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Woodruff Asperula gussonei

Phonetic Spelling
as-PER-ee-luh gus-OWN-nee-eye
Description

Not widely available for purchase, Woodruff is a species of perennial ground cover native to Sicily.  It was named for Giovanni Gussone, who was the director of the Botanic Garden in Palermo, Italy. 

This plant has tiny, tubular, stemless, pinkish-white flowers and small, green, moss-like foliage.  The flowers form in clusters, emerging from pink buds.  The foliage consists of succulent narrow leaves that are green in the spring and turn a gray-green as the season progresses.  

This low maintenance plant will require some early spring clean up prior to it begins to actively grow.  It makes an excellent choice for a rock garden, where it will cascade over the rocky terrain.  

Plant it in the full run in rocky, well-drained soil.  Allow the plant to dry out in between watering.  The soil must be lime-free and stony.  Some shade from the hot afternoon sun will benefit this plant.  During the winter months, the soil should be kept fairly dry.  It tolerates browsing by deer.  

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems:  Locating in areas that remain moist or wet can lead to root rot.

See this plant in the following landscape:
Rock and Crevice Garden
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#evergreen#showy flowers#deciduous#drought tolerant#deer resistant#frost tolerant#groundcover#rock garden#pollinator plant#compact habit#rocky soils tolerant#bird friendly#dry soils tolerant#butterfly friendly#bee friendly#compact#wet soils intolerant#showy#patio#dense#long lived
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#evergreen#showy flowers#deciduous#drought tolerant#deer resistant#frost tolerant#groundcover#rock garden#pollinator plant#compact habit#rocky soils tolerant#bird friendly#dry soils tolerant#butterfly friendly#bee friendly#compact#wet soils intolerant#showy#patio#dense#long lived
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Asperula
    Species:
    gussonei
    Family:
    Rubiaceae
    Uses (Ethnobotany):
    Ground cover
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Woody
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Division
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Sicily, Italy
    Wildlife Value:
    Birds, bees and butterflies are attracted to the flowers.
    Play Value:
    Attractive Flowers
    Attracts Pollinators
    Easy to Grow
    Dimensions:
    Height: 0 ft. 3 in. - 0 ft. 3 in.
    Width: 0 ft. 6 in. - 0 ft. 8 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Ground Cover
    Perennial
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Habit/Form:
    Clumping
    Dense
    Growth Rate:
    Medium
    Maintenance:
    Low
    Texture:
    Fine
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Soil Texture:
    Shallow Rocky
    Soil pH:
    Acid (<6.0)
    Neutral (6.0-8.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Occasionally Dry
    Available Space To Plant:
    Less than 12 inches
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Pink
    White
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Good Cut
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Spring
    Summer
    Flower Shape:
    Trumpet
    Tubular
    Flower Petals:
    7 - 20 petals/rays
    Flower Size:
    < 1 inch
    Flower Description:
    Numerous, closely spaced, stemless pale pink to white flowers. The buds are pink.
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Leaf Color:
    Gray/Silver
    Green
    Leaf Feel:
    Fleshy
    Leaf Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Leaf Type:
    Needles
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Whorled
    Leaf Shape:
    Elliptical
    Linear
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    < 1 inch
    Leaf Width:
    < 1 inch
    Leaf Description:
    Tiny gray-green, fuzzy, needle like foliage.
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Naturalized Area
    Patio
    Rock Wall
    Slope/Bank
    Small Space
    Woodland
    Landscape Theme:
    Fairy Garden
    Rock Garden
    Winter Garden
    Design Feature:
    Border
    Mass Planting
    Attracts:
    Bees
    Butterflies
    Pollinators
    Songbirds
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Deer
    Drought
    Dry Soil