'Variegata'). Large, shield-like olive-green leaves with silver and white irregular edging. Plant 3ft(im) apart. H. colchica, Persian ivy Very large-leaved. Dense ground cover. Plant 4ft(i.25cm) apart. 'Dentata Aurea': Large, leathery, polished leaves; soft green with pronounced deep yellow variegation. Plant 3ft(im) apart. H. helix var. hibernica, Irish ivy Rampageous ground cover with dark green, five-lobed, large leaves. Plant 4ft( 1.25m) apart. LONICERA pileata Horizontally branched and hummock rooting. Reaches 2ft(6ocm). Plant 3ft(im) apart. MAHONIA aquifolium (ev), holly-leaved berberis Spreads slowly by underground suckers. Rich, shiny evergreen foliage. Plant 2ft(6ocm) apart. PACHYSANDRA terminalis (ev), Japanese spurge Almost prostrate evergreen carpeters. 8in(2ocm). Best in light, lime-free soil. Plant i|ft(45cm) apart. POTENTILLA Easily grown, long-flowering, hummock-forming shrubs. Best in full sun. Height 1ยป to 3ft(45cm to im). Small leaves, dense twiggy growth; single flowers, mostly yellow shades. Plant 2 to 3ft(6ocm to im) apart. PRUNUS laurocerasus (ev), laurel There are two laurels used for dense cover, 'Otto Luyken' and 'Zabeliana': Both flower freely. P. laurocerasus 'Otto Luyken': Compact, horizontal habit with erect stems j up to 3ft(im) carrying dark leaves. Plant 3ft(im) apart. P.I. 'Zabeliana': Low and obliquely branched, reaching 4ft(i.25m). Almost willow-like, long, shining leaves. Plant 4ft(i.25m) apart. ROSA The following roses will, in time, provide complete cover and are easy to grow in most conditions: 'Max Graf (Rugosa hybrid): The prostrate shoots, which root as they spread, are clothed with glossy leaves. Richly i scented, single pink flowers. Plant 6ft(2m) apart. R. nitida Forms an ever-widening thicket up to 2ft(6ocm). Scented, single, bright pink flowers, then showy round hips. Good autumn colour; the brownish-red colour of the stems is outstanding. Plant 2ft(6ocm) apart. 'Nozomi': Forms an attractive carpet of single pearl-pink blooms which provide an almost continuous display over many weeks. Not, however, recurrent. Small glossy leaves smother the stems. Plant 3ft(im) apart. R. x paulii: Splendid cover with long, trailing, excessively thorny leafy shoots. Single white flowers. Plant 6ft(2m) apart. A new race of fairly prostrate ground-cover roses reaching 25 to 3ft(75cm to im) in height was introduced in 1980. All have single or semi-double small flowers; perpetual. Dense glossy foliage is remarkably disease resistant, Plant 3ft(im) apart. Cultivars include 'Red Blanket', rose-red; 'Rosy Cushion', rose-pink with ivory centres to flowers; and 'Smarty', pale pink, with golden stamens. RUBUS tricolor (ev) A benign galloper. One foot (im) high, it roots readily on contact with the ground and is possibly the fastest of all ground-coverer carpeters in shade. Plant 6 to 8ft(2 to 2.5m) apart. SALVIA officinalis (ev), sage This species and its coloured forms are hummock rooting, densely-leaved shrubs, reaching 2ft(6ocm).