Illustrated List: Ideal for Groundcover

Alchemilla mollis

A favourite with flower arrangers. Large and prolific grey/green foilage topped by huge spreading heads of tiny star-like straw textured yellow flowers in multiple clusters. Hardy, easy to grow and ideal for ground cover too, thriving in sun or part shade and in moist soils. Flowers early summer. Height: 60cm (24in).

Aubretia Purple Cascade F1

An excellent strain almost smothered in flowers in rich purple shades. Excellent for a bold spring display. Suitable for rockeries, walls, borders, edging paths, planters, window boxes etc. Flowers early spring. Spread 30-38cm (12-15in).

AubrietaT&M Mixed Hybrids

A very special selection of large-flowered Aubrieta with a rich colour range. They cascade and spread with vigorous determination. Suitable for rockeries, borders, edging paths, planters etc. Flowers early spring. Spread 18-24in.

Bergenia cordifolia New Winter Flowering Hybrids

A strain of 'elephant ears' with large, upward-facing flower umbels that emerged from mid-Europe in the 1940's. The bright coloured flowers available in rose, pink and red shades, with the occasional surprise of lilac, purple and white, contrast delightfully with the glossy dark green foliage. Flowers and leaves are useful to flower arrangers from mid-winter to early spring. Height 30-45cm (12-18in).

Busy Lizzie : Dwarf Mixed

Neat, compact plant you can either grow as a summer annual or a pot plant. It has a wide, bright colour range and is ideal for bedding, hanging baskets, tubs etc. Equally suited for sun or shade. Flowers all summer long. Height: 12in.

Click here for information on busy lizzie problems from the Royal Horticultural Society and our recommended alternative varieties

Campanula Rockery Mixed

A rich selection of those dainty rockery, patio and wall campanulas. Neat mounds always smothered in bloom. They are sun lovers and are easily grown in ordinary free draining soil. Flowers summer. Height 10-15cm (4-6in).

Campsis radicans

Spectacular and exotic, a self-clinging climber that produces a proliferation of rich crimson, rouge-red trumpet shaped blooms. Suitable for pergolas, south walls and fences. Moderately vigourous and hardy in many areas.

Catharanthus roseus Mediterranean Lilac

The first of a new breed in trailing Vincas! Specifically for baskets and containers they are early flowering with large, rounded, overlapping petals forming striking, vivid blooms.

Cheiranthus cheiri My Fair Lady Mixed

A neat, uniform free flowering strain. Soft, fragrant colours; lemon, cream, gold, apricot, purple, pink, salmon, rose and mahogany. Height: 37-45cm (15-18in).

Cyclamen coum Hybrids

Bright carmine, green or silver marbled leaves. Charming distinct species. Recommended.

Cyclamen neapolitanum Mixed

Carmine, light rose and white flowers with beautiful silver-marbled deep green foliage. Flowers often appear before the foliage. Evergreen very hardy, and will self seed.

Dianthus plumarius Ipswich Pinks Mixed

Ipswich Pinks were made famous by Joseph Sangster, the breeder and proprietor of T&M from 1913-52. They create a solid mass of colour in pinks, reds, bicolours and white, above blue foliage that is close and tightly knit. Ground smothering weed suppressors, they remain evergreen (blue). Floriferous and fragrant, they are welcome cut flowers and a necessity for the cottage garden, border or rock garden, being also suitable for edging or walls. A hardy perennial, they grow to a height of 23cm (9in) and can spread 60-70cm (24-30in). Flowering extends from late spring till the end of summer.

Duchesnea indica Harlequin

Commonly known as the Indian strawberry. Attractive variegated-leaved plants produce yellow flowers followed by red edible fruits similar to alpine strawberries. Ideal in hanging pots, cascading over rockery or as a ground cover plant.

Erodium pelargoniflorum Sweetheart

Unbelievably hardy in the UK, this attractive plant resembles an Angel Pelargonum with dainty, violet-veined, white flowers and fragrant foliage when rubbed. Flowering all summer, it creates an impressive ground cover plant for the border or rock garden.

Festuca glauca

Densely tufted true azure-blue grass. Effective ground cover, invaluable border or rockery plant.

Geranium bohemicum Orchid Blue

Geranium 'Orchid Blue' is a selection by Thompson & Morgan from the species Geranium bohemicum. A short-lived border and ground cover plant which self-seeds to keep continuity. Masses of 2cm (¾in.) flowers of orchid-blue, veined in purple-violet, borne on bushy plants. Makes a delightful show, particularly when situated in a sunny position in the border. Flowers summer. Height 30-45cm (12-18in).