Groundcovers for your Garden
Lennox Head Landcare is not just about caring for the land around Lennox, oh no! We care for your garden too. Over the next few months we’ll be talking about hardy little local groundcovers that would be perfect for your home garden. These plants are tough, require little maintenance, look great and are easily found at local native plant nurseries or through Landcare ourselves at bargain prices (and you'd be supporting the work we do around the area). But wait there’s more; these two are also edible!
Pigface - Carpobrotus glaucescens
Everybody knows pigface. It’s that hardy little creeper that grows on the sand dunes up and down the east coast. Its succulent leaves are fleshy and jelly-like inside and it produces bright pink flowers in spring and summer.
Pigface is a wide-spreading plant that loves sandy soils so it’ll grow well in the village but it also grows well on other well-drained soils. It also loves full sun or part shade and it’s drought tolerant.
And here’s the best part; the fruits are really tasty. They’re ripe when they’re maroon in colour; they have a slightly salty flavour when grown close to the sea but away from the sea they taste sweet and sometimes slightly sour. The leaves can be eaten raw or cooked and aboriginal people used the plant to treat burns, stings and sore throats.
Ivy leaf violet - Viola banksii (formerly Viola hederacea)
Ivy leaf violet is a delicate but hardy little plant with kidney shaped bright green leaves and orchid-like flowers. It flowers in the warmer months but can sporadically burst into flower throughout the year.
It loves moist sheltered gardens and dappled light but will also happily grow in full sun though not as vigorously. It also grows in da variety of soil types so it’ll be fine in the village or up on the hills as long the soil retains moisture.
This little groundcover can spread over large areas especially in moist conditions and it looks great around pavers and water features. Lastly, the dainty little purple and white flowers are edible and look great in a fruit salad or as a decorative floral garnish.
Right now, while it’s raining, is the perfect time to plant these tough little local lovelies so why wouldn’t you plant a few in your own patch - add colour to your garden, and zest to a salad. And remember, there’ll be more information on native groundcovers in next month's Lennox Wave. Happy planting - and eating.
Written by S. Web, published June 2020.
Pigface - Carpobrotus glaucescens
Everybody knows pigface. It’s that hardy little creeper that grows on the sand dunes up and down the east coast. Its succulent leaves are fleshy and jelly-like inside and it produces bright pink flowers in spring and summer.
Pigface is a wide-spreading plant that loves sandy soils so it’ll grow well in the village but it also grows well on other well-drained soils. It also loves full sun or part shade and it’s drought tolerant.
And here’s the best part; the fruits are really tasty. They’re ripe when they’re maroon in colour; they have a slightly salty flavour when grown close to the sea but away from the sea they taste sweet and sometimes slightly sour. The leaves can be eaten raw or cooked and aboriginal people used the plant to treat burns, stings and sore throats.
Ivy leaf violet - Viola banksii (formerly Viola hederacea)
Ivy leaf violet is a delicate but hardy little plant with kidney shaped bright green leaves and orchid-like flowers. It flowers in the warmer months but can sporadically burst into flower throughout the year.
It loves moist sheltered gardens and dappled light but will also happily grow in full sun though not as vigorously. It also grows in da variety of soil types so it’ll be fine in the village or up on the hills as long the soil retains moisture.
This little groundcover can spread over large areas especially in moist conditions and it looks great around pavers and water features. Lastly, the dainty little purple and white flowers are edible and look great in a fruit salad or as a decorative floral garnish.
Right now, while it’s raining, is the perfect time to plant these tough little local lovelies so why wouldn’t you plant a few in your own patch - add colour to your garden, and zest to a salad. And remember, there’ll be more information on native groundcovers in next month's Lennox Wave. Happy planting - and eating.
Written by S. Web, published June 2020.