Groundcover

Types of GROUNDCOVER plants

Aptenia cordifolia

Aptenia cordifolia is an evergreen and fast-growing succulent. The green leaves are fleshy, flat, heart- to oval-shaped, 60 x 25 mm long, and are widely spaced in pairs or singularly arranged.

PLANT NAME: Aptenia cordifolia
COMMON ENGLISH NAME: Baby sun rose
COMMON AFRIKAANS NAME: Brakvygie
INDIGENOUS/ EXOTIC: Indigenous
EVERGREEN/ DECIDUOUS: Evergreen
HEIGHT & WIDTH: 25cm x 60cm
TIME OF FLOWER: Spring, Early Summer
COLOUR OF FLOWER:Purple, Red, Pink
LIGHT PREFERENCE: Full sun → semi-shade
WATER NEEDS: Low
SOIL REQUIREMENTS: Sandy, Clay, Loam
AVAILABLE SIZES: 15cm, 6 pack

Arctotis acualis

A compact, perennial ground cover with silver-grey foliage. Large pink, red or yellow flowers with dark centres appear from spring to summer. It is very good for covering large areas.

PLANT NAME: Arctotis acualis
COMMON ENGLISH NAME: African Daisy
COMMON AFRIKAANS NAME: Gousblom
INDIGENOUS/ EXOTIC: Indigenous
EVERGREEN/ DECIDUOUS: Evergreen
HEIGHT: 20-30cm
TIME OF FLOWER: Spring, Early Summer, Winter
COLOUR OF FLOWER:White, bright and light yellow, orange, red, pink, or mauve
LIGHT PREFERENCE: Full sun
WATER NEEDS: Low → moderate
SOIL REQUIREMENTS: Sandy, Clay, Loam
AVAILABLE SIZES: 6 pack

Asystasia gangetica

This is an attractive, fast-growing, spreading, herbaceous groundcover. The stems root easily at the nodes. Leaves are simple and dark green and it produces a cream-coloured flower with tessellated purple markings on the palate in spring and summer.

PLANT NAME: Asystasia gangetica
COMMON ENGLISH NAME: Creeping foxtail
INDIGENOUS/ EXOTIC: Indigenous
EVERGREEN/ DECIDUOUS: Evergreen
HEIGHT: 30-60cm
TIME OF FLOWER: Spring, early Summer
COLOUR OF FLOWER: White
LIGHT PREFERENCE: Full sun → semi-shade
WATER NEEDS: Low
SOIL REQUIREMENTS: Loam
AVAILABLE SIZES: 6 pack

Barleria repens

It usually forms a rounded bushy shrub, but sometimes also climbs/leans into nearby trees and shrubs. New branches tend to root as they touch ground, so this plant can quickly increase its territory. It has soft, shiny, dark green leaves and fairly large, bright coloured flowers.

PLANT NAME: Barleria repens
COMMON ENGLISH NAME: Small bush violet
COMMON AFRIKAANS NAME: Small bush violet
INDIGENOUS/ EXOTIC: Indigenous
EVERGREEN/ DECIDUOUS: Evergreen
HIGHT & WIDTH: 0.5-0.7m x 0.7-1m
TIME OF FLOWER: Late Summer, Autumn
COLOUR OF FLOWER: Purple, Red, Lilac
LIGHT PREFERENCE: Full sun → semi-shade
WATER NEEDS: Low → moderate
SOIL REQUIREMENTS: Sandy, Loam
AVAILABLE SIZES: 15cm, 6 pack

Carissa macrocarpa green carpet

This dwarf cultivar of Carissa macrocarpa is a popular groundcover which seldom grows more than knee height. It forms a dense mat of attractive, glossy emerald green foliage. Fragrant, starry white flowers and edible red fruit occasionally form throught the year.

PLANT NAME: Barleria repens
COMMON AFRIKAANS NAME: Dwerg natalpruim
INDIGENOUS/ EXOTIC: Indigenous
EVERGREEN/ DECIDUOUS: Evergreen
HEIGHT & WIDTH: 30-50cm x 0.6-1.5m
TIME OF FLOWER: Spring, early Summer
COLOUR OF FLOWER: White
LIGHT PREFERENCE: Full sun → shade
WATER NEEDS: Low → moderate
SOIL REQUIREMENTS: Sandy
AVAILABLE SIZES: 15cm, 6 pack

Chlorophytum comosum

Spider plants have long narrow leaves which grow from a central rosette. At the spot where a leaf would normally develop a node, these plants will produce adventitious roots down into the soil, and new above ground shoots.

