shop   info   how to   log in   search 

Perennial (n) - existing for a long or indefinite time, continually recurring

Perennials, also known as herbaceous perennials or Herbaceous plants, live for a minimum of 2 years, often for many seasons. Perennials, grow and bloom over the spring and summer, and generally die back every autumn and winter, reappearing on the same rootstock the following spring. Some perennials keep their leaves all year round and offer attractive borders and ground-covers.

aka Slender Sweet Flag

Evergreen perennial that looks a little bit like a cross between and Iris and a grass. The leaves are attractively striped in shades of chartreuse and cream. The foliage is unusually aromatic. Ideal for planting in bog gardens or at the edge of ponds to a depth of 20cm. Prefers sun.

 

aka Sweet Flag

Sweet Flag. This little perennial from Japan forms a clump of flattened green leaves with cream margins on short rhizomes both of which have a sweet cinnamon fragrance, especially when dried. Ideal for boggy spots or at pond/stream edges. Quite hardy and easy to grow. Semi-evergreen.

 

aka Japanese Rush

One of the most attractive grassy textured plants available. Fine evergreen soft golden yellow foliage that will make a superb edging plant. Easily grown in all soil conditions taking sun shade and extreme wet. Ideal for those trouble spots.

 

aka Sweet Flag

Sweet Flag - A miniature little grassy perennial from Japan. Forms neat clumps of weeping green leaves on short rhizomes both of which have a sweet cinnamon fragrance, especially when dried. Ideal for boggy spots or at pond/stream edges. Quite hardy and easy to grow. Semi-evergreen.

 

aka Snakeroot

Gorgeous shrub with lacy dark foliage. New foliage emerges green and darkens to a dark purple/black colour. Upward curving spikes of white bottlebrush flowers, which are beautifully scented appear in summer. Prefers moist humus-rich soil conditions and requires a lot of water to grow. Plant in sun to part shade. Perennial.

 

aka Bugle Weed

This attractive spreading ground-cover has very interesting undulating foliage that is such a dark burgundy shade it looks black. Bright blue flowers appear in spring through to summer and contrast well with the leaves. Plant in sun or semi-shade. Perennial. PVR HOM220.

While Ajuga is a very hardy and tolerant plant it prefers a soil that does not completely dry out in summer. I have also found that the best results are achieved when Ajuga is not baking in NZ's hot afternoon sun.

 

aka Bugle

Well this is one Muffin you can't eat but plant it in a semi-shaded spot and will reward you by making a carpet of foliage topped off with spikes of sky blue flowers in spring. Great ground-cover with rosettes of dark green foliage. Tolerant of light frost but not hot dry conditions. Evergreen.

It is important that Ajuga does not completely dry out in summer. This plant will tolerate morning sun but must have afternoon shade or dappled light to do really well.

 

aka Bugle

A quick growing and rewarding perennial ground-cover that forms bold rosettes of multicoloured foliage and spreads by under-ground runners. In early spring spikes of beautiful bright flowers appear en masse. Prefers a semi-shaded spot with protection from hot afternoon sun. Evergreen.

It is important that Ajuga does not completely dry out in hot dry summer conditions.

 

This ground cover is much larger and spreads more rapidly. The dark green leaves are tinged with purple. It spreads by surface runners in the same way as a strawberry plant and can spread indefinitely. Excellent for moist areas. Frost hardy and trouble-free.

 

Alchemilla mollis 'Thriller' is larger and more robust than the species, forming mounds of lobed, grayish-green fuzzy leaves topped by airy yellow flowers in spring. It is best in moist soil in part shade. Great as a groundcover or for cutting.

The common name is the Lady Mantle.The wavy edged leaves are meant to represent the cloak or mantle that covered Mary as she travelled to Bethlehem.