18 grave plant ground covers for every season

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  • Shady locations
  • Partially shaded locations
  • Sunny locations

Caring for a grave does not require much care if the right grave planting is chosen. This is where year-round, hardy ground covers come in handy. These can be evergreen and flowering at certain times.

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Shady locations

There are always corners in the cemeteries in which many tall trees are planted. On the graves, it is then important that plants are chosen that do well with the shade. Even with the ground cover, there are few but still a few species that get along well with a shady location or do not want any sunlight at all:

Common ivy(Hedera helix)

Ivy - Hedera helix
  • actually climbing plant
  • can be planted as a ground covering plant
  • evergreen with autumn colors
  • green and yellow inconspicuous flowers
  • Flowering from September to October
  • then blue or black fruits
  • shady location preferred
  • Cut when overgrowth threatens

Pennywort(Lysimachia nummularia)

  • Primrose family (Primulaceae)
  • swamp plant
  • needs a lot of water
  • up to five inches high
  • evergreen
  • golden yellow flowers from May to July
  • prefers nutrient-rich soil
  • fertilize frequently
  • cut in the fall
  • otherwise spreads to other plants
  • semi-shady to shady location
  • avoid full sun

star moss(Sagina subulata)

  • Carnation family (Caryophyllaceae)
  • also known as masthead
  • up to five centimeters high
  • carpeting
  • Planting distance 20 centimetres
  • white star-shaped flowers
  • from June to August
  • semi-shady to shady location
  • can be propagated by division
  • fertilize from time to time

Tip:

Especially in a cemetery there is a lot of shade due to the often planted tall trees, especially in summer. Therefore, in the case of the respective grave, particular attention should be paid to how compatible the chosen ground cover is with shade or sun.

woodruff(Galium odoratum)

Woodruff - Galium odoratum
  • The blush family (Rubiaceae)
  • Also known as Maikraut or Liverwort
  • up to 30 centimeters high
  • carpeting
  • white flowers in April and May
  • shady to semi-shady location
  • preferably under deciduous trees
  • lime loving
  • little to no fertilizer
  • Protect with leaves and branches in winter
  • propagation by division

Partially shaded locations

Half-shady locations are usually the norm in a cemetery. Because so that the grave visitors do not have to remain in the blazing sun, most communities pull it proposes to let tall enough trees grow in the cemeteries so that shade can be sought again and again can. Most of the graves are therefore in semi-shade here. The suitable plants under the ground cover, which are also hardy, should be planted here:

Blue bob haircut(Isotoma)

Bubiköpfchen -Iisotoma fluviatilis gaudich
  • Bellflower family (Campanulaceae)
  • also known as pseudo or carpet lobelia
  • three to five inches high
  • sensitive to lime
  • white and blue flowers
  • Flowering from May to October
  • needs regular fertilization
  • evergreen
  • forms red and purple berries in winter
  • partially shaded to sunny location

wood anemone(Anemone nemorosa)

  • Ranunculaceae family (Ranunculaceae)
  • also known as witch weed
  • up to twenty centimeters high
  • fields of white flowers from February to May
  • Breeds with blue flowers available
  • partially shaded location
  • lime loving
  • Fertilize once before sprouting in spring
  • Attention poisonous
  • allergenic when touched

lady's mantle(Alchemilla)

Lady's Mantle - Alchemilla
  • Rose family (Rosaceae)
  • yellowish-green flowers throughout summer
  • carpeting
  • Height between fifteen and fifty centimeters depending on the variety
  • no direct sunlight
  • partial shade is preferred
  • fertilize in spring and summer
  • do not cut in autumn, withered leaves are frost protection

periwinkle(Vinca minor)

Periwinkle - Vinca minor
  • Dogbane family (Apocynaceae)
  • particularly suitable as a border planting on a grave
  • up to ten centimeters high
  • Flowering in April and May
  • bulb flowers can also be interposed
  • Scatter snowdrops or crocuses to naturalize
  • is supplied with nutrients by falling leaves
  • cut back in spring
  • partially shaded location

creeping medlar(Cotoneaster dammeri)