PLANT NAME: Chlorophytum comosum
COMMON ENGLISH NAME: Spider plant
INDIGENOUS/ EXOTIC: Indigenous
EVERGREEN/ DECIDUOUS: Evergreen
HEIGHT & WIDTH: 30cm x 40cm
TIME OF FLOWER: Autumn
COLOUR OF FLOWER: White
LIGHT PREFERENCE: Shade → Semi-shade
WATER NEEDS: Moderate
SOIL REQUIREMENTS: Sandy, Loam
AVAILABLE SIZES: 15cm, 6 pack

Convolvulus sabatius

This luscious, trailing, woody groundcover endlessly produces funnel-shaped blue-lavender flowers throughout Summer and Autumn. It has soft grey-green, oval shaped leaves.

PLANT NAME: Convolvulus sabatius
COMMON ENGLISH NAME: Blue rock bindweed, Ground morning glory
INDIGENOUS/ EXOTIC: Exotic
EVERGREEN/ DECIDUOUS: Evergreen
HEIGHT & WIDTH: 10-15cm x 30-60cm
TIME OF FLOWER: Summer, Autumn
COLOUR OF FLOWER: Blue
LIGHT PREFERENCE: Full sun
WATER NEEDS: Low
SOIL REQUIREMENTS: Chalk, Loam, Sand
AVAILABLE SIZES: 15cm, 6 pack

Crassula multicava

Crassula multicava is a moderate to fast-growing, mat-forming, evergreen ground cover up to ± 300 mm, that produces an outstanding uniform effect when planted in masses. As with all members of the genus, the glossy, oval-to-round leaves are formed in opposite pairs.

PLANT NAME: Convolvulus sabatius
COMMON ENGLISH NAME: Fairy crassula
COMMON AFRIKAANS NAME: Skadieplakkie
INDIGENOUS/ EXOTIC: Indigenous
EVERGREEN/ DECIDUOUS: Evergreen
HEIGHT & WIDTH: 20cm x 30cm
TIME OF FLOWER: Winter
COLOUR OF FLOWER: White, Pink
LIGHT PREFERENCE: Full sun → semi-shade
WATER NEEDS: Moderate
SOIL REQUIREMENTS: Loam
AVAILABLE SIZES: 15cm, 6 pack

Delosperma (Cooperii)

PLANT NAME: Delosperma (Cooperii)
COMMON ENGLISH NAME: Ice plant
COMMON AFRIKAANS NAME: Klipvygie
INDIGENOUS/ EXOTIC: Indigenous
EVERGREEN/ DECIDUOUS: Evergreen
HEIGHT & WIDTH: 7-15cm x 60-80cm
TIME OF FLOWER: Spring, Summer
COLOUR OF FLOWER: Purple, Orange, Pink, White, Yellow
LIGHT PREFERENCE: Full sun → semi-shade
WATER NEEDS: Low
SOIL REQUIREMENTS: Sandy
AVAILABLE SIZES: 15cm, 6 pack

Dimorphotheca fruticosa flat white

Dimorphotheca fruticosa is hardy and fast growing. It is a ground hugging, sprawling to prostrate perennial that grows near the sea. The leaves are fleshy, broad rounded and petiolate, and they are minutely toothed.

PLANT NAME: Dimorphotheca fruticosa flat white
COMMON ENGLISH NAME: Trailing daisy
COMMON AFRIKAANS NAME: Rankmagriet
INDIGENOUS/ EXOTIC: Indigenous
EVERGREEN/ DECIDUOUS: Evergreen
TIME OF FLOWER: Spring, Winter
COLOUR OF FLOWER: White
LIGHT PREFERENCE: Full sun
WATER NEEDS: Moderate
SOIL REQUIREMENTS: Sandy, Loam
AVAILABLE SIZES: 6 pack

Erigeron karvinskianus

A delicate, lush, daisy-like plant with bright green stems and leaves, and delicate white flowers.

