Groundcover to go under new Japanese maples

[CruCru]

Hi all

I am trying to decide what to plant under some new Japanese maples. There is sun on the bed for part of the day, it is quite sheltered (walls on two sides) but is by the coast. We tend to be quite clay-y. I was thinking of Tiarella (foam flowers) but if you have any other suggestions, please could you let me know?

My mother in law suggested heather but we are having lots of that elsewhere so I'd like something different.

[MaudantWit]

Heather requires acid soil, I think, so may not be suitable and I am prejudiced against heather anyway.

My stock suggestion is heuchera, which is not dissimilar to tiarella. My nicest heucheras are actually heucherellas, so have the tiarella-like flowers.

[Ferguson]

Maybe it depends how big the Acers are, but might that not compete and divert attention away from the acer?

[CruCru]

I do see your point but if I don't have anything, it'll be weeds everywhere (and I don't like gravel on flower beds). Cool, I'll check out heychera thanks.

[funnyperson]

What about the toad lilies: they were on gardeners world last week. Also trilliums also anemone appenina, meconopsis, spring and autumn crocuses, lily of the valley, cyclamen, small azaleas, snowdrops, mostly smallish bulbs for spring before the tree is in leaf. Viola for summer. Apparently it is best to plant small things with shallow roots under young trees.

[CruCru]

Wicked, thanks. I ordered 3 tiarella, 1 heuchera and 1 heucherella.

[MaudantWit]

Sounds lovely! I agree with you about using ground cover to choke off the weeds.

[CruCru]

It seems to be a very "weedy" bed. DS and I dug out all the weeds yesterday and a new one has appeared today .

[MaudantWit]

As it's quite mild still, the weeds are continuing to germinate and grow. Sigh.

[CruCru]

Yes, it's really annoying. As we're on the Isle of Wight, it tends to be warmer than the mainland in winter so it feels as though they never stop.

[CruCru]

On the other hand, my Japanese maples etc arrived today so I had a great afternoon planting them. They look SUPER.

[MaudantWit]

Ooh. Do post a picture when you've finished the planting.

Lured by the free bulbs from GW magazine, I went to the garden centre yesterday and was very tempted by their offer of three baby acers for a tenner, but I don't think I can provide the conditions they need. They are beautiful, though.

[CruCru]

Will do!

[CruCru]

Here are my Japanese maples and my flowering quince. I'll put a photo of the whole bed when it isn't raining.

[CruCru]

Here it is.