London Pride, also known as Saxifraga x urbium or St. Patrick’s Cabbage, is a delightful perennial plant that can add a touch of beauty and charm to any garden or landscape. One of the common concerns gardeners often have is whether this plant is invasive or not. I can assure you that London Pride is not considered to be aggressively invasive, making it a suitable choice for those looking for a ground cover option that won’t take over their entire garden.
London Pride typically reaches a height of up to 12 inches (30 cm), making it a relatively compact plant. Its growth habit is spreading, which means it will gradually cover the ground and form a lush carpet of foliage. However, it does so at a moderate pace, without overpowering or choking out neighboring plants.
I have personally grown London Pride in my own garden and found it to be a well-behaved plant. It certainly spreads and fills in bare areas, but it does not aggressively invade the space or cause any issues with other plants. In fact, I have found it to be a wonderful companion plant, as it provides a beautiful backdrop for other flowers and creates a harmonious visual display.
One of the reasons why London Pride is not invasive is its growth habit. While it does spread, it does so through short rhizomes and not by sending out aggressive runners or taking over large areas. This allows you to easily control its growth and prevent it from becoming overwhelming in your garden.
To further ensure that London Pride does not become invasive, you can take a few simple steps. First, regularly monitor its growth and trim back any overgrown or spreading stems. This will help maintain its desired size and prevent it from encroaching on other plants.
Additionally, you can create physical barriers, such as edging or containers, to contain the plant’s growth. This will help restrict its spread and keep it within the desired boundaries of your garden. By taking these precautions, you can enjoy the beauty and benefits of London Pride without worrying about it becoming invasive.
London Pride is not considered to be an invasive plant. Its growth habit is moderate, spreading slowly and in a controlled manner. With proper monitoring and simple maintenance techniques, you can easily keep this plant in check and enjoy its lovely ground cover qualities without the worry of it becoming invasive.