PLANT NAME: Erigeron karvinskianus
COMMON ENGLISH NAME: Fleabane, Mexican daisy
INDIGENOUS/ EXOTIC: Exotic
EVERGREEN/ DECIDUOUS: Evergreen
TIME OF FLOWER: Spring, Summer, Autumn
COLOUR OF FLOWER: White
LIGHT PREFERENCE: Full sun
WATER NEEDS: Low → moderate
SOIL REQUIREMENTS: Chalk, Loam, Sandy
AVAILABLE SIZES: 6 pack

Evolvulus glomeratus

It has blue flowers and flowers consistantly. It is perfect to use as a ground cover in the garden or in containers where it will form a mounding mat of blue flowers. Its leaves are silvery – green in colour and have a slight “fuzzy” feel to them.

PLANT NAME: Evolvulus glomeratus
COMMON ENGLISH NAME: Blue daze
INDIGENOUS/ EXOTIC: Exotic
EVERGREEN/ DECIDUOUS: Evergreen
HEIGHT & WIDTH: 30cm x 60-90cm
TIME OF FLOWER: Spring, Summer
COLOUR OF FLOWER: Blue
LIGHT PREFERENCE: Full sun
WATER NEEDS: Moderate
SOIL REQUIREMENTS: Sandy, Loam
AVAILABLE SIZES: 15cm, 6 pack

Falkia repens

Falkia repens is an evergreen, mat-forming, perennial groundcover with lovely rounded leaves and large, white to pinkish paper-like flowers.

PLANT NAME: Falkia repens
COMMON ENGLISH NAME: White carpet, African morning glory
COMMON AFRIKAANS NAME: Oortjies
INDIGENOUS/ EXOTIC: Indigenous
EVERGREEN/ DECIDUOUS: Evergreen
HEIGHT & WIDTH: 10-20cm x 30-50cm
TIME OF FLOWER: Spring, Early Summer
COLOUR OF FLOWER: White
LIGHT PREFERENCE: Full sun → shade
WATER NEEDS: Moderate
SOIL REQUIREMENTS: Loam
AVAILABLE SIZES: 15cm, 6 pack

Ficus pumila

A vigorous and fast growing, self-clinging, climber, covering everything it encounters by adhesive aerial rootlets. Small heart-shaped leaves resemble small ivy leaves.

PLANT NAME: Ficus pumila
COMMON ENGLISH NAME: Tickey creeper, Climbing fig
INDIGENOUS/ EXOTIC: Exotic
EVERGREEN/ DECIDUOUS: Evergreen
HEIGHT & WIDTH: 3-5m x 0.9-1.8m
LIGHT PREFERENCE: Semi-shade
WATER NEEDS: Moderate
SOIL REQUIREMENTS: Sandy, Cahlk, Clay, Loam
AVAILABLE SIZES: 15cm, 4 pack

Gazania rigens

Gazania rigens is an extremely showy plant when in flower, largely due to its bright flower colour, flower size, and its extended flowering period. It carries the flowers on long stems above the dark green, waxy leaves.

PLANT NAME: Gazania rigens
COMMON ENGLISH NAME: African daisy
COMMON AFRIKAANS NAME: Gousblom, Botterblom
INDIGENOUS/ EXOTIC: Indigenous
EVERGREEN/ DECIDUOUS: Evergreen
HEIGHT & WIDTH: 15-30cm x 50-60cm
TIME OF FLOWER: Spring, Early Summer
COLOUR OF FLOWER: Yellow, Orange, White, Red, Pink
LIGHT PREFERENCE: Full sun
WATER NEEDS: Moderate
SOIL REQUIREMENTS: Sandy, Clay
AVAILABLE SIZES: 15cm

Gazania uniflora

Gazania unflora has large, bright flowers hoisted above a pale grey foliage.

PLANT NAME: Gazania uniflora
COMMON ENGLISH NAME: African daisy
INDIGENOUS/ EXOTIC: Indigenous
EVERGREEN/ DECIDUOUS: Evergreen
HEIGHT & WIDTH: 15-30cm x 50-60cm
TIME OF FLOWER: Spring, Early Summer
COLOUR OF FLOWER: Yellow, Pink
LIGHT PREFERENCE: Full sun
WATER NEEDS: Moderate
SOIL REQUIREMENTS: Sandy, Clay
AVAILABLE SIZES: 15cm

Geranium incanum

Geranium incanum has finely divided leaves which give it a soft texture in the garden. The large mauve flowers have identical petals.

