What are the downsides of blue star creeper?
This attractive creeper will stop weeds from growing and is considered an excellent ground cover plant to grow instead of grass, but the downsides of choosing blue star creeper as a grass alternative for your yard are that it grows quite aggressively and can choke out other plants. Blue Star Creeper prefers partial shade or dappled sunlight; moist soil; and tolerates foot traffic. Because it is shade tolerant, it is a good ground cover for growing under taller plants.Blue star creeper makes an ideal groundcover for sunny or partially sunny locations. This low-growing perennial rarely grows over 6 inches tall, yet it’s so tough you can actually walk on it.Yes, all parts of blue star creeper are toxic if ingested. Children and pets should be monitored when frolicking on this durable ground cover to ensure they don’t eat it. Some gardeners with sensitive skin and seasonal allergies may also experience some irritation and are advised to wear gloves when handling.
When to plant bluebell creeper?
Care Tips for Bluebell Creeper Planting: Plant in spring; ensure sharp drainage. Ideal for deep pots. Watering: Drench thoroughly during summer, allowing it to dry out between waterings. Pruning: Trim stems that cannot be woven into its supporting trellis; otherwise no pruning is required. Western Australian bluebell creeper, also known as sollya, is a perennial climber with twining stems that grows vigorously reaching up to 3-4m in height. In open areas it takes on a shrubby form. Leaves are light to dark green, glossy and hairless varying from 2-5cm long.Bluebell creeper (Billardiera heterophylla) is an extremely invasive weed in woodlands and forests. The climber smothers native plants by out-competing them for sunlight or strangling them with their twining stems. Bluebell creeper also contains toxins that can irritate the skin and cause nausea.
What is the problem with bluebell creeper?
Impacts. Bluebell creeper rapidly outcompetes and smothers desirable plant species in native vegetation. Its vigorous twining stems smother the native understorey and ground cover layer also preventing regeneration of shrubs and trees. Bluebell creeper contains toxins that can irritate the skin. Do I need to get rid of bluebells? No – you don’t need to get rid of bluebells as they can be useful garden plants and benefit biodiversity. However, as bluebells can smother and outcompete other plants, it is usually necessary to regularly control their spread.What is the easiest way to kill bluebells? If you have bluebells growing where they aren’t wanted, there are a few methods of control: Dig out whole clumps – use a spade or garden fork to dig up clumps and remove all the bulbs and underground parts, looking closely for small offset bulbs.It’s against the law to intentionally pick, uproot or destroy bluebells. Bluebells have soft, succulent leaves that are particularly sensitive to being trodden on. Once the leaves are damaged, they are unable to absorb the sun and photosynthesise, so they die back.
How much sun does a blue star creeper need?
This blue flowering ground cover thrives with full sun and some afternoon shade. Don’t worry if you have pesky deer and rabbit problems; blue star creeper plants remain unbothered. It’s resilience and easy to grow nature make it a perfect plant for beginners. Blue Star is a tough and dependable native perennial with icy-blue, star-shaped flowers in the spring.