A creeper is a necessary element of a flower garden

Send

Ground cover plants successfully fill the voids between tall perennials and shrubs. The most beautiful and valuable among them are those that form even picturesque pillows that cover the earth tightly, do not allow incoming weed seeds to take root, do not require special care, and are decorative from snow to snow. It is these qualities that creeper (Ajuga reptans), sometimes called ayuga, is a low (up to 30 cm with a peduncle) herbaceous perennial of the family Lamiaceae (common-flowered), a common forest plant, spread from the middle lane to the northern regions.

Zhivuchka (Ajuga) - a genus of herbaceous plants of the family Iasnatkovye (Lamiaceae). One of the most characteristic species for Russia is Creeping Tender (Ajuga reptans). Sometimes other Russian plant names are also found: Dubrovka, Dubnitsa, Vologlodka.

Popular varieties of tenacious creeping

Among decorative varieties of tenacity, the most widely distributed variety Atropurpurea (Atropurpurea) The leaves are brownish-bronze, wrinkled. It forms dense solid pillows with a height of not more than 8 cm. Of all the survivors, this variety is distinguished by sunshine, in the sun it is more decorative.

Grade Burgundy Gloe (Burgundy glow) is very common. It is beautiful with its small leaves, in the color of which on different soils and under different lighting conditions there are reddish, lilac, brown shades and spots. Best suited for shady and semi-shady places.

In plant varieties Multicolor (Multicolor) bright purple leaves with scarlet and orange-yellow spots, which in the shade turn dark green with pink and yellow stains.

In plant varieties Variegata (Variegata) greyish-green leaves with a creamy rim around the edges.

In plant varieties Black Skallop (Black scallop) shiny dark purple leaves with serrated edges, flowers are dark blue. When grown in a sunny place, the leaves become darker.

In Western Europe there are numerous varieties that are still little known in our country. Most of them can tolerate wintering in the Moscow Region.

How to care for survivors?

The survivors are easy to care for, but in dry years they need watering, without which they can lose their decorative effect. However, in ordinary years, with rainfall in the summer of 200 mm or more, you can not water them at all.

All survivors, with the exception of Atropurpurea, grow better in partial shade. They like moist, light, fertile loam or sandy loam. Do not tolerate drought. You need regular fertilizer in the spring. Varieties are propagated exclusively by vegetative-affiliated rosettes.

What role can a tenant play in the garden?

The uniqueness of a creep survivor is that with its help you can create smart red-brown spots in the flower garden. In addition, it is one of the few ground cover plants that grow well on the slopes. She feels great among the stones and in the recesses between them, in the curb landings along the paths.

The plant is suitable for large rocky gardens, as it quickly forms a dense dense cover. In mini-rock gardens, it is necessary to limit the growth of tenacity.

You can use it to cover the soil around the trees, under the bushes. If it is necessary to close a piece of empty land in the shade where it is impossible to arrange a lawn, you cannot find a better plant. Tenders can be planted in the foreground of flower beds, intersperse their pillows in compositions of conifers, perennials and shrubs.

Although survivors are still rare in Russian front gardens, in recent years their popularity has been growing rapidly. It’s enough to see a nice pillow of this groundcover to want to have it under your window.