Low, dense, evergreen ground-covering perennial (H 20-30 cm, W 20-50 cm). Stems thick, green, upright to prostrate, rooting. Leaves mostly in bunches atop the shoots, ovate to egg-shaped (4-8 cm), thick, margin slightly serrate, glossy, light to dark green. Flowers tiny, in terminal inflorescence, white. Flowering period: April-May. Grows best in half-shadow, in humus-rich, always moist soils, otherwise undemanding; if given adequate moisture grows well also in ful sun. Very tolerant to deep shade under trees and urban conditoins. A very good, reliable ground-covering perennial.
Plants from this group grow equally good in different positions, regardless of solar radiation. Usually they need more moisture in sunny than in shady undergorwth and they can bloom more exuberant.
Herbaceous plants are not woody. Their stems are soft, usually remaining green. With some herabceous older stems may harden and look like woody stems (e. g. bamboo).
Leaves or needles remain on the plant for several consecutive years, usually 2 to 5 years. Our descriptions contain the word evergreen.
Plant can in otherwise appropriate environment survive cold down to - 23 °C.
Porous or dry soils are normally light and loose, there is no stagnant water but relatively quickly flows in deeper layers; such ground are more airy and warmer, yet drier and usually contain less humus and for such undergrowth it is often to for drought to appear (e. g. rockgardens, walls, by paths and roads, on gravel, also on gravel surface in towns and close to buildings ...), plants of such undergrowth need well-drained soil, they tolerate drought but cannot tolerate constant moisture or even flooding.
Herbaceous, not woody plant. Stems and leaves may be evergreen or deciduous - thus regrowing every spring. Perennials may blossom consecutively for several years. Some perennials develop special underground organs - bulbs, corms or rootstocks and these species are treated separetelly, not with geophyte and tuberous plants.
Among described plants in this category we marked those, which are particulary resistant (to various environmental conditions), do not require much maintanance and thereby suitable fot planting in public areas.
