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Ivydene Gardens Plants: Shrub/Perennial Growth Habit List
When selecting plants, you should start by using what you already have in the garden; especially mature shrubs and some of your perennials.
Growth Habit - The way a plant grows is genetically determined. How well individual plants grow varies with
- availability of light,
- exposure to wind,
- and competition for food and space with other plants.
So, if you wish to see your plant at its best, rather than as a plant within a hedge effect, please give it room to grow to produce its natural growth habit.
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Ivydene Horticultural Services
As an Organic Gardener, I design, construct and maintain private gardens. I can also advise and teach you in your own garden.
01634 389 677 chris@ivydenegardens.co.uk
Site design and content copyright ©December 2006 Chris Garnons-Williams.
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Mature shrubs and perennials will have one of the following growth habits:-
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Mat-forming. Stems densely cover the ground and the flowers extend above.
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Prostrate or Trailing. Stems spread out on the ground and the flowers are borne close to the foliage.
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Cushion or Mound-forming. Tightly packed stems form a low clump and the flowers are close to the foliage.
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Spreading or Creeping. Stems extend horizontally then ascend, forming a densely packed mass.
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Clump-forming. Leaf-stalks and flower stems arise at ground level to form a dense mass.
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Stemless. Leaf-stalks and flower stems arise at ground level.
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Erect or Upright. Upright stems stand vertical, supporting leaves and the flowers.
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Climbing and Scandent. Long flexible stems are supported by other plants or structures.
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Arching. Long upright stems arch over from the upright towards the ground.
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The Herbaceous Perennial Gallery, Evergreen Perennial Gallery, Deciduous Shrub Gallery and the Evergreen Shrub Gallery show colour photographs of some of the following plant growth habits in thumbnail form and larger size form.
The following table lists these growth habits for the shrub/perennial plants in the Plant Name A to Z pages:-
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Mat-forming. Stems of Shrub, Bamboo, Soft Fruit, Sub-Shrub, Perennial, Fern, Herb, Grass, Alpine, Bulb, Tuber, Rhizome, or Climber densely cover the ground and the flowers extend above.
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Soil Type: Acid/ Alkaline/ Any
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Plant Name
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Height x Spread in feet. 300mm = 1 foot Plants below 2 feet in Height
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Plant Type
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Any Any Any Any Any Any Any Any Any Any Any Acid Any Any Alkaline
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Ajuga reptans 'Atropurpurea'' Ajuga reptans 'Burgundy Glow' Ajuga reptans 'Catlins Giant' Ajuga reptans 'Multicolor' Ajuga reptans 'Rainbow' Ajuga reptans 'Variegata' Alchemilla alpina Alyssum montanum 'Mountain Gold' Antennaria dioica rosea Anthemis punctata cupaniana Arabis caucasica 'Variegata' Arctostaphylos uva-ursi Arum creticum Arum italicum 'Marmoratum' Aubretia x cultorum 'Argeneovariegata'
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0.5 x 3 0.5 x 2 0.5 x 2 0.5 x 2 0.5 x 2 0.5 x 2 0.3 x 1.7 0.5 x 1.5 0.2 x 1.5 1 x 3 0.5 x 1.5 0.3 x 1.7 1 x 0.5 1 x 0.5 0.2 x 2
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Evergreen Perennial Evergreen Perennial Evergreen Perennial Evergreen Perennial Evergreen Perennial Evergreen Perennial Herbaceous Perennial Evergreen Perennial Evergreen Alpine Evergreen Perennial Evergreen Alpine Evergreen Alpine Deciduous Tuber Deciduous Tuber Evergreen Alpine
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Mat-forming.
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Soil Type: Acid/ Alkaline/ Any
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Plant Name
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Height x Spread in feet. Plants between 2 and 6 feet in Height
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Plant Type
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Any Any
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Aegopodium podagraria 'Variegatum' Borago officinalis
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2 x indefinite 3 x 1
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Deciduous Rhizome Herb
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Mat-forming.
