Black-Green Brass Buttons (Leptinella squalida `Platt's Black`) - An Elegant Joint Filler with a Mini-Fern Look

Set of 5 on sale!

Those looking for a dense groundcover often turn to the same old standard green plants. However, if you want to fill bare gaps or transform small areas into a true garden masterpiece, you should definitely get to know Leptinella squalida 'Platts Black', also known as Platts Black Brass Buttons. This plant is an absolute eye-catcher, providing breathtaking contrasts in the garden with its dark, almost mystical coloring and delicate structure.

Scope of delivery: Each plant in a 7cm pot.

Origin and botanical fascination: The ancestors of this fascinating groundcover originally come from the rugged but beautiful landscapes of New Zealand. There, they learned to hug the ground and form dense carpets. The Platts Black variety is a very special selection that makes gardeners' hearts beat faster worldwide. With it, you bring a robust plant into your garden that reliably suppresses annoying weeds and looks like something out of an enchanted fairy tale forest.

Tiny ferns with an elegant Gothic look

The absolute highlight of this Leptinella is undoubtedly its foliage. If you look closely, you'll notice that the delicate leaves look like detailed, tiny fern fronds. But instead of growing in the usual uniform green, the foliage of Platts Black shines in a dramatic spectrum of colors: from deep bronze to dark violet to an almost shimmering black-olive green. The rule of thumb is: the sunnier the plant is, the more intense and dark its coloring becomes. In midsummer, tiny, yellowish-green flower buttons also appear, floating like small golden pinheads above the dark foliage.

The living carpet: Foot-traffic resistant and vigorous

The Platts Black Brass Buttons are not only an optical sensation but also a real talent. With a growth height of only three to five centimeters, it remains extremely flat and spreads via underground runners to form a dense, seamless carpet. The best part: the plant can definitely tolerate being walked on occasionally! This means you can plant it wonderfully where a living joint filler is needed. It recovers quickly after light treading and simply continues to grow unimpressed.

Easy to care for with a little winter protection

Don't be fooled by its delicate appearance, because this little New Zealander is surprisingly uncomplicated. The Platts Black Brass Buttons love a sunny to semi-shady spot. It is quite undemanding when it comes to soil, as long as the water can drain well, because it doesn't like waterlogging at all. It tolerates temperatures down to about -15 degrees and is therefore not completely winter-hardy in our latitudes. In very cold, snow-free periods of black frost, it is therefore happy about light protection from fir branches or some leaves. And don't worry: even if the above-ground shoots freeze back in a harsh winter, the plant usually sprouts reliably and willingly from its roots again in spring.

Into the garden – ingenious design ideas:

• The perfect joint planting: There is hardly a better plant to fill the gaps between large stepping stones or in natural stone paths. The dark foliage creates a gigantic contrast to light gravel or gray stone slabs.

• Mystical accents in the rock garden: Between light rocks and boulders, the almost black coloring is particularly dramatic and draws all eyes to it.

• Small worlds and fairy gardens: Due to its miniature fern look, the Leptinella is the ultimate choice for planted bowls, small miniature gardens or underplanting bonsai trees.

• Elegant grave planting: Since it remains extremely flat, is easy to care for and suppresses weeds, Platts Black is excellently suited as a dignified, calm and permanent groundcover.

Turn bare gaps and naked soil into a real garden highlight. With the Platts Black Brass Buttons, you choose a foot-traffic resistant, uncomplicated groundcover that gives your garden paths and beds a completely new, fascinating depth with its dark, fern-like structure.