Partridge Berry is an excellent creeping groundcover for a shady spot on neutral to acid soils that succeed in the shade of trees. It is prostrate, growing to 0.1 m (4in). As the plant creeps, the stems form new roots…
Alfalfa, also called lucerne, is a medium-sized nitrogen-fixing perennial in the legume family cultivated as an important forage crop in many countries. Ancient Greeks and Romans produced Alfalfa as livestock fodder. It is excellent green manure and a cover crop. …
Balsamroot sunflower is a small attractive perennial growing to 0.3m (1ft), making an excellent groundcover. Is Balsamroot sunflower edible? You can eat raw or cooked young shoots and add them to salads or use them as a herb. Boil large…
This beautiful climbing plant is only hardy in the milder areas of the UK, where it can reach a height of 6 ft or more. It flowers freely in late summer and then dies down with the first hard frosts…
Is chickweed edible? Chickweed is a very prolific and easy to find edible weed. Young leaves are eaten raw or cooked as a potherb. They can be available all year round if the winter is not too severe. They are…
Native to Europe, including the UK. Introduced to North America. The European Beech, or Common Beech, is a large deciduous tree growing to 30m (100ft) by 15m (50ft) with a trunk that can reach 3m (10ft) in diameter. They can…
Chinquapin is a spreading slow-growing shrub or small tree to 4m (12ft) closely related to the American chestnut, Castanea dentata. It is commonly known as the Allegheny chinquapin, American chinquapin or dwarf chestnut. Chinquapin has smaller leaves and fruit than other…
Edible Perennial Groundcovers Daylilies are hardy evergreen or herbaceous perennials with large and attractive funnel-shaped blooms in late spring or early summer, similar to lily flowers. They are straightforward to grow, with many forms tolerant of almost total neglect. All…
American groundnut is a perennial vine that bears edible beans and large edible tubers. The tubers have a delicious flavour, somewhat like roasted sweet potatoes. It has a greater advantage over other root crops like potatoes, sweet potatoes, and true…
Couch Grass or Quackgrass Elymus repens ( Elytrigia repens). A brave or foolish person would encourage this perennial grass into their garden. Couch grass is one of the most pernicious weeds that gardeners must contend with. Couch Grass grows to 60cm tall, and the roots spread…