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Soil Type: Acid/ Alkaline/ Any
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Plant Name
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Height x Spread in feet. Plants above 6 feet in Height
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Plant Type
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Prostrate and Trailing. Stems of Shrub, Bamboo, Soft Fruit, Sub-Shrub, Perennial, Fern, Herb, Grass, Alpine, Bulb, Tuber, Rhizome, or Climber spread out on the ground and the flowers are borne close to the foliage.
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Soil Type: Acid/ Alkaline/ Any
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Plant Name
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Height x Spread in feet. 300mm = 1 foot Plants below 2 feet in Height
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Plant Type
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Prostrate and Trailing.
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Soil Type: Acid/ Alkaline/ Any
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Plant Name
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Height x Spread in feet. Plants between 2 and 6 feet in Height
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Plant Type
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Prostrate and Trailing.
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Soil Type: Acid/ Alkaline/ Any
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Plant Name
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Height x Spread in feet. Plants above 6 feet in Height
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Plant Type
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Cushion or Mound-forming. Tightly packed stems of Shrub, Bamboo, Soft Fruit, Sub-Shrub, Perennial, Fern, Herb, Grass, Alpine, Bulb, Tuber, Rhizome, or Climber form a low clump and the flowers are close to the foliage.
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Soil Type: Acid/ Alkaline/ Any
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Plant Name
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Height x Spread in feet. 300mm = 1 foot Plants below 2 feet in Height
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Plant Type
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Acid Alkaline Acid Acid
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Arisarum proboscideum Berberis thunbergeii 'Bagatelle' Blechnum penna-marina Blechnum spicant
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0.5 x 0.8 1.5 x 1.5 0.5 x indefinite 1 x 2
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Deciduous Rhizome Deciduous Shrub Evergreen Fern Evergreen Fern
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Cushion or Mound-forming.
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Soil Type: Acid/ Alkaline/ Any
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Plant Name
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Height x Spread in feet. Plants between 2 and 6 feet in Height
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Plant Type
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Any Any Any Any Any Any Any Any Any
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Berberis calliantha Berberis wilsoniae Berberis x bristolensis Berberis x frikartii 'Amstelveen' Berberis x frikartii 'Telstar' Berberis x interposita 'Wallich's Purple' Brachyglottis compacta Brachyglottis 'Dunedin Hybrids' Brachyglottis monroi
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2.5 x 3 3 x 5 5 x 6 4 x 4 4 x 4 4 x 5 3 x 6 5 x 6 3 x 6
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Evergreen Shrub Deciduous Shrub Evergreen Shrub Evergreen Shrub Evergreen Shrub Evergreen Shrub Evergreen Shrub Evergreen Shrub Evergreen Shrub
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Cushion or Mound-forming.
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Soil Type: Acid/ Alkaline/ Any
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Plant Name
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Height x Spread in feet. Plants above 6 feet in Height
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Plant Type
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Spreading or Creeping. Stems of Shrub, Bamboo, Soft Fruit, Sub-Shrub, Perennial, Fern, Herb, Grass, Alpine, Bulb, Tuber, Rhizome, or Climber extend horizontally then ascend, forming a densely packed mass.
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Soil Type: Acid/ Alkaline/ Any
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Plant Name
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Height x Spread in feet. 300mm = 1 foot Plants below 2 feet in Height
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Plant Type
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Any Any Any Any Acid Alkaline
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Anemone apennina Anemone nemorosa Anemone ranunculoides Artemesia schmidtiana Asarum europaeum Betula nana
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0.7 x 1 0.3 x 1 0.2 x 1.5 1 x 1.5 0.25 x 1 2 x 4
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Deciduous Rhizome Deciduous Rhizome Deciduous Rhizome Evergreen Perennial Evergreen Perennial Deciduous Shrub
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Spreading or Creeping.
