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.

Ivydene Horticultural Services logo with I design, construct and maintain private gardens. I also advise and teach you in your own garden. 01634 389677

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.

Mature shrubs and perennials will have one of the following growth habits:-

Mat-forming.
Stems densely cover the ground and
the flowers extend above.

Prostrate or Trailing.
Stems spread out on the ground and
the flowers are borne close to the foliage.

Cushion or Mound-forming.
Tightly packed stems form a low clump and
the flowers are close to the foliage.

Spreading or Creeping.
Stems extend horizontally then ascend, forming a densely packed mass.

Clump-forming.
Leaf-stalks and
flower stems arise at ground level to form a dense mass.

Stemless.
Leaf-stalks and
flower stems arise at ground level.

Erect or Upright.
Upright stems stand vertical, supporting leaves and
the flowers.

Climbing and Scandent.
Long flexible stems are supported by other plants or structures.

Arching.
Long upright stems arch over from the upright towards the ground.

 

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:-

 

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.

Soil Type:
Acid/
Alkaline/
Any

Plant Name

Height x Spread in feet. 300mm = 1 foot
Plants below 2 feet in Height

Plant Type

Any
Any
Any
Any
Any
Any
Any
Any
Any
Any
Any
Acid
Any
Any
Alkaline
 

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'
 

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
 

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
 

Mat-forming.
 

Soil Type:
Acid/
Alkaline/
Any

Plant Name

Height x Spread in feet.
Plants between 2 and 6 feet in Height

Plant Type

Any
Any
 

Aegopodium podagraria 'Variegatum'
Borago officinalis
 

2 x indefinite
3 x 1
 

Deciduous Rhizome
Herb
 

Mat-forming.
 

Soil Type:
Acid/
Alkaline/
Any

Plant Name

Height x Spread in feet.
Plants above 6 feet in Height

Plant Type

 

 

 

 

 

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.

Soil Type:
Acid/
Alkaline/
Any

Plant Name

Height x Spread in feet. 300mm = 1 foot
Plants below 2 feet in Height

Plant Type

 

 

 

 

Prostrate and Trailing.
 

Soil Type:
Acid/
Alkaline/
Any

Plant Name

Height x Spread in feet.
Plants between 2 and 6 feet in Height

Plant Type

 

 

 

 

Prostrate and Trailing.
 

Soil Type:
Acid/
Alkaline/
Any

Plant Name

Height x Spread in feet.
Plants above 6 feet in Height

Plant Type

 

 

 

 

 

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.

Soil Type:
Acid/
Alkaline/
Any

Plant Name

Height x Spread in feet. 300mm = 1 foot
Plants below 2 feet in Height

Plant Type

Acid
Alkaline
Acid
Acid
 

Arisarum proboscideum
Berberis thunbergeii 'Bagatelle'
Blechnum penna-marina
Blechnum spicant
 

0.5 x 0.8
1.5 x 1.5
0.5 x indefinite
1 x 2
 

Deciduous Rhizome
Deciduous Shrub
Evergreen Fern
Evergreen Fern
 

Cushion or Mound-forming.
 

Soil Type:
Acid/
Alkaline/
Any

Plant Name

Height x Spread in feet.
Plants between 2 and 6 feet in Height

Plant Type

Any
Any
Any
Any
Any
Any
Any
Any
Any
 

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

 

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
 

Evergreen Shrub
Deciduous Shrub
Evergreen Shrub
Evergreen Shrub
Evergreen Shrub
Evergreen Shrub
Evergreen Shrub
Evergreen Shrub
Evergreen Shrub
 

Cushion or Mound-forming.
 

Soil Type:
Acid/
Alkaline/
Any

Plant Name

Height x Spread in feet.
Plants above 6 feet in Height

Plant Type

 

 

 

 

 

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.