PLANT NAME: Geranium incanum
COMMON AFRIKAANS NAME: African daisy
INDIGENOUS/ EXOTIC: Indigenous
EVERGREEN/ DECIDUOUS: Evergreen
HEIGHT & WIDTH: 30cm x 30-40cm
TIME OF FLOWER: Spring, Early Summer
COLOUR OF FLOWER: Lilac
LIGHT PREFERENCE: Full sun → semi-shade
WATER NEEDS: Moderate
SOIL REQUIREMENTS: Sandy, Clay
AVAILABLE SIZES: 6 pack

Helichrysum cymosum

A fast growing, well branched, spreading groundcover with thin greyish-white woolly branches densely covered with leaves.

PLANT NAME: Helichrysum cymosum
COMMON ENGLISH NAME: Gold carpet
COMMON AFRIKAANS NAME: Goue tapyt
INDIGENOUS/ EXOTIC: Indigenous
EVERGREEN/ DECIDUOUS: Evergreen
HEIGHT & WIDTH: 0.5-1m x 50cm
TIME OF FLOWER: Spring, Summer, Early Autumn
COLOUR OF FLOWER: Yellow
LIGHT PREFERENCE: Full sun → semi-shade
WATER NEEDS: Low → moderate
SOIL REQUIREMENTS: Sandy, Loam
AVAILABLE SIZES: 15cm, 6 pack

Helichrysum petiolare

The dense, aromatic foliage consists of roundish leaves which are covered with silver-grey hairs. Many tiny yellow flowers form small flowerheads, surrounded by creamy-white bracts, are arranged in inflorescences, on long stalks.

PLANT NAME: Helichrysum petiolare
COMMON ENGLISH NAME: Licorice plant
INDIGENOUS/ EXOTIC: Indigenous
EVERGREEN/ DECIDUOUS: Evergreen
HEIGHT & WIDTH: 0.5-1m x 0.9-1.2m
TIME OF FLOWER: Spring, Early Summer
COLOUR OF FLOWER: Cream, Yellow
LIGHT PREFERENCE: Full sun → semi-shade
WATER NEEDS: Low
SOIL REQUIREMENTS: Sandy, Loam
AVAILABLE SIZES: 15cm, 6 pack

Helichrysum teretifolium

Straggling shrublet with leaves hooked at tips, more or less hairless above but white-woolly beneath. The flowerheads appear in dense flat-topped clusters, without ray florets, surrounded by creamy white papery bracts that spread at the tips.

PLANT NAME: Helichrysum teretifolium
COMMON ENGLISH NAME: Dune scrub everlasting
INDIGENOUS/ EXOTIC: Indigenous
EVERGREEN/ DECIDUOUS: Evergreen
HEIGHT & WIDTH: 20-50cm x 30-50cm
TIME OF FLOWER: Winter, Spring
COLOUR OF FLOWER: White
LIGHT PREFERENCE: Full sun → semi-shade
WATER NEEDS: Low
SOIL REQUIREMENTS: Sandy, Loam
AVAILABLE SIZES: 15cm, 6 pack

Malephora crocea

A hardy, evergreen, spreading, succulent groundcover that has pale-green to blue-green, triangular leaves.

PLANT NAME: Malephora crocea
COMMON AFRIKAANS NAME: Dune scrub everlasting
INDIGENOUS/ EXOTIC: Indigenous
EVERGREEN/ DECIDUOUS: Evergreen
HEIGHT: 20cm
TIME OF FLOWER: Spring
COLOUR OF FLOWER: Orange
LIGHT PREFERENCE: Full sun
WATER NEEDS: Low
SOIL REQUIREMENTS: Sandy, Loam
AVAILABLE SIZES: 15cm

Plectranthus ciliatus

A fairly hardy, evergreen groundcover with attractive quilted leaves that have purple undersides and purple stems. It has spikes of white or mauve flowers.

PLANT NAME: Plectranthus ciliatus
COMMON ENGLISH NAME: Speckled spur-flower, White wild sage
COMMON AFRIKAANS NAME: Gespikkelde muishondblaar, Wimperspoorsalie
INDIGENOUS/ EXOTIC: Indigenous
EVERGREEN/ DECIDUOUS: Evergreen
HEIGHT & WIDTH: 30cm x 40cm
TIME OF FLOWER: Spring, Summer, Autumn
COLOUR OF FLOWER: White, Purple
LIGHT PREFERENCE: Semi-shade
WATER NEEDS: Moderate
SOIL REQUIREMENTS: Sandy
AVAILABLE SIZES: 15cm, 6 pack

Plectranthus madagascariensis variegated (Coleus aliciae)

A fairly hardy, evergreen, semi-succulent, aromatic, herbaceous plant that has attractive, variegated leaves with white margins which are carried on long trailing stems.