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Soil Type: Acid/ Alkaline/ Any
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Plant Name
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Height x Spread in feet. Plants between 2 and 6 feet in Height
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Plant Type
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Any Any Acid Alkaline Any Alkaline
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Abeliophyllum distichum Antirrhinum majus Arctostaphylos patula Baptisia australis Berberis 'Chenaultii' Bupleurum fruticosum
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5 x 5 3 x 1 6 x 6 5 x 2 5 x 5 6 x 8
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Deciduous Shrub Herbaceous Perennial Evergreen Shrub Herbaceous Perennial Evergreen Shrub Evergreen Shrub
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Spreading or Creeping.
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Soil Type: Acid/ Alkaline/ Any
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Plant Name
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Height x Spread in feet. Plants above 6 feet in Height
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Plant Type
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Clump-forming. Leaf-stalks and flower stems of Shrub, Bamboo, Soft Fruit, Sub-Shrub, Perennial, Fern, Herb, Grass, Alpine, Bulb, Tuber, Rhizome, or Climber arise at ground level to form a dense mass.
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Soil Type: Acid/ Alkaline/ Any
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Plant Name
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Height x Spread in feet. 300mm = 1 foot Plants below 2 feet in Height
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Plant Type
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Any Any Any Any Any Any Any Any Any Alkaline Any Any Any Any Alkaline
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Alchemilla conjuncta Alchemilla erythropoda Alchemilla mollis Anemone blanda 'Atrocaerulea' Anemone blanda 'Radar' Anemone blanda 'Violet Star' Anemone sylvestris Anthyllis montana Aster alpinus Aster amellus 'King George' Bergenia 'Abendglut' Bergenia ciliata Bergenia cordifolia 'Purpurea' Bergenia 'Silberlicht' Buphthalmum salicifolium
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1.3 x 1 0.8 x 0.7 1.7 x 1.7 0.5 x 0.5 0.5 x 0.5 0.5 x 0.5 1.5 x 1.5 1 x 2 0.8 x 1.5 1.5 x 1.5 0.75 x 1 1 x 1.5 1.7 x 1.7 1 x 1.7 2 x 1.5
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Herbaceous Perennial Herbaceous Perennial Herbaceous Perennial Deciduous Tuber Deciduous Tuber Deciduous Tuber Herbaceous Perennial Evergreen Alpine Herbaceous Alpine Herbaceous Perennial Evergreen Perennial Evergreen Perennial Evergreen Perennial Evergreen Perennial Herbaceous Perennial
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Clump-forming.
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Soil Type: Acid/ Alkaline/ Any
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Plant Name
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Height x Spread in feet. Plants between 2 and 6 feet in Height
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Plant Type
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Any Any Any Any Any Any Any Any Any Any Any Any Any Any Any Any Any Any Any Any Any Any Any
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Acanthus mollis Acanthus spinosus Achillea clypeolata 'Coronation Gold' Achillea clypeolata 'Moonshine' Aciphylla aurea Agapanthus campanulatus Agapanthus campanulatus 'Albus' Agapanthus 'Dorothy Palmer' Agapanthus dyeri Amsonia illustris Anaphalis margaritacea Anchusa azurea Anemone rivularis Artemesia 'Powis Castle' Aruncus dioicus 'Kneiffii' Aster novae-angliae Aster novi-belgii Aster novi-belgii 'Ada Ballard' Aster novi-belgii 'Royal Velvet' Astilbe 'Fanal' Astilbe 'Professor van der Wielen' Astilbe 'Staussenfeder' Astrantia major
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5 x 3 5 x 2 3 x 1.5 2 x 1.6 3 x 3 3 x 1.5 3 x 1.5 3 x 2 3 x 1 4 x 1.5 2 x 2 4 x 2 2.5 x 1 3 x 4 4 x 1.5 5 x 2 4 x 3 3 x 1.5 4 x 2 2 x 1.5 4 x 3.25 3 x 2 2 x 1.5
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Herbaceous Perennial Herbaceous Perennial Evergreen Perennial Evergreen Perennial Evergreen Perennial Herbaceous Perennial Herbaceous Perennial Herbaceous Perennial Herbaceous Perennial Herbaceous Perennial Deciduous Rhizome Herbaceous Perennial Herbaceous Perennial Evergreen Sub-Shrub Deciduous Rhizome Deciduous Rhizome Deciduous Rhizome Deciduous Rhizome Deciduous Rhizome Deciduous Rhizome Deciduous Rhizome Deciduous Rhizome Herbaceous Perennial
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Clump-forming.
