Christmas Rose (Helleborus Niger) - Christmas Rose seeds can be started to grow this unique ornamental that blooms in the winter. Helleborus Niger Christmas Rose has a rugged, coarse-textured, leathery, shiny green foliage that remains attractive year-round. The plant is stemless, herbaceous and can be used as a ground cover that reaches 12 - 18 inches tall and spreads about the same across.

Christmas rose seed |

How to grow

How To Grow Christmas Rose From Seed: If sowing the Christmas Rose seeds directly outdoors, sow the ground cover seeds in the fall. The flower seeds require a cold treatment to germinate. You can either sow them on the ground where you will be growing them permanently or sow the seeds in pots, and then bring the pots in after a month or so of freezing weather. The freezing will encourage them to germinate more easily.

If you choose to sow the Christmas Rose flower seeds indoors, freeze the seeds for 3 - 6 weeks to break dormancy, then plant the flower seeds in starting medium. When the plant is around 2 inches tall, transplant to the permanent place. Helleborus Niger plants can take up to 3 years to flower when grown by seeds. Christmas Rose is a poisonous plant.

• Sowing Rate: 5 seeds per plant
• Average Germ Time: 28 - 56 days
• Keep moist until germination
• Attracts bumblebees
• Depth: 1/16 inch

Flower Specifications

Christmas Rose flowers bloom in early winter to early spring with white flowers that might be tinged with pink. Christmas Rose plants are a perfect addition to give a garden some winter color. Foot traffic is not recommended.

• Height: 12 - 18 inches
• USDA Zones: 4 - 8
• Season: Perennial
• Deer Resistant: Yes

Green Carpet (Herniaria Glabra) - This low growing drought tolerant ground cover only reaches about 3 inches in height and forms a matforming green carpet for carpet-bedding, a lawn alternative, low growing container gardening, etc. Herniaria glabra, also known as Rupturewort or Green Carpet, is a soft to walk on, evergreen grass substitute for many people or the perfect ground cover. It can take quite a bit of foot traffic as it is almost as wear tolerant as grass. Its small, vibrant green glabrous foliage will get inconspicuous lime-green to white flowers on it, but they are barely visible and do not attract bees. Many people report never seeing Herniaria Glabra flower at all which makes it nice as there is no flower clean up.

Ground cover seed | herniaria glabra

How to grow

How To Grow Herniaria Glabra From Seed: It is recommended to start these ground cover seeds indoors in late winter, 8 to 10 weeks before transplanting outdoors in the spring. Use shallow trays filled to the top with good top soil or potting soil. Surface sow and do not cover the seeds. Bottom water or mist spray and try not to let the seed dry out.

Before transplanting into the bed, harden the plants for 10 - 14 days in a protected area outside. Hardening off will gradually expose the tender plants to wind, sun and rain and toughen them up to help prevent transplant shock. To transplant, use a light application of liquid fertilizer or starter fertilizer and water well.

• Sowing Rate: 3 - 5 seeds per cell or approximately 5,000 seeds covers 100 square feet
• Average Germ Time: 7 - 14 days
• Keep moist until germination
• Depth: Do not cover

Ground Cover Specifications

Herniaria Glabra spreads in all directions filling up to two feet per plant! It is not fussy about soil, happily growing in poor soil and gravel. This low growing plant of about 3 inches has one long tap root which makes it extremely drought tolerant. Green Carpet can grow in full sun or shady locations. The tiny leaves of Herniaria Glabra create a dense evergreen carpet, becoming bronze or red colored in winter adding even more interest.

• Height: 3 inches
• USDA Zones: 6 - 10
• Season: Perennial
• Deer Resistant: Yes
• Drought Tolerant: Yes

Meadowfoam (Limnanthes Douglasii) - Grow Limnanthes Douglasii seeds for this annual that is native to California. Limnanthes is commonly called Poached Egg Plant or Meadowfoam, and it is not only visually very striking and attractive, but it also has a very nice aroma as well. Limnanthes Poached Egg Plant is not fussy about soil, and it will easily and quickly spread, creating a low-growing, shiny, carpet. Each meadowfoam plant can spread up to 30 inches! Poached Egg Limnanthes is a very long blooming annual with a mass of charming, 1 inch clear white and lemony yellow 2-toned blooms on 8 inch stems. It easily sows its own flower seeds for next year's display. Meadowfoam plants are great as a ground cover plant, and they will grow well in pots too.

