The creeping spindle is extremely popular as a groundcover, the climbing varieties are also a distinctive alternative to wall greening. However, the range of uses for the perennial is not yet exhausted: it can also be cultivated as a small hedge.
The creep spindle grows densely but slowly
The growth diversity of the creeping spindle
Its crawling property has been anchored in the name of the creeping spindle. In fact, one can aptly describe her slow but dense growth behavior with this attribute. Depending on the species, the versatile plant has the special feature of crawling along the ground as well as vertically through adhesive roots. It is therefore most commonly used as a weed-inhibiting ground cover or as an ornamental, easy-care green wall.
Your hedge potential
With certain creeping spindle varieties, however, there is a third type of cultivation: the hedge. Some varieties are about 40 to 100 cm high if they are allowed to grow into a bush. That's not much and makes it impossible to use it as a hedge to protect the property from view. However, where low hedges are desired as accurate edging, creeping spindles are ideal. Because they bring a number of advantages:
- slow, dense growth
- due to limited growth height ideal for low borders
- relatively undemanding in terms of location
- decorative leaf variegation, pretty fruit decoration
All creeping spindle species have the dense growth in common. This is an enormous advantage for hedge formation, especially for low bed or grave borders. This is because a very neat contour can be achieved with a regular cut. In addition, a cut is rarely necessary, even if the hedge is to be very clearly shaped. Ideal conditions for everyone who can or only wants to spend little time on care.
Exclusively for low hedge design
The limited growth height predestines the creep spindle for all hedge borders that should not obstruct the view. Ideal uses include:
- tomb borders
- clearly structured beds
- front yard boundary
With graves, a hedge border can play an enclosing role - the small growth height prevents the gravestone and the inscription from being covered at some point. The rarely necessary pruning is also very pleasant in view of occasional grave visits.
Even when edging the bed or front garden, the low creeping hedge allows a clear view of the essentials, in this case the interior plants. The often pretty variegated leaves, which appear in different colors depending on the season, and the whitish to reddish fruits also offer an attractive yet reserved visual appeal.
Unpretentious in terms of location
The location requirements of the creeping spindle are also low: most varieties also thrive in shady places, are tolerant of lime and only need moderately nutrient-rich soil.