>SYSTEM OF COLUMNS AS USED IN THE PERENNIALS, GRASSES AND FERNS.
>The system used for listing the perennials, ferns and grasses is almost the same as for the trees and shrubs. It differs in only one column from it. In stead of giving keywords at each genus to describe the plants, with each plant a numbercode is given where in the trees and shrubs section the size is given, which is not important here. This number code is known as the Hansen ; Müssel system of describing the main characteristics of plants. It does not work for trees and shrubs, which is the obvious reason it is not used there.
>Explanation of the numbercode system Hansen & Müssel
>First of all: this code is meant to give recommendations and to give some idea how to use each plant. It is not meant to be a set of strict rules!
>The code consists of four numbers, separated by dots. The meaning of each number is explained below. Please note that the meaning of the second and third digit is dependent on the meaning of the first digit. The meaning of the fourth digit is always the same and explained at the end of this list.
>Meaning of the first digit : General growing place
>Meaning of the second digit : Specific demands of the plant
>Meaning of the third digit : Advice on where to put the plant
>Meaning of the fourth digit : Other special characteristics
>1: WOODLAND. Plants, that in a garden need to be planted close to trees or shrubs. They require shade and prefer a peaty soil.
>Specific demands (2nd digit) group 1: WOODLAND:
>0. Plants that have no specific demands
1. Plants for light shade and a rich, fairly moist soil, with not too many tree-roots. For example near buildings or fences.
2. Plants for a sheltered, shaded place, between or near trees or shrubs, with a cool soil and mabe an hour or so sun a day.
3. Plants that like the shade, between trees and shrubs
>Advice on where to put (3rd digit) group 1: WOODLAND:
>0. No special demands
1. For a dry, deeply shaded place
2. Not too sunny, for instance in a darker corner of a border
3. Light shade, possibly near a rock garden
4. Lightly shaded, but warm place
5. Cool, shaded and moist soil
6. Plants of near the edge of a forest: some shade, some sun
>2. WOODLAND EDGE. Plants for a more or less open space with an occasional tree or shrub. In principle occasionally some sun.
>Specific demands (2nd digit) group 2: WOODLAND EDGE:
>0. Plants that have no specific demands
1. Plants close to trees or shrubs, but in the sunshine.
2. Plants between trees or shrubs, mostly light shade.
>Advice on where to put (3rd digit) group 2: WOODLAND EDGE:
>0. No special demands
1. For a mostly chalky, often dry soil.
2. Also for a poorer soil with many tree roots and in the sun.
3. For rich, well-drained, dry to lightly humid soils.
4. For rich, mostly cool and moist soils.
>3. OPEN SPACES. Plants for an open space, free of trees and shrubs. Always in the sun and a more or less rich soil.
>Specific demands (2nd digit) group 3: OPEN SPACES:
>0. Plants that have no specific demands.
1. Plants preferring a dry and sunny place, sometimes in brick walls.
2. Plants for a warm, sunny place, that have the effect of borderplants (with which they combine very well)
3. Plants for a sunny, but somewhat cool place.
>Advice on where to put (3rd digit) group 3: OPEN SPACES:
>0. No special demands.
1. A typical plant for semi-deserts.
2. Half- or semishrub used for an accent in the garden.
3. Bulbous plant to be planted in groups.
4. Faster growing, silvery-gray or gray-green plants.
5. Non-suckering mostly grey or silvery-gray plants.
6. Plants to be used in combination with rock-garden plants.
7. Plants that need protection against too much water in winter.
Partly used as rock-garden plant.
>4. ROCK-GARDEN. Plants originating from mountainous areas. In the garden used as a ground-cover, between rocks, loose brick walls or in alpine gardens.
>Specific demands (2nd digit) group 4: ROCK GARDEN:
>0. Plants that have no specific demands.
1. Fast growing, cushion forming plants. for a sunny place, for instance between rocks, open brick walls.
2. Easy plants giving a nice colour effect.
3. For a warm, sunny place, chalky soil.
4. For a sunny, moist, rocky soil, like mountainsides.
5. For sunless spaces, fast growing.
6. For sunless spaces between rocks, for a cool place.
7. Plants for a rich, gritty soil.
>Advice on where to put (3rd digit) group 4: ROCK GARDEN:
>0. No special demands.
