re: small plants for rough grass 'lawns'

Dear All,

Someone asked about small things for growing in rough grass 'lawns' 
and I suggested three oxalis that I have used, and also hinted at the 
possibility of a Uruguayan/ Argentinian native Irid called Alophilla 
that resembl;es a very small Tigridia (Jockey's Cap) with vivid 
cobalt blue flowers in late spring. I think it would naturalise well 
in grassy places that were not 'sacred lawns'.

I have also here large numbers of Cyclamen naturalised in our 'lawns' 
- which in truth are rough orchard grasses that are mown fairly 
regularly. The most successful are Cyclamen coum with very small 
bulbs that sit on the surface of the soil - we have white, pale pink, 
deep pink and a vivid pink with propellor type petals. But Cyclamen 
hederifolium is also quite successful so long as the mower blades are 
set moderately high (they should be anyway to conserve grass cover in 
warm, dry climates). Cyclamen graecus sits too high on the soil to 
escape the mower blades but is very drought tolerant, even in the 
fully exposed hillsides of southern Greece where it is endemic. It 
is great under shrubs and on banks, seeding freely and flwoering 
well.

I find that several sp. crocus also naturalise very well - 
Crocus speciosus, C. aurea, C. salzmannii, C. hadriaticus amongst 
others that I have raised from Crocus Group seeds. I am sure there 
must be plenty of others aside form the traditional English choices 
such as Fritillaria meleagris, primroses - Primula vulgaris, cowslips 
- Primula elatior, Bellis perrenis etc.

In high grassy spots, about 10cm tall, I have set out lots of 
seedling bulbs of Narcissus pseudonarcissus, N. asturiensis, Tulipa 
sylvestris, T. saxitalis. T. clusiana and Scilla hohenackerii and one 
other Scilla sp very close to S. hohenackerii. In rough grass Scilla 
peruviana - white form, pale blue, dark blue and 'mauve' also do 
very well, along with masses of Freesia, Sparaxis, Tritonia, 
Geisorrhiza (sp?) and (especially) babianas.

A regular mille fiori carpet can be created with ease. And so much 
more beautiful than the relatively quiet English lawn flowers.

regards

trevor n

-----------------
Trevor Nottle
Garden Writer, Historian,     
Lecturer and Comsultant 
       
    'Walnut Hill'                          
     5 Walker St       
     Crafers SA 5152 
     AUSTRALIA

Phone: +618 83394210
Fax:   +618 83394210
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