Plant suggestions please - ground cover at base of hedge

Hello,

I'm supporting a church to develop a community garden, to include veg growing area, pollinator friendly zone, activity/workshop area etc

The garden is long (approx 35m) and relatively narrow (approx 10m). Along the east side of the garden runs a hedgerow (partly well-established mix of elder, blackthorn, hawthorn etc) and partly whips of the same that I've planted for them to fill in the gaps.

I'm looking for some ground cover plants to put along the base of this hedge, to suppress weeds coming through.

Conditions - East Yorks Clay soil, shaded/dappled sunlight due to the hedge, need to be low maintenance, perennial/self-seeding and inexpensive to buy/grow.

I'm much obliged for any and all suggestions from the GC hive mind!

Best wishes,

Andy

 

One plant above all springs to mind. Vinca minor. Comes in plain or variegated leaf, blue, purple or white single or double flowers.

 

Great suggestions, thanks to you both. I wasn't familiar with Vinca Minor so that's one I'll definitely be trying. Cheers :-)

 

Is Vinca evergreen please @Marley Farley ?

 

We've flox which I planted in 2017 on our rockery next to our koi pool. it's in the shadow of a huge multi-trunk conifer that does drop quite a few needles from the branches in the middle that don't see any light, but the stuff keeps growing and spreading quite nicely and flowers for a long time. Taken in May about a year after I planted it.






Here's a photo taken this month, it's spread right up to the trunks of the conifers, constantly in the shadow of them and a six foot fence so it should do well under a hedge.

 

@Doghouse Riley you're right. I have phlox in the back garden which comes back every year. And it is -1f right now.

Good choice for low maintenance gardening

 

Have to agree about Vinca major. It's hopeless as a ground cover as it 'froggyhops' over vast distances without filling in the gaps! Would your mystery plant be groundsel by any chance, @Loofah?

 

Thanks Shiney and Marley.

I was thinking on Vinca minor for covering a rough patch in the garden.

It is when gardening on rock bed but so is everything else.