As an evergreen ground cover, the fat man prefers moist and cool locations. Are there plants with similar requirements that get along well next to the fat man? Below you will learn how to combine this plant with others.
What factors should you consider when combining Fat Man?
In order to enjoy the fat man and his planting partners for a long time, you should pay attention to the following factors:
- Flower color: white
- Flowering time: April to May
- Location requirements: Partly shaded to shady, humus-rich and slightly acidic soil
- Growth height: 15 to 30 cm
Since the fat man develops a low height, it is ideally combined with plants that are higher and yet do not let it disappear visually. It is ideal for underplanting. Other ground cover plants can also be considered as partners, as long as they do not overgrow the fat man.
You should also take the subtle flower color and early flowering period into account when combining the fat man. Because it stays in the background and provides a good base on the otherwise bare ground with its evergreen foliage, companion plants with strong flower colors are the perfect choice.
Combine fat men in the bed or in the bucket
Thanks to its evergreen leaves and low growth, the fat man is ideal for planting under trees. It tolerates root pressure and looks great under trees and shrubs. It also likes to grow in close proximity to other shade-loving plants such as hostas and ferns.
Excellent harmony with the fat man among others:
- Rhododendron
- Cranberry
- Boxwood
- Funkie
- Cashmere Bergenia
- Goatbeard
- Spring bloomers such as daffodils, hyacinths and tulips
- Fern
Combining fat men with rhododendrons
The fat man goes well with rhododendrons because they both love humus-rich and slightly acidic soil. The fat man can get his preferred shade at the foot of a tall rhododendron. The rhododendron, on the other hand, can soak up the sun unhindered, while the fat man shades its root area and slows down the drying out of the soil. In addition, the fat man suppresses weeds. In short: both plants benefit from each other.
Combining fat men with hostas
Hotas and fat men have similar location requirements and experience has shown that they get along easily in the neighborhood. You can choose both low hostas and giant hostas as companion plants for the fat man. The combination works wonderfully if you place a blue-leaf hosta or a hosta with white striped or white variegated leaves next to the fat man. They practically glow next to the shadowy green.
Combine fat man with fern
Both the fern and the fat man love a loose and humus-rich forest floor. Working together, they work together to design dreary areas in shade beds and elsewhere, thereby noticeably enhancing them. The filigree and loose fern fronds in combination with the thick leaves of the fat man create an appealing contrast.