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Soil Type: Acid/ Alkaline/ Any
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Plant Name
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Height x Spread in feet. Plants above 6 feet in Height
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Plant Type
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Alkaline Any
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Aesculus parviflora (Bottlebrush buckeye) Arundinaria murielae (Syn. Fargesia murieliae)
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11 x 14 10 x 3
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Deciduous Shrub Bamboo
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Stemless. Leaf-stalks and flower stems of Shrub, Bamboo, Soft Fruit, Sub-Shrub, Perennial, Fern, Herb, Grass, Alpine, Bulb, Tuber, Rhizome, or Climber arise at ground level.
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Soil Type: Acid/ Alkaline/ Any
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Plant Name
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Height x Spread in feet. 300mm = 1 foot Plants below 2 feet in Height
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Plant Type
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Any Any Acid Alkaline
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Adiantum pedatum Adiantum venustum Arisaema sikokianum Brunnera macrophylla 'Dawson's White'
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1 x 1 0.5 x indefinite 1.5 x 0.5 1.5 x 2
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Deciduous Fern Evergreen Fern Deciduous Tuber Deciduous Rhizome
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Stemless.
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Soil Type: Acid/ Alkaline/ Any
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Plant Name
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Height x Spread in feet. Plants between 2 and 6 feet in Height
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Plant Type
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Any Alkaline
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Alcea rosea Asplenium scolopendrium
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2 x 1 2 x 2
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Biennial Evergreen Fern
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Stemless.
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Soil Type: Acid/ Alkaline/ Any
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Plant Name
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Height x Spread in feet. Plants above 6 feet in Height
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Plant Type
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Erect or Upright. Upright stems of Shrub, Bamboo, Soft Fruit, Sub-Shrub, Perennial, Fern, Herb, Grass, Alpine, Bulb, Tuber, Rhizome, or Climber stand vertical, supporting leaves and the flowers.
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Soil Type: Acid/ Alkaline/ Any
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Plant Name
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Height x Spread in feet. 300mm = 1 foot Plants below 2 feet in Height
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Plant Type
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Any Acid Any Any Any Any Any
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Alyssum wulfenianum Andromeda polifolia 'Alba' Anemone coronaria Aquilegia alpina Aquilegia 'Crimson Star' Arundinaria fortunei (Syn.Pleioblastus auricomus) Arundinaria pygmae (Syn. Pleioblastus pygmaeus)
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0.5 x 1.5 1.3 x 2 0.5 x 0.5 1.5 x 1 1.5 x 1 1.25 x 1 1.3 x 3
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Evergreen Alpine Evergreen Alpine Deciduous Tuber Herbaceous Perennial Herbaceous Perennial Bamboo Bamboo
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Erect or Upright.
