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Flowers to grow between cracks

B3B3 Posts: 24,492
edited April 2019 in Plants
Can anyone suggest plants to grow  between cracks in dry stone walls and paving slabs?. Dry shade mostly but with some sun . Clay soil. Some of the slabs won't get walked in much.
Thanks.

In London. Keen but lazy.

Posts

  • josusa47josusa47 Posts: 3,531
    The ones you see growing in cracks naturally.  Valerian Centranthus ruber,  ivy-leaved toadflax Cymbalaria muralis, sea fleabane Erigeron glaucus.  Also aubretia, houseleeks Sempervivum spp and many species of stonecrop.
  • FireFire Posts: 17,116
    My marjoram seems very happy on clay and sends up nice clouds of scent when trodden on. Most pathy plants seem to like chalky/limestoney soil. I can't get my fleabane to take on clay for love nor money. FGMNs does well between the cracks and oxalis and celandine. But not sure you want those last two.
  • B3B3 Posts: 24,492
    Have  most  of those  dotted  about  elsewhere.   Result!!
    Thanks chaps.
    Any  seeds  that  I could  sprinkle? 
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • AsarumAsarum Posts: 601
    Erinus alpines, the Fairy Foxglove,  Erigeron karvinskianus would look pretty.
    East Anglia
  • AsarumAsarum Posts: 601
    Sorry, Erinus alpinus!
    East Anglia
  • B3B3 Posts: 24,492
    I was  hoping  someone  would  suggest  alpines.  Thank you 
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • RubytooRubytoo Posts: 1,308
    There are some little linums that you can buy seed of. We had them a few years ago, we have clay. They did okay but I realize they gradually disappeared. You might do better.
    Sorry the name escapes me but I thought they were a variety called fairy ...something.
    But try the Alpine garden society?
    http://archive.alpinegardensociety.net/publications/Alpine-Gardener/cumulative-index/entry/?category=Linum

    The ones we had were very pretty lots of different colours, purple, orangey amber, white and yellows.
  • B3B3 Posts: 24,492
    Sounds lovely @Rubytoo I 've always fancied alpine but I thought they would be a bit particular. I never thought of getting seeds to try.
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • RubytooRubytoo Posts: 1,308
    edited April 2019
    B3 sorry! Linaria not linum....
    They are supposed to like sandy soils, but MIL gave us seeds from her garden and they grew.
    The big ones like Cannon Went grow and seed here, and they are not dissimilar, just the size is very different.
    Fairy bouquet is one range.
  • B3B3 Posts: 24,492
    I'll give them a go. I'd say even clay between vertical cracks would be as free draining as sand. I'll just be careful where I put them. Not as adventurous as trying a tropical garden in the far north, but with a try.
    In London. Keen but lazy.
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