PLANT NAME: Plectranthus madagascariensis variegated (Coleus aliciae)
COMMON ENGLISH NAME: Madagascar coleus, Candle plant
COMMON AFRIKAANS NAME: Ruigte-muishondblaar, Madagaskar-muishondblaar
INDIGENOUS/ EXOTIC: Indigenous
EVERGREEN/ DECIDUOUS: Evergreen
HEIGHT & WIDTH: 30cm-40cm x 45cm
TIME OF FLOWER: Late Summer, Autumn, Winter, Spring
COLOUR OF FLOWER: White
LIGHT PREFERENCE: Semi-shade
WATER NEEDS: Moderate
SOIL REQUIREMENTS: Sandy, Loam
AVAILABLE SIZES: 15cm, 6 pack

Plectranthus neochilus

A hardy, versatile, aromatic herbaceous perennial, which forms an attractive groundcover even when the plant is not in flower and is suitable both for shady subtropical and sunny water-wise gardens.

PLANT NAME: Plectranthus neochilus
COMMON ENGLISH NAME: Blue coleus, Lobster flower
COMMON AFRIKAANS NAME: Rotstuinsalie
INDIGENOUS/ EXOTIC: Indigenous
EVERGREEN/ DECIDUOUS: Evergreen
HEIGHT & WIDTH: 20cm-50cm x 60cm
TIME OF FLOWER: Spring, Summer, Autumn
COLOUR OF FLOWER: Blue, Purple
LIGHT PREFERENCE: Full sun → semi-shade
WATER NEEDS: Low → moderate
SOIL REQUIREMENTS: Sandy, Loam
AVAILABLE SIZES: 15cm, 6 pack

Plectranthus verticillatus

A perennial semi-succulent ground cover with glossy, soft, round to obovate leaves that are light to dark green above, sometimes deep purple below.

PLANT NAME: Plectranthus verticillatus
COMMON ENGLISH NAME: Gossip spurflower, Money plant, Swedish ivy
COMMON AFRIKAANS NAME: Skindersalie
INDIGENOUS/ EXOTIC: Indigenous
EVERGREEN/ DECIDUOUS: Evergreen
HEIGHT & WIDTH: 10cm-30cm x 60cm
TIME OF FLOWER: Late Summer, Autumn, Winter, Spring
COLOUR OF FLOWER: White, Pink, Mauve
LIGHT PREFERENCE: Full sun → shade
WATER NEEDS: Low
SOIL REQUIREMENTS: Sandy, Clay, Loam
AVAILABLE SIZES: 15cm, 6 pack

Stachys aethiopica

A very hardy, evergreen, spreading groundcover with beautiful pale green leaves. It bears spikes of small, white tubular flowers.

PLANT NAME: Stachys aethiopica
COMMON ENGLISH NAME: African stachys
COMMON AFRIKAANS NAME: Katbossie
INDIGENOUS/ EXOTIC: Indigenous
EVERGREEN/ DECIDUOUS: Evergreen
HEIGHT & WIDTH: 30-50cm x Upto 5m
TIME OF FLOWER: Late Spring, Summer, Autumn
COLOUR OF FLOWER: White, Pink, Mauve/Lilac
LIGHT PREFERENCE: Full sun → semi-shade
WATER NEEDS: Low
SOIL REQUIREMENTS: Sandy, Clay, Loam
AVAILABLE SIZES: 15cm

Sutera cordata blizzard

A hardy, low-growing perrenial groundcover with an impressive spread. Its short stems and foliage are dark green with bright white flowers scattered between.

PLANT NAME: Sutera cordata blizzard
COMMON ENGLISH NAME: Sutera cordata snowstorm, White bacopa
INDIGENOUS/ EXOTIC: Indigenous
EVERGREEN/ DECIDUOUS: Evergreen
HEIGHT & WIDTH: 15-20cm x 50-60cm
TIME OF FLOWER: Sporadic/All year
COLOUR OF FLOWER: White
LIGHT PREFERENCE: Full sun → semi-shade
WATER NEEDS: Moderate → High
SOIL REQUIREMENTS: Sandy, Loam
AVAILABLE SIZES: 15cm, 6 pack