By Chilekat
Caerphilly,
United Kingdom 
Identification game round 3! -
My front garden is yet to be sorted and has the remnants of what the last occupiers left. I've identified most things, but I've no idea about the low lying spiky stuff that has an almost blue tinge to it; and then the carpet of twirly leaves that throw up little white flowers later on in the year.... photos of both attached,
Thanks in advance! :-)
7 Apr, 2011
Answers
The first looks like a juniper and the second looks horribly like bindweed.
7 Apr, 2011
So Juniper seems to be the answer for the first one - as for the second, the foliage is similar but isn't bindweed - that one I know :-) This one has teeny white flowers come on it, not the big gramophone type that bindweed does!
7 Apr, 2011
Second one looks like that Houttuynia cordata which has lost its variegation.
7 Apr, 2011
The first is definitely a Juniper--probably a variety of J. horizontalis.
The second looks like a knotweed, or a lizard tail--maybe the solid green form of Chameleon Plant?
7 Apr, 2011
2nd one still look like an invasive weed to me - one of the many I can't name!
7 Apr, 2011
Ok, I've been googling and it seems the closest to look at is the "Creeping Juniper".
As for number 2, still no closer! Perhaps I'll have to wait until it flowers?
7 Apr, 2011
Juniper blue star ?
7 Apr, 2011
The 2nd looks like both bindweed and Houttuynia. You say it has small white flowers.Check out the link below where you can see the little houttuynia flowers. Bindweed has trumpet shaped flowers on tall climbing stems. Is it growing in shade because houttuynia prefers a sunnier site where the leaves will colour beautifully. There is a photograph on this link. http://www.gardens4you.co.uk/index.php?/Perennials/Other-Perennials/Houttuynia-cordata-Chameleon-3.html
7 Apr, 2011
I think its Houttuynia as well...
8 Apr, 2011
so do I Bamboo
8 Apr, 2011
Houttuynia it is!!! I've been out there for the last few hours, clearing al the dead sticky-outy bits and removing years of leaf litter and guess what I found - a really old plant label! "Houttuynia Chameleon"
Thank you to everyone who helped identifying all my plants :-)
As an aside, is Houttuynia worth keeping? it is everywhere.... perhaps I'll dig up bits some and keep others. I'm assuming it's not considered a pest as it has a label.... ?
8 Apr, 2011
Just because it comes with a label and is a named plant is no guarantee of its being non invasive, I'm afraid - this plant is known for being invasive and needs to be kept in check. Also needs to be in sun for its coloration to show properly.
8 Apr, 2011
First one is a prostrate juniper of some sort
7 Apr, 2011