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Soil Type: Acid/ Alkaline/ Any
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Plant Name
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Height x Spread in feet. Plants between 2 and 6 feet in Height
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Plant Type
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Any Any Any Any Any Any Any Any Any Any Any Any Any
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Achillea ptmarmica 'The Pearl' Aconitum anthora Aconitum napellus 'Newry Blue' (Monkshood) Aconitum x cammarum 'Bressingham Spire' Althaea armeniaca Anemone hupehensis Anemone japonica 'Honorine Jobert' Aquilegia chrysantha Aquilegia vulgaris 'Nora Barlow' Artemesia abrotanum Artemesia arborescens Arundinaria auricoma (Syn. Pleioblastus auricomus) Aster x frikartii 'Monch'
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2.5 x 2 2 x 1 5 x 1 3 x 1 4 x 1 2 x 1.3 5 x 2 3 x 2 2 x 1.6 2.5 x 2.5 3 x 5 5 x 5 2.5 x 1.5
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Deciduous Perennial Herbaceous Perennial Herbaceous Perennial Herbaceous Perennial Herbaceous Perennial Herbaceous Perennial Herbaceous Perennial Herbaceous Perennial Herbaceous Perennial Deciduous Shrub Evergreen Shrub Bamboo Herbaceous Perennial
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Erect or Upright.
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Soil Type:
Acid/ Alkaline/ Any
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Plant Name
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Height x Spread in feet. Plants above 6 feet in Height
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Plant Type
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Acid Any Any Any Any Any Any Alkaline
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Abutilon suntense Alnus viridis (Green Alder) Arundinaria japonica Arundinaria nitida (Syn. Fargesia nitida) Berberis darwinii Berberis julianae Bocconia cordata Buddleia officinalis
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12 x 8 10 x 6 11.5 x 2.5 13 x 3 12 x 12 8 x 10 8 x 3 8 x 8
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Deciduous Shrub Deciduous Shrub Bamboo Bamboo Evergreen Shrub Evergreen Shrub Deciduous Rhizome Evergreen Shrub
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Climbing and Scandent Shrub, Bamboo, Soft Fruit, Sub-Shrub, Perennial, Fern, Herb, Grass, Alpine, Bulb, Tuber, Rhizome, or Climber.
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Soil Type: Acid/ Alkaline/ Any
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Plant Name
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Height x Spread in feet. 300mm = 1 foot Plants below 2 feet in Height
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Plant Type
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Any
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Asarina procumbens
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0.2 x 2
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Evergreen Alpine
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Climbing and Scandent
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Soil Type: Acid/ Alkaline/ Any
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Plant Name
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Height x Spread in feet. Plants between 2 and 6 feet in Height
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Plant Type
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Climbing and Scandent
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Soil Type: Acid/ Alkaline/ Any
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Plant Name
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Height x Spread in feet. Plants above 6 feet in Height
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Plant Type
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Alkaline Alkaline
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Actinidia kolomikta Akebia quinata
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15 x indefinite 28 x 3
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Deciduous Climber Semi-Everg Climber
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Arching. Long upright stems of Shrub, Bamboo, Soft Fruit, Sub-Shrub, Perennial, Fern, Herb, Grass, Alpine, Bulb, Tuber, Rhizome, or Climber arch over from the upright towards the ground.
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Soil Type: Acid/ Alkaline/ Any
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Plant Name
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Height x Spread in feet. 300mm = 1 foot Plants below 2 feet in Height
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Plant Type
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Arching.
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Soil Type: Acid/ Alkaline/ Any
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Plant Name
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Height x Spread in feet. Plants between 2 and 6 feet in Height
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Plant Type
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Alkaline Any Acid Acid
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Abelia grandiflora 'Francis Mason' Abelia schumannii Abutilon megapotamicum (Trailing Abutilon) Athyrium filix-femina
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5 x 6 6 x 10 6 x 6 4 x 2
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Evergreen Shrub Deciduous Shrub Evergreen Shrub Deciduous Fern
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Arching.
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Soil Type: Acid/ Alkaline/ Any
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Plant Name
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Height x Spread in feet. Plants above 6 feet in Height
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Plant Type
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Any Any Alkaline Alkaline Alkaline
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Abelia floribunda Berberis x stenophylla Buddleia davidii 'Black Knight' Buddleia davidii 'Royal Red' Buddleia davidii 'White Profusion'
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10 x 12 8 x 8 15 x 15 15 x 15 15 x 15
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Evergreen Shrub Evergreen Shrub Deciduous Shrub Deciduous Shrub Deciduous Shrub
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