1. To be planted is small groups or solitary.
2. To be planted in groups.
3. Shortliving plants.
>5. ALPINE GARDEN. Plant-lovers plants, they are difficult and demanding concerning treatment, place to put and soil. For the experinced gardener.
>Specific demands (2nd digit) group 5: ALPINE GARDEN:
0. Plants that have no specific demands.
1. Plants for a sunny place with a cool soil.
2. Plants for a lightly shaded place with a cool soil.
3. Plants for a sunny place, keep dry in the winter.
4. Plants for a shaded place, keep dry in the winter.
>Advice on where to put (3rd digit) group 5: ALPINE GARDEN:
>0. No special demands.
1. Chalk loving plant.
2. Chalk hating plant.
3. Chalky grit needed in the soil.
4. Chalkfree grit needed in the soil.
>6. BORDER. Plants with good colouring effects or nice shape, for an open, well drained soil.
>Specific demands (2nd digit) group 6: BORDER:
>0. Plants that have no specific demands.
1. Plants that make the basis of the border, includes ornamental grasses.
2. Plants that are used to complete group 6.1
>Advice on where to put (3rd digit) group 6: BORDER:
>0. No special demands.
1. For a warm, sunny place, tolerates occasional dry spell. Note that they do not tolerate very wet conditions in the winter well.
2. Originally meadowplants, for a cool, sometimes wet place, also sometimes in the shade.
3. Short-living plants, need to be rejuvenated on a regular basis.
>7. WATER-EDGE PLANTS. Plants growing alongside ditches and streams and also swamp plants.
>Specific demands (2nd digit) group 7: WATER-EDGE PLANTS:
>0. Plants that have no specific demands.
1. Plants for more or less moist places.
2. Plants for always moist places. They tolerate occasional flooding.
3. Swamp plants. They can tolerate up to 10cm of water.
>Advice on where to put (3rd digit) group 7: WATER-EDGE PLANTS:
>0. No special demands.
1. For light shade.
2. Sunny places.
>8. AQUATIC PLANTS. (do not occur in this catalogue)
>9. SOLITARY PLANTS. Impressive, difficult to combine plants, effective in creating large components in the garden.
>Specific demands (2nd digit) group 9: SOLITARY PLANTS:
>0. Plants that have no specific demands.
1. Plants that sucker strongly.
2. Plants with beautiful shapes, including the ornamental grasses.
3. Short-living plants, that need to be rejuvenated regularly.
>Advice on where to put (3rd digit) group 9: SOLITARY PLANTS:
>0. No special demands.
1. For a warm, sunny place.
2. For a lightly shaded place, with a cool soil.
>The fourth digit: other charcteristics.
>1. Ground-cover plant. Does not tolerate other plants well.
2. Ground-cover plant. Does tolerate other plants well. Suited for a garden with many different plants.
3. suckering plant, worteluitlopers.
4. Does not sucker much, combines well with other plants.
5. Robust, often large plant. Can be used as a solitairy plant.
6. Spreads itself strongly and easily.
7. Short-living plant. Needs rejuvenating regularly.
8. Suitable for cut-flowers
9. Demands good care in 'food and drink' or shelter.
0. None of the above.
>An example:
>Aconitum napellus violetblauw (07/08) 1.1.2.8
>The first digit is the category 'General place'. It is a '1' and therefor means:
>WOODLAND. Plants, that in a garden need to be planted close to trees or shrubs. They require shade and prefer a peaty soil.
>The second digit is the category 'Specific demands' It is a '1' and therefor means: Plants for light shade and a rich, fairly moist soil, with not too many tree-roots. For example near buildings or fences.
>The third digit is the category 'Advice where to put'. It is a '2' and therefor means: Not too sunny, for instance in a darker corner of a border
>The fourth digit is the category 'Other characteristics'. It is an '8' and therefor means: Suited for cut-flowers
>In short, we have a violet-blue plant from the woodland garden, flowering in july-august, wants a peaty, moist, rich soil. It can be used in borders and gives good cut-flowers.