Soil Type:
Acid/
Alkaline/
Any

Plant Name

Height x Spread in feet. 300mm = 1 foot
Plants below 2 feet in Height

Plant Type

Any
Any
Any
Any
Acid
Alkaline
 

Anemone apennina
Anemone nemorosa
Anemone ranunculoides
Artemesia schmidtiana
Asarum europaeum
Betula nana
 

0.7 x 1
0.3 x 1
0.2 x 1.5
1 x 1.5
0.25 x 1
2 x 4
 

Deciduous Rhizome
Deciduous Rhizome
Deciduous Rhizome
Evergreen Perennial
Evergreen Perennial
Deciduous Shrub
 

Spreading or Creeping.
 

Soil Type:
Acid/
Alkaline/
Any

Plant Name

Height x Spread in feet.
Plants between 2 and 6 feet in Height

Plant Type

Any
Any
Acid
Alkaline
Any
Alkaline
 

Abeliophyllum distichum
Antirrhinum majus
Arctostaphylos patula
Baptisia australis
Berberis 'Chenaultii'
Bupleurum fruticosum
 

5 x 5
3 x 1
6 x 6
5 x 2
5 x 5
6 x 8
 

Deciduous Shrub
Herbaceous Perennial
Evergreen Shrub
Herbaceous Perennial
Evergreen Shrub
Evergreen Shrub
 

Spreading or Creeping.
 

Soil Type:
Acid/
Alkaline/
Any

Plant Name

Height x Spread in feet.
Plants above 6 feet in Height

Plant Type

 

 

 

 

 

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.

Soil Type:
Acid/
Alkaline/
Any

Plant Name

Height x Spread in feet. 300mm = 1 foot
Plants below 2 feet in Height

Plant Type

Any
Any
Any
Any
Any
Any
Any
Any
Any
Alkaline
Any
Any
Any
Any
Alkaline
 

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
 

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
 

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
 

Clump-forming.
 

Soil Type:
Acid/
Alkaline/
Any

Plant Name

Height x Spread in feet.
Plants between 2 and 6 feet in Height

Plant Type

Any
Any
Any
Any
Any
Any
Any
Any
Any
Any
Any
Any
Any
Any
Any
Any
Any
Any
Any
Any
Any
Any
Any
 

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
 

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
 

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
 

Clump-forming.
 

Soil Type:
Acid/
Alkaline/
Any

Plant Name

Height x Spread in feet.
Plants above 6 feet in Height

Plant Type

Alkaline
Any
 

Aesculus parviflora (Bottlebrush buckeye)
Arundinaria murielae (Syn. Fargesia murieliae)
 

11 x 14
10 x 3
 

Deciduous Shrub
Bamboo
 

 

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.

Soil Type:
Acid/
Alkaline/
Any

Plant Name

Height x Spread in feet. 300mm = 1 foot
Plants below 2 feet in Height

Plant Type

Any
Any
Acid
Alkaline
 

Adiantum pedatum
Adiantum venustum
Arisaema sikokianum
Brunnera macrophylla 'Dawson's White'
 

1 x 1
0.5 x indefinite
1.5 x 0.5
1.5 x 2
 

Deciduous Fern
Evergreen Fern
Deciduous Tuber
Deciduous Rhizome
 

Stemless.
 

Soil Type:
Acid/
Alkaline/
Any

Plant Name

Height x Spread in feet.
Plants between 2 and 6 feet in Height

Plant Type

Any
Alkaline
 

Alcea rosea
Asplenium scolopendrium
 

2 x 1
2 x 2
 

Biennial
Evergreen Fern
 

Stemless.
 

Soil Type:
Acid/
Alkaline/
Any

Plant Name

Height x Spread in feet.
Plants above 6 feet in Height

Plant Type

 

 

 

 

 

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.

