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Soleirolia soleirolii - mind your own business

jaffacakesjaffacakes Posts: 434
in Plants
Hi all,

Do any of you like this plant? I have it in my garden in the shady part where it is moist and it creeps over rocks and looks lovely. It doesn't seem to spread too much for me. 

I just made a small wildlife pond on the sunny part of my garden and was trying to find something to cover the edging. I used some stones but didn't look very natural so i dug up some clumps of this plant and used it also. Do you think it could become invasive around the pond? It looks lovely i think but worried it might spread.

Thanks all.

Posts

  • josusa47josusa47 Posts: 3,530
    This seems to be one of those plants of which everyone has different experiences, it's the bane of some people's lives while others find it easily controllable and tolerate it.  In my garden, it gets everywhere, including the lawn, where, of course, being so low-growing, it isn't affected by mowing.  But then I've never made strenuous efforts to control it.

    I think you just have to suck it and see.  It rather depends what your pond is surrounded by - if it's hard landscaping, that would be an obstacle to the MYOB.
  • RubytooRubytoo Posts: 1,323
    I do like the look of it, but I would not have it myself just in case.
    I warn people off it because it can be difficult to eradicate.
    I do wonder if it is always terrible.

    I know three people who have or had it. All three found it hard to eradicate.
    One I no longer have contact with, they had done battle for years with no joy, so no idea if they managed in the end. And the other two moved house....not  due to the S.s. :D

  • madpenguinmadpenguin Posts: 2,499
    I quite like it.Never seems to get completely out of control.
    I do cut it hard back each spring or just when it gets too much.
    A spray of glyphosate can get rid of it in certain areas where it cannot be removed manually.
    It is just something I can live with in the garden,you just have to keep an eye on it!

    “Every day is ordinary, until it isn't.” - Bernard Cornwell-Death of Kings
  • jaffacakesjaffacakes Posts: 434
    edited June 2019
    Thank you all. I will risk it around the pond because looks lovely and will just control as needed. It's mainly because i have it readily available and dug up clumps of it so thought it would look nice. i noticed it today in some other parts of the garden too. It's lovely growing over rocks and crevices in paving i think. Have never seen it in my lawn though. Plenty of yarrow and couch grass though.
  • josusa47josusa47 Posts: 3,530
    I'm amazed the GCs can get people to part with money in exchange for a pot of it.

  • madpenguinmadpenguin Posts: 2,499
    edited June 2019
    josusa47 said:
    I'm amazed the GCs can get people to part with money in exchange for a pot of it.

    I once saw a pot of it at a GC for £6.The day before I had been chucking away bucketfuls of the stuff,must have been worth a small fortune!!  :/
    “Every day is ordinary, until it isn't.” - Bernard Cornwell-Death of Kings
  • Paul B3Paul B3 Posts: 3,077
    I have a fairly large , damp and shaded rockery at the end of the garden ; mosses , ferns and several shade loving perennials abound .
    The star of the show though is the Soleirolia , lovingly clinging to every rock & filling every crevice with its fresh green foliage .
    The downside is it's decided to migrate to other parts of the garden , where perchance it will not be so kindly thought of ! :o
  • Paul B3Paul B3 Posts: 3,077
    madpenguin said:
    I quite like it.Never seems to get completely out of control.
    I do cut it hard back each spring or just when it gets too much.
    A spray of glyphosate can get rid of it in certain areas where it cannot be removed manually.
    It is just something I can live with in the garden,you just have to keep an eye on it!
    madpenguin , that's just how it should be grown ; looks excellent bordering your pathways like that ....very nice !

  • jaffacakesjaffacakes Posts: 434
    Interesting. It's in shady part for me too now with rocks and at the base of trees and looks lovely but the pond is in almost full sun so maybe it will be come rampant if i'm not careful. Anyway i guess that's the joy of gardening. Try something and see if it works  :)
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