Geraniums.

Hi folks, I've just planted 7 Cornus (dogwoods), alba elegantissimo, alba aurea and flaviramea. I've planted them in a semi circle to mark the edge of what will be a small seating patio area. As well as some foliage during the warmer months I'm hoping that the colourful bark will still look good over the cooler months. What I'm looking for now are plants for planting in front of and underneath. I'm looking for evergreens as the lower level of the foliage should look good with the colourful stems coming through them. (Can you picture it so far ?)
I was thinking of evergreen geraniums for starters but I'm no experience with them. Anyone got any experience/info regarding them ?
Gazania

 

Geranium macrorrhizum keeps its leaves in winter better then most of the hardy geraniums and will soon cover any patch of ground.
Some people find the smell of the leaves rather pungent however (don't mind it myself) so bear that in mind if you're going to use it close to a seating area.
It thrives in my garden in quite dry conditions, not sure how it handles wetter areas such as yours though. I'm sure someone else on here can advise.
If you're looking for a low growing evergreen, you could also consider Bergenia.

 

Hi Trunky, I'll look at some G.macrorrhizum's on the net. A pungent smell might not be welcomed next to a patio.
Good suggestion about Bergenia worth looking into.
Gazania
p.s. have been considering 'Bevans . . .' which looks a nice plant.

 

What about evergreen Azalia's. They look Ok when just green, but are great when in flower.
If you get several different types you can have flowers for quite a long time.

 

Azalia's ? I do really like azaleas and being a big Japanese fan I have lots already along with rhodies, camellias, acers, e.t.c. So with this part of the garden I'm not going for shrubs.
I'm looking for geraniums and bergenias today BUT what a difference in prices when you look around ! I guess strong healthy plants are the main objective.
Gazania

 

I've never grown a geranium which is truly evergreen. Sometimes they hold on to a few tatty leaves through the winter but they basically die down to the roots out of season. Many of mine are only just starting to show.

How about some lavender plants? They're small, evergreen, can be trimmed to keep them nice and neat (although not too far into old wood) and have lovely flowers in the summer. I like the blue-green leaves and the plants smell lovely too. Ideal for an area where you're going to be sitting out.

To me, Bergenia can look a bit tatty, especially out of season. There are some small leaved varieties which I think are a lot neater. 'Abendglut' looks promising, although I haven't grown it myself.

 

Hallo Gazania
I have these two little ground covering evergreens in the border . The first is in flower now and the other will be in a month or two- it has pink flowers that are about the same size. They root readily in a glass jar in a shady place so they are not expensive to get lots of. I like them in window boxws and hanging baskets too. One of the ID gurus will name them for me I hope so you can google them. Hope you find this helpful
Jenny namaste

 

Looks like lamium Jenny or to give it its more common name dead nettle

 

Macrorrhizum is a lovely geranium I have the pink and the white variety and they are pretty evergreen here and grow well on my heavy clay, the leaves change to lovely shades of red in the autumn too, very easy to propagate, just stick a piece of the woody rhizome in a pot and they root , I quite like the smell too

 

Hi Clare, yes I think both geraniums and bergenias can look a bit tatty over winter. With this in mind I won't be filling the whole border with just these two I think. But they will look good over summer.
Hi Simbad, from what I have seen from pics macrorrhizum looks pretty good and I will search them out.
Thanks Jenny, nice plants.
Thanks Marley, yes hellebores are worth looking at too.
Gazania

 

Oh nearly forgot ! I have a border of lavender already Clare that I am growing and clipping. They were grown from seed last year and are starting their new growth now.
Gazania

 

how about small euonymus fortunei varieties, easy to propagate, just get a couple of twigs from the local supermartket outdoor bedding or wherever and put into the soil, keep not too sunny and don't let them dry out,
evergreen, slowgrowing, does not look tatty

 

Hi loveweeds, this must sound like I have a garden full of plants already ! I've just planted quite a few euonymus fortunei around my Japanese garden. I trim them to keep them small and to the shape I want.
Gazania