Sow Limnanthes Douglasii seeds directly outdoors in a prepared seedbed in spring after danger of frost has passed. Meadowfoam seed should be pressed into the soil and very lightly covered with soil. When large enough to handle, thin the Poached Egg Plant seedlings. 

Pinkhead Smartweed (Polygonum Capitatum Punching Balls) - Polygonum Capitatum seeds can be grown to form a low-growing, spreading ground cover. A synonymous botanical name is Persicaria Capitata, and it has many common names: Pinkhead Smartweed, Pink Knotweed, Pink Clover, and Pink Fleece Flower. Pink Knotweed uses include containers, baskets, edging the front of the border or as ground cover plants. It looks especially lovely in raised beds or containers where it can spill over the edges. Pinkhead Smartweed is praised for its burgundy tinted foliage and small coral-pink round flower heads. It is a tough, easy-to-grow ground cover for sun or shade with a long bloom season.

Start Polygonum Capitatum seeds indoors in late winter for areas with a short growing season. Use quality seed starting soil and small pots. Press the ground cover seeds into the moistened soil and lightly cover. Maintain moisture until germination occurs. After danger of frost has passed, transplant the Pink Knotweeds seedlings outdoors after hardening the ground cover plants for 10 days or more. For areas with a long growing season, start the Knotweed ground cover seeds directly outdoors after danger of frost has passed. Prepare a weed-free seedbed and lightly cover the seeds with soil after broadcasting.

 

Dahlberg Daisy (Thymophylla Tenuiloba Gold Carpet) - Start Dahlberg Daisy seeds for a wonderfully colorful summer ground cover plant. Thymophylla Tenuiloba Dahlberg Daisy is a bushy, multi-branching little annual with deeply divided, threadlike leaves. Also known as Golden Fleece, this annual has a profusion of flower heads that measure about 1/2 inch across with bright golden yellow rays and yellow centers. It has a trailing habit, getting 6 - 8 inches high and spreading a little wider. The leaves have a pungent, lemony odor when crushed or bruised.

Dahlberg daisy seed | gold

How to grow

How To Grow Dahlberg Daisy From Seed: Dahlberg Daisy Golden Fleece is normally treated as an annual, but sometimes survives for a second or third season in frost free areas.

Start the Dahlberg Daisy seeds indoors 8 - 10 weeks before the end of frost season. Sow the ground cover seeds on the soil surface and press them in. Keep the seeds moist until germination occurs. Transplant the Dahlbery Daisy plants outdoors once frost season is over.

• Sowing Rate: 3 - 5 seeds per cell or approximately 5,000 seeds covers 100 square feet
• Average Germ Time: 7 - 14 days
• Keep moist until germination
• Attracts butterflies
• Depth: Surface sow

Flower Specifications

Dahlberg Daisy Thymophylla is used as a spring and summer ground cover plant for masses of color. It blooms for several months, but flowers best in late summer when temperatures begin to cool a bit. Dahlberg Daisies are quite tolerant of dry conditions and suffer during periods of high rainfall and humidity.

• Height: 6 - 8 inches
• USDA Zones: 4 - 11
• Season: Annual 

Rock Garden Annuals - This wild flower seed mixture contains annual flowers that are perfect for the rock garden. These dwarf wildflowers only reach approximately 8 inches and have a long bloom season; however, annual flowers only last one year. Annual wildflowers typically drop their flower seeds in the fall and will re-seed themselves and come back the next spring for another beautiful display of colorful flowers.

Seeding Rate: 5,000 wild flower seeds covers approximately 150 square feet

Rock Garden Perennials - This wild flower seed mixture contains perennial flowers that are perfect for the rock garden. These dwarf wildflowers only reach approximately 8 inches in height and have a long bloom season as the flower seed selection has different flowers blooming at different times. Perennial wildflowers come back year after year and do not need replanted.

Seeding Rate: 5,000 wild flower seeds covers approximately 150 square feet