Waldsteinia bears a striking resemblance to a Strawberry plant, although no fruits are borne, hence the common name of Barren Strawberry. This woodland wonder makes invaluable ground cover for shaded areas. Its low growing, carpeting habit, forms mats of glossy foliage that remain semi-evergreen in winter. In spring a constellation of starry golden flowers twinkle above the foliage to illuminate the shadiest corners of the garden. The bright blooms are a beacon for hungry pollinating insects making this a useful choice for informal wildlife plantings.

This hardy perennial is at its best when softening woodland edges where it will happily wander between Ferns, Primula and other shade loving perennials. It is versatile and quick to establish as ground cover beneath trees and shrubs, meandering through rockeries, or simply filling gaps at the front of borders. Reliable and easy to grow, it requires virtually no maintenance once established.

How to plant:

— Waldsteinia are supplied as 9cm root ball plants in autumn for planting between September and December and in spring for planting between February and May. They are live plants requiring light and moisture, therefore must be attended so quickly after delivery.

— Waldsteinia root ball plants should be planted soon after delivery. If you can't plant on the day of delivery, unpack on arrival and place root ball in a shallow dish of water outside and plant within a week.

— Root ball Waldsteinia can often cope with being planted directly into a clear space in a border - this depends on the soil type, moisture levels and growing conditions in the border. Avoid planting them directly into a space with challenging soil or which could soon become over-crowded by more established plants.

— Where the growing conditions are considered challenging (dry, poor soil or crowded area), for best results we recommend potting your 9cm root ball plant into a 15-20cm pot using multipurpose compost and growing on outdoors until the plant is more established. It will be ready to transfer once the roots begin to appear through the drainage holes in the pot.

— Plant bare roots or root balls so that the root system is fully submerged in the compost. The buds/crown of the plant should be just level with the soil surface. Any young shoots/leaves which have already emerged should be left exposed above the soil surface. If supplied towards late spring,the shoots/leaves may be pale however they will green up within a matter of days after exposure to daylight.

— When planting into a border, choose a space in full or partial shade with moist but free draining soil. Space the plants 15-25cm apart. Add multipurpose compost to each planting hole to help the new roots grow.

— Water thoroughly immediately after planting and continue watering regularly in the first year, don't allow the soil to completely dry out.

Aftercare:

— Waldsteinia is a semi-evergreen perennial, retaining much of its foliage throughout the winter months. New growth will emerge each spring.

— This perennial is fully hardy and does not require winter protection once it is well established. However, plants potted in autumn will benefit from some shelter from heavy winter rainfall in their first year.

— Waldsteinia will naturally spread once established and form a ground cover. Overcrowded clumps can be lifted and divided in spring when required.