BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine

Q What groundcove­r will give winter interest under a hedge in sun?

- Jennifer Taylor, London

AJAMES SAYS Winter interest groundcove­r for a sunny spot can be a bit of a conundrum. However, I think the light shade cast by your hibiscus hedge can open up your choices a bit. I would go for a carpet of beautiful ivy-leaved cyclamen (C. hederifoli­um), which have exotically patterned leaves and a delicate sprinkling of pink flowers in late autumn and early winter.

I see you’re in the mild climate of London, so you could combine the cyclamen with a soft mossy swathe of mind-your-own-business (Soleirolia soleirolii). Unlike the cyclamen, this is evergreen so will suppress weeds all year round. These two will make good bedfellows beneath your hedge.

 ?? ?? Ivy-leaved cyclamen is happy at the base of hedges, shrubs and trees
Ivy-leaved cyclamen is happy at the base of hedges, shrubs and trees

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United Kingdom