PLANTS FOR GROUND COVER 203 



reasons. In the first place, the rhododendron foliage itself provides 

 considerable shade at the base of the plant, and the nature of the 

 rhododendron plant requires shade for its successful growth. Con- 

 sequently, these ground-cover plants should be such as are adapted to 

 the general conditions of woodland shade. It is inadvisable to culti- 

 vate the soil around the base of rhododendrons and azaleas. These 

 plants ought to be such that when once planted they will require no 

 further cultivation other than the addition of a small amount of leaf 

 mold from year to year, to provide the necessary food supply. 



The last and one of the interesting types of ground cover is that 

 used in the development of rose gardens, to provide a mat of foliage or 

 flowers between the rose bushes. Plants used for this purpose, such 

 as the tufted pansy, the common verbena, and rose moss, ought to be 

 shallow-rooted types, with low, spreading characteristics. The 

 reason why a ground cover is desired in a rose garden is that during a 

 portion of the summer months the ground is often bare. There is an 

 argument, however, against the use of any ground cover throughout the 

 rose garden in that the constant cultivation which is the best aid to 

 the good development of roses cannot be done. Many of the success- 

 ful English rose gardens are filled with these ground-cover plants. 

 Where plants of this kind are used the roses should be well cultivated 

 in the early spring and should be well cultivated again in the early or 

 late fall, and they should be well fertilized also to insure sufficient food 

 in the soil to provide for both the growth of the ground-cover plants 

 and the roses. These plants, all of which are interesting for their 

 flowering habits, provide an interesting group of colour at a season 

 of the year when most of the roses have passed the height of their 

 bloom. 



LIST OF PLANTS FOR GROUND COVER 



A. MOIST LOCATIONS. This group of plants is adapted for loca- 

 tions where the soil conditions are apt to be continually moist. There 

 are some perennials which will not thrive and will rot where the 

 ground is continually moist. It is therefore desirable to have a group 

 from which to select plants when these exceptional conditions of soil 

 or drainage are encountered. 



Achillea tomentosa Alyssum saxatile compactum 



Yellow Milfoil Golden Tuft 



Ajuga reptans Arabis alpina 



Bugle Alpine Rock Cress 



