Ground cover

I am looking for some inspiration i have a border which has already got day lillys,corn flowers and i think larkspurs in it but i need some ground cover plants which give all round interest, take very little looking after and can stay in all year round, yes i know its a lot to ask but don,t know enough about plants to understand what im looking at.
Any help would be appreciated.

 

Hi @Michael Noble - how about things like lavender? You can get low ones, and in winter when not flowering, the bushes are nice grey texture. Or pinks? The other cliche is heathers but they seem to be out of favour at the moment.

 

Hardy geraniums Michael.....Wargrave Pink, Russel Pritchard as virtually evergreen and flower for most of the summer. Require minimum attention.
Others like Rozanne die down over winter but in early spring soon make attractive foliage and blue flowers then until autumn.
They can make large mounds of foliage and flower and associate well with the plants you mention

 

For ground cover I wouldn't be without

Cerastium Tomentosum


It's got lovely silvery leaves and this time of year is covered in white flowers.

There are also saxifrage " London Pride " and Salvia " Purple Volcano "



Or any of the smaller Campanulas

 

For all year round cover, and easy to care for - maybe the junipers would fit the bill.
This one is blue star, but there are lots of other different ones, in green, gold, blue and variegated. Look out for labels with 'procumbens' or 'nana' after the name. Some of the Cryptomerias are low growing too. They would make an easy background for the seasonal flowering plants to grow in between.

 

Hi @Michael Noble you can get plants members have suggested but I also suggest heathers like @CarolineL mentioned...just buy them in the spring when they're in full colour and space them besides other plants...I have two lots in our front garden and they have got large and I mixed white/purple and lilac together at the time...you can do them singular or mix them which I find looks nice with white ones

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Spot the Junipers -just planted this bed recently.

 

Very nice Tetters it looks

 

I also like heathers, but they wouldn`t do well as it`s so chalky here

 

Tetters they like acid soil mate...which apparently we have with help from @JWK shame that is because the colours especially when they get bigger do stand out...ours have gone green now for the summer

 

Heather fan here
For info, not all heathers are for acid soils. The carnea, mediterranean (winter flowering) types thrive in neutral even alkaline soil

 

Thanks all for the suggestions looks like a trip to the garden centre coming up, and a whole in my wallet...............

 

Hi Tetters. Wow! just planted you say. That really is a fine area of your garden. Well established plant. "Put kettle on and I pop along to take a closer look" wink.

 

Good point Verdun. Sadly many enthusiastes take for granted that becuase a plant is listed as being an acid lover, that all in that family like the same. In line with what you say. Lilies also have a wide variation of soil pH requirements.

 

sweet woodruff