria Cymbalria and its variety rosea are attractive trailing plants, and thrive on walls, even in the driest positions. Lithospermnni prostratum is one of the finest creeping plants in cultivation, its brilliant blue flowers being borne 1 most profusely for several months from the middle of May (November). It likes a well-drained soil and a sunny position, but succeeds also in partial shade. Few plants are more attractive than the alpine phloxes when they are planted in a position where their shoots ran depend over a low wall. Prolific with their flowers, they produce sheets of colour in April, May, and Juno (October, November, December), and their large cushions of needle-like foliage arc always attractive. There are many good varieties, among which may ho noted G. F. Wilson, with lavenderblue flowers; Leila, pale rose-grey with a purple eye; Sprite, rose with a crimson eye; Vivid, bright carmine pink; and sctacca, soft pink. The Saponarias are trailers of rapid growth, and are never better served than when provided with rocks to roam over. S. oeymoides splendcns has large, rosycrimson blooms, and is a charming plant. Silene maritima 11. pi. is noted for its dense, spreading foliage which carpets the ground, tho flowers being homo in rich profusion, appearing like small, double white pinks from June to September (April). The value of Veronica, ropens, one of the dwnrfest of the Speedwells, should not be overlooked, as its pale blue flowers arc very attractive; it is suitable for moist ami shady positions.