Beat weeds in style with Glamorous ground cover

It might be practical, but ground cover needn't be dull. Tamsin Hope Thomson explains how to transform tricky planting areas, and delight flower and foliage fans

- Tamsin Hope Thomson

GROUND cover doesn't tend to spark excitement in the way that, say, roses might, but it should. With a huge number of ground-covering plants that have knockout flowers, amazing scent or fantastic foliage (or even all three), it's certainly not all utilitarian 'green carpets'.

The fact that these highly desirable plants also cover bare patches of earth in tricky locations, including deep and dry shade or sloping ground, as well as suppressing weeds, is a massive bonus, making them the heroes of the border.

From scented thyme to spreading roses and silver-leaved brunneras that dazzle in the shade, the options are seemingly endless. Some groundcover plants, such as hostas, have striking foliage, while others add vibrant blooms to borders. Some we might not even consider to be ground cover - but they do the job just the same.

Take the 'Flower Carpet' series of roses, which will form low mounds or scramble across borders with a profusion of flowers. Forget-me-nots can fill gaps with their mass of blue blooms, while Vinca minor has pretty purple flowers above a mat of green foliage.

Most of these plants are low growing and will produce dense cover. This helps prevent both annual and perennial weeds from taking over in the border, giving a boost to your planting display in the process.

Solutions for shade

For light-deprived spots, there's hardy brunnera with its tiny flowers and silvery leaves; alternatively, try bergenia, which thrives in deep shade and has large, leathery leaves that take on striking red and purple tones in winter.

In sun-baked borders, plant hardy geraniums - there are lots of low-growing types that offer a long flowering season and will complement taller perennials. Aubrieta is another sun lover that will fill a space with flowers - fast.