Cotoneaster Creeping Cotoneaster - Cotoneaster dammeri
  • Rose family (Rosaceae)
  • also called carpet medlar
  • Dwarf shrub with branches lying flat on the ground
  • between five and fifteen centimeters high
  • carpeting
  • pink and white blooms in May and June
  • red berries in autumn
  • Berries are poisonous
  • sunny to partially shaded location

lip mouth(Mazus reptans)

  • Gauklerflorae family (Phrymaceae)
  • grows about ten inches high
  • white or blue-violet flowers in the shape of a butterfly
  • flowering in spring
  • sunny to partially shaded location
  • very hardy plant
  • Fertilization not required
  • cut to shape in spring or fall

Cushion Bellflower(Campanula poscharskyana)

  • Bellflower family (Campanulaceae)
  • Height up to fifteen centimeters
  • evergreen
  • Flowering from June to September
  • white, violet, or blue bell-shaped flowers
  • Partial shade to sun desired
  • lime loving
  • fertilizer every few weeks during flowering
  • cut off the dried up
  • multiply by division

Tip:

So that the ground cover, which is hardy, can also grow well, it is advisable to plant it in spring, at the latest in early summer.

Sunny locations

In a cemetery, there are always places and spots that get a lot of sun and can therefore be described as sunny locations. So that the planted flowers and plants do not wither so quickly, they should belong to the group of sun-loving plants:

blue pillow(Aubrieta)

Blue Cushion - Aubrieta
  • Cruciferous family (Brassicaceae or Cruciferae)
  • up to ten centimeters high
  • evergreen
  • Planting distance 30 centimetres
  • Carpet of blossoms in April and May
  • not only blue-violet also pink and white
  • many different breeds available
  • sunny location
  • no fertilizer is needed
  • lime loving

A notice:

With all the ground covers presented here, you only have to water them in very dry periods. At all other times, the falling rain is sufficient.

thick scar(Paxistima canbyi)

  • Spindle family (Celastraceae)
  • ground covering dwarf shrub
  • up to thirty centimeters high
  • light to semi-shady location
  • Planting thirty centimeters apart
  • brown-red flowers in May
  • sunny location
  • cut back slightly once a year
  • easy-care

Thrift(Armeria)

Thrift - armeria
  • Carnation family (Caryophyllaceae)
  • up to 20 centimeters high
  • Flowering from May to September
  • white or pink
  • evergreen leaves
  • pile-forming
  • Planting distance about 20 centimeters
  • sunny location
  • Cut back in February for new growth
  • fertilize moderately

creeping juniper(Juniperus horizontalis)

Creeping Juniper - Juniperus horizontalis
  • Cypress family (Cupressaceae)
  • dwarf shrub
  • up to twenty centimeters high
  • very dense growing
  • Flowering April to May
  • inconspicuous flowers
  • forms poisonous black fruits after flowering
  • stay on the bush in winter
  • sunny location
  • evergreen coniferous plant

A notice:

Hardy groundcovers not only provide a green carpet all year round, you can even hope for that You no longer have to remove weeds if you plant one or more of these plants as grave plants in the cemetery to use.

cushion phlox(Phlox subulata)

Cushion Phlox - Phlox subulata
  • Phlox family (Phlox)
  • also known as carpet phlox
  • up to 15 centimeters high
  • dark green, evergreen leaves
  • red, pink, white, blue, or purple starry flowers
  • profuse flowering in spring
  • sunny location
  • Penumbra is less flowering
  • Fertilizer is not needed
  • cut after the first flowering, new flowers will form
  • cover with leaves or branches in winter

Tip:

If you are planting hardy ground covers on a grave, be sure to choose different varieties that flower at different times. With this grave planting, one or the other spot of color can be seen between the evergreen plants all year round.

Roman chamomile(Chamaemelum nobile)

  • daisy family (Asteraceae or composites)
  • also Roman carpet or lawn chamomile
  • up to six inches high
  • Flowering from July to October
  • double white flowers
  • sunny location
  • hardwearing
  • no fertilizer required

carpet aster(Aster pansus)

  • daisy family (Asteraceae or composites)
  • creeper
  • up to six inches high
  • carpeting
  • star-shaped white flowers
  • Flowers frost-resistant
  • Flowering begins in September or October
  • sunny to partially shaded location
  • fertilize once in spring
  • rejuvenate and multiply by division
author garden editorial

I write about everything that interests me in my garden.

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