Groundcover and low-growing 2ft plant - Plant Encyclopedia Results

Sedum is a genus of about 400 species of leaf succulents, from the old and new world in the northern hemisphere.

Stevia rebaudiana is a herbaceous perennial, which is normally used as a natural herbal sweetener. This is a plant where the native Guarani have used caa-ehe (stevia) for over 1500 years to sweeten otherwise unpalatable medicinal drinks. It is a short day plant, growing up to 1.5Ft in the wild and flowering from January to March in the southern hemisphere. The dried leaves can be ground and used as a sweetener or soaked in water and the liquid used in making preserves. The powdered leaves are also added to herb teas. The leaves are sometimes chewed by those wishing to reduce their sugar intake. The leaves can also be cooked and eaten as a vegetable. Stevia grows naturally on infertile, sandy acid soils with shallow water tables. This is normally in areas like the edge of mashes and grassland communities. The natural climate is semi-humid subtropical. While the herb's native locale may make it appear somewhat exotic, it has proved to be quite adaptable and capable of being cultivated in climate zones as diverse as Florida and southern Canada.

Plectranthus coleoides (White-Edged Swedish Ivy) is a small plant that reaches 2-5 ft and is used as a groundcover and low-growing accent. It has beautiful white or off-white flowers that are fragrant and ornamental in style. It does best when placed in full sun or semi-shade depending on the climate and with moderate watering.

When planting Plectranthus coleoides in warm climates, it can be placed in the ground, however in cold regions, it is best to grow it in a pot to ensure that the soil keeps warm. To ensure proper growth and care of the plant, when placing it in a pot in a cold region, ensure that it is planted in well drained soil to prevent rotting and that the container is able to hold sufficient water to keep the plant hydrated. Place the pot in an area that gets plenty of sunlight, generally the sunniest location in your garden, and make sure to water the plant during periods of drought. Additionally, fertilize the soil every few months to ensure maximum growth.

With proper care and attention, Plectranthus coleoides can be a beautiful and vibrant addition to any garden. Its ornamental foliage and fragrant flowers will be sure to delight.

Athyrium niponicum 'Pictum' commonly known as Japanese Painted Fern, is a compact deciduous fern valued for its finely divided, arching fronds with a silvery base overlaid with green and burgundy tones. Native to East Asia, it forms neat clumps typically 12 to 18 inches tall and wide, with soft, textured foliage that adds contrast and brightness to shaded plantings.

This cultivar prefers partial to full shade and moist, well-drained, humus-rich soil. Growth is moderate, with slow spread by rhizomes under stable conditions. Hardy in USDA Zones 4 to 8, it benefits from consistent moisture and protection from hot afternoon sun. Athyrium niponicum 'Pictum' is well suited to woodland gardens, shaded borders, and container growing.

Mostly grown in gardens for the handsomely patterned foliage. Calathea prefers moist, shady, jungle-like conditions in a garden and is also often grown as potted specimens. When it is used as a house plant, the leaves should be sprayed with water several times a week. Propagation is by root division. Water with soft water. Keep uniform high humidity and temperature. Look best when grouped with other foliage plants. Can be used in a bottle garden or terrarium. This plant requires very specific growing conditions in order to thrive. Place in a warm, shady position i.e. one that never receives direct or indirect sun. Feed with a liquid fertilizer every two weeks during Spring and Summer and once a month during Autumn and Winter. Stand on a tray filled with water and pebbles to increase humidity. Water plentifully. Never allow to dry out - keep the potting mixture moist at all times. Repot every Spring using a mix of two thirds potting mixture and one third leaf mould or peat. Once the plant has been potted on to a fifteen centimetre pot , it is only necessary to replace the top layer of soil.

See Article - How to grow Calathea indoors.

This dwarf variety of murraya stays compact. The shrub gets bushy but stays short 1-2ft tall. Very fragrant flowers year round followed by red fruit. Good for potting culture and as a house plant. This plant is very interesting. The seedlings start blooming in small 1-2" size, when they have only 3-4 leaves! It needs lots of direct sun, likes to be somewhat on a dry side. Do not push it with fertilizer. It is VERY slow-growing. In 2 years it may grow as little as 1 ft tall, this is why it is called Mini. But the good thing is it starts blooming in few weeks to 1-2 months after germination!

Growing from seeds: like all murrayas (including M. koengii - Curry Leaf), seeds must be planted fresh, once collected. The ripe fruit is bright red. Very important: the red fruit skin and orange flesh must be carefully removed, and only a clean green "bean" should be planted. The seed inside the fruit is usually double, you may separate the halves - those are separate seeds. Be very careful, they are very tender - like a fresh green pea. Once planted in well-drained soil and provided with heat and constant moist, it should germinate within 1-2 weeks. Normally germination is around 100% if everything done right. Just remember, do not let the seed dry, and remove red skin - otherwise germination rate goes down or it will never sprout at all. Enjoy, this tiny little plant blooms year round and fragrance is wonderful!

If you are looking to add some color to your garden, the Osteospermum sp. (Trailing African Daisy) is an excellent choice. Native to Southern Africa, this groundcover and low-growing small plant thrives in full sun and moderate water conditions. This small plant grows to a maximum of two to five feet and can be grown in USDA zones 9-11. With its daisy-like blooms coming in a variety of shades, including pink, white and off-white, blue, lavender and purple, and yellow and orange, you can create a colorful and vibrant display. Furthermore, the African Daisy is attractive to butterflies and hummingbirds, adding to the overall beauty of your garden.

The Trailing African Daisy is easy to look after and rarely suffers from pests or diseases. It is best suited for covering large open areas of level or sloping ground and grows to a maximum of two to five feet. It prefers rich soil and full sun, and established plants can cope with droughts. As well as this, the long, trailing stems of the African Daisy quickly spread across the soil, creating a beautiful carpet with leaves 1 to 2 inches long. This plant can also be grown in retaining walls or containers, and offers a graceful draping effect.

For those living in colder regions, the African Daisy does not require much maintenance and can easily be grown in a pot. Be sure to pot it in a rich, well-drained soil and place it in a sunny spot. Ensure the pot is well-watered throughout the growing season, taking extra care that it does not dry out. Apply an organic fertilizer once during the season, giving the plant the nutrients required for flower production. If grown in a pot, the African Daisy can be brought indoors for winter and placed near a sunny window.

Showy, tropical looking epiphyte that can be grown on a tree or in a large hanging basket. Long, pendulous, much bifurcated fertile fronds produce spores on special cup shaped appendages. Basal fronds form a crown shaped basket. It is able to grow high in the trees of the rainforest, often grows in large masses. Needs bright indirect light. New divisions should be misted daily to keep the humidity levels high. Once they are established, the ferns are fairly drought tolerant and should be watered at least twice a week during the growing season. During the winter rest period, water only enough to keep the fronds from wilting. Too much water in winter causes spotting of the fronds.

SIMILAR SPECIES: Platycerium bifurcatum has fertile leaves forked up to 5x (vs. forked to 7x), and sporangia on terminal tapering lobes (vs. on rounded or kidney-shaped lobes). P. coronarium and P. bifurcatum which look alike when young.