Soil Type:
Acid/
Alkaline/
Any

Plant Name

Height x Spread in feet. 300mm = 1 foot
Plants below 2 feet in Height

Plant Type

Any
Acid
Any
Any
Any
Any
Any
 

Alyssum wulfenianum
Andromeda polifolia 'Alba'
Anemone coronaria
Aquilegia alpina
Aquilegia 'Crimson Star'
Arundinaria fortunei (Syn.Pleioblastus auricomus)
Arundinaria pygmae (Syn. Pleioblastus pygmaeus)
 

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
 

Evergreen Alpine
Evergreen Alpine
Deciduous Tuber
Herbaceous Perennial
Herbaceous Perennial
Bamboo
Bamboo
 

Erect or Upright.
 

Soil Type:
Acid/
Alkaline/
Any

Plant Name

Height x Spread in feet.
Plants between 2 and 6 feet in Height

Plant Type

Any
Any
Any
Any
Any
Any
Any
Any
Any
Any
Any
Any
Any
 

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'
 

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
 

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
 

Erect or Upright.
 

Soil Type:

Acid/
Alkaline/
Any

Plant Name

Height x Spread in feet.
Plants above 6 feet in Height

Plant Type

Acid
Any
Any
Any
Any
Any
Any
Alkaline
 

Abutilon suntense
Alnus viridis (Green Alder)
Arundinaria japonica
Arundinaria nitida (Syn. Fargesia nitida)
Berberis darwinii
Berberis julianae
Bocconia cordata
Buddleia officinalis
 

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
 

Deciduous Shrub
Deciduous Shrub
Bamboo
Bamboo
Evergreen Shrub
Evergreen Shrub
Deciduous Rhizome
Evergreen Shrub

 

Climbing and Scandent
Shrub, Bamboo, Soft Fruit, Sub-Shrub, Perennial, Fern, Herb, Grass, Alpine, Bulb, Tuber, Rhizome, or Climber.

Soil Type:
Acid/
Alkaline/
Any

Plant Name

Height x Spread in feet. 300mm = 1 foot
Plants below 2 feet in Height

Plant Type

Any

Asarina procumbens
 

0.2 x 2
 

Evergreen Alpine

Climbing and Scandent
 

Soil Type:
Acid/
Alkaline/
Any

Plant Name

Height x Spread in feet.
Plants between 2 and 6 feet in Height

Plant Type

 

 

 

 

Climbing and Scandent
 

Soil Type:
Acid/
Alkaline/
Any

Plant Name

Height x Spread in feet.
Plants above 6 feet in Height

Plant Type

Alkaline
Alkaline

 

Actinidia kolomikta
Akebia quinata
 

15 x indefinite
28 x 3
 

Deciduous Climber
Semi-Everg Climber
 

 

 

 

 

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.

Soil Type:
Acid/
Alkaline/
Any

Plant Name

Height x Spread in feet. 300mm = 1 foot
Plants below 2 feet in Height

Plant Type

 

 

 

 

Arching.
 

 

 

 

Soil Type:
Acid/
Alkaline/
Any

Plant Name

Height x Spread in feet.
Plants between 2 and 6 feet in Height

Plant Type

Alkaline
Any
Acid
Acid
 

Abelia grandiflora 'Francis Mason'
Abelia schumannii
Abutilon megapotamicum (Trailing Abutilon)
Athyrium filix-femina
 

5 x 6
6 x 10
6 x 6
4 x 2
 

Evergreen Shrub
Deciduous Shrub
Evergreen Shrub
Deciduous Fern
 

Arching.
 

 

 

 

Soil Type:
Acid/
Alkaline/
Any

Plant Name

Height x Spread in feet.
Plants above 6 feet in Height

Plant Type

Any
Any
Alkaline
Alkaline
Alkaline
 

Abelia floribunda
Berberis x stenophylla
Buddleia davidii 'Black Knight'
Buddleia davidii 'Royal Red'
Buddleia davidii 'White Profusion'
 

10 x 12
8 x 8
15 x 15
15 x 15
15 x 15
 

Evergreen Shrub
Evergreen Shrub
Deciduous Shrub
Deciduous Shrub
Deciduous Shrub