5 Purposeful Groundcovers

Mesembryanthemum cordifolium groundcovers hanging over a wall — ***Mesembryanthemum cordifolium***

Indigenous groundcovers are cheap, functional, and tough as old garden boots. Plant these in your pretty spaces and problem places.

The urban dweller

You can often find Mesembryanthemum cordifolium (previously Aptenia cordifolia) growing between cracks in urban spaces and along disturbed areas. It is also commonly known as the baby sun rose.

This groundcover has bright green, heart-shaped, succulent leaves. It has small flowers in red or deep purple that appear from spring to autumn. When choosing groundcovers, there are two reasons to plant this one. It is willing to grow and flower well in light shade under trees, and it is resilient to brackish water.

Groundcovers In flower for longer!

Ice plants (vygies) are gorgeous when in flower in early spring. However, the joy is usually short-lived and then you are left with fairly tatty, long-legged plants. This is where the next groundcover comes in as a winner.

Delosperma cooperi (Cooper’s ice plant) is a summer-rainfall species that flowers from early spring to late summer. Once the flowers die down they are followed by highly conspicuous fruit capsules that insects love. They are vigorous spreaders that form a dense mat approximately 10 – 15cm in height. The trailing stems can spread to a width of 60cm.

Make sure you grow these plants in well-drained soil. Once they are established, these vygies are resistant to long periods of drought. If it is very dry, water them well before their flowering time. This will encourage a good show of blooms. The fuchsia-purple flowers have many slender petals radiating from the centre and are spectacular bursts of colour in the garden. Delospermas are hardy to frost.

Recommended: The range ‘Wheels of Wonder’ is a big improvement on ice plants. They definitely ‘wow’ in small gardens and containers with huge flowers in psychedelic colour combinations. As far as groundcovers go this one is tops.

Good substitute for lawn

If you are looking for ground-covering substitute for conventional lawn, plant Dymondia margaretae (silver carpet). Once established, it will form a rug that you can walk on. It is a very hardy and evergreen groundcover with curly silver-and-green variegated leaves. Dymondia has small, bright yellow daisy-like flowers in spring and summer, which pollinators love. It is also a very popular choice for planting between paving blocks.

This groundcover loves full sun, can tolerate brackish conditions and is perfect for coastal gardens too. Plant it in composted, well-draining soil and watered regularly to keep it lush and happy.

Prostrate porkie

Portulacaria afra prostrata is the cousin of the well-known carbon sponge, the spekboom or pork bush. It is one of the more popular groundcovers we have. This rounded groundcover produces long, arching, chocolate-brown stems covered with glossy, round succulent leaves that are edible. Although quite suitable to full sun, the plants have a lusher appearance when grown in light shade.

This groundcover is a perfect low-maintenance option. Use it in retaining walls, as textured patches in the rock garden and in containers. If you love hanging baskets but dread the constant care needed for a conventional flowering basket, rather use the prostrate pork bush.

It will also reward you with rosy pink flowers from October to January. With regular water and a frequent dose of water-soluble fertiliser, you can achieve fantastic balls of succulence in the air.

Plant your own bedding groundcovers

Helichrysum petiolare (liquorice plant) is a scrambling groundcover that will grow to about 0.5m x 1m. It is much loved for its lovely velvety silver foliage. Plant it in the sunniest spot. This plant has silver leaves that reflect heat while their fine hairs help to prevent water loss. Masses of tiny yellow flowers show in midsummer. The honey-scented flowers are sweet to the nose and attract a lot of pollinating insects. Campers often use both the leaves and flowers as bedding material, as it apparently guarantees a peaceful night’s sleep. The plant is also used medicinally and in certain cultural ritual practises.

You can use this groundcover in a variety of ways in the garden. The silver foliage goes well with grasses and between aloes. It can also be teamed up with other valuable indigenous shrubs such as plumbagos. You should prune this plant often. It responds well to pruning and therefore can be used to create formal topiaries or used as a low hedge.

Plant in full sun in well-draining composted soil and do not overwater.