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Any suggestions on perennials that can be planted as a border along edge of driveway? Looking for something that will take from seed. Would like to scatter in a narrow swarth next to driveway, hopefully some would take advantage of the open space between the rocks and establish themselves. We get about 140 inches rain per year, otherwise would be full sun exposure. Something that flowers would be a bonus. Preference is for low height.
David
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I used to always think of vincas & geraniums, as they are normally self seeding, but mine have gone all white, perhaps crossback hybrid???
Here is a 1985 CTAHR pub on groundcovers:
http://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/oc/freepubs/pdf/RES-052.pdf
& Native Hawaiian plants as groundcovers:
http://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/uhmg/downloa...tiveGC.pdf
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All low height can be visually boring. Please consider breaking up that uniformity with a few taller plants interspersed. There are many varieties of ti, for example, that are colorful - even solid colored ti (green, black, maroon) can set off the flowering plants nicely - and they are totally trouble-free. You can easily maintain them at any height you like. Ferns are low-growing and make good trouble-free ground covers even in full sun (bird's net fern (ekaha) can be very dramatic, laua'e will naturalize and fill in nicely, and its solid fronds can contrast in an interesting way with a more frilly fern such as palai or palapalai (maidenhair types).
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Thanks
Great reads, Carey.
Good points, Rene we already have that diversity in other places. Along the drive itself, I 'think' I want more uniformity, but could use differences in areas of transition etc. we are looking at over 300 ft of drive x2 with both sides.
My preference is low to no maintenance. Seeds vs planting starts.
No decision yet, still researching
David
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We've found the following perennial "spinaches" make great ground covers and food:
'Okinawan spinach'
'Brazilian spinach'
'Malabar spinach'
Also, the perennial peanut has done well for a ground cover.
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Nastursums grow really well here, self seed, are low to the ground and colorful.
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Two more great suggestions. I like the edible part
David
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If you like edibles and low maintenance consider mint or oregano. Both of the main varieties of oregano (traditional greek & the thicker mexican) do very well for me with almost NO work. Basil, especially the lemon kind, has also been self-seeding in my garden for 5+ years. Rosemary grows a little taller into a hedge but is also low maintenance. Throw some pineapple plants into the mix maybe.
Non-edibles that also seem to work for lots of folks are false heather (purple or white flowers), joy weed, vinca. The most common low-growing bromeliad, "Neoregelia carolinae" is easy to find and grow, but can harbor mosquitos and stinky water is not rinsed out often - so fine if it's planted away from your house. Talk to some of the vendors at Maku'u that have ground covers or the always-helpful folks at Garden Exchange.
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Aloha,
I LOVE Dayna's idea of the Nasturtium. NOT ONLY are there a number of varieties with leaf and color characteristics to suit almost anyone's palette, for the most part they're edible and make a GREAT salad or salad addition with their peppery taste ~ They're also very easy to control. They're best left to grow on their own but an occasional thinning and sometimes replacing 'leggy' individuals keeps them looking their best! They are NOT a hedge and therefore don't much like being hacked up with a hedge trimmer. They'll grow in low soft mounds with GREAT leaf color AND flowers as well, with very little care. I've speced these in quite a few landscapes I've designed over the years ~ ~ ~ Aloha ~
Punanny
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Nasturtiums are also used as ground cover around fruit trees and even are 'trained' to grow up the trunks of some trees like apples they are beneficials that help repel pests like insects. Also keep in mind that these can be vectors or hosts for some plant related diseases for instance Ralstonia solanaceraum is often carried in nasturtiums. Ralstonia s. is responsible for the widespread ginger blight/wilt that plagues ginger farmers and is the reason why you see 'young' ginger in the store. If a farmer sees an infection he cuts his crop and harvests the rhizomes early before they are lost - hence the early or 'young' ginger. Unfortunately there is no known cure or remedy for Ralstonia s. and we currently breed for resistance as a result. I digress, the above considered, you may find a more suitable ground cover though nasturtiums are certainly pretty.