It doesnt like wet feet, so make sure the soil is well-drained. Kathleen Miller is a highly-regarded Master Gardener and Horticulturist who shares her knowledge of sustainable living, organic gardening, farming, and landscape design. Plants that are under 12 inches tall are good for tight spaces and as edging but can require some weeding to look their best. One way to cut back on the energy and resources you put into your yard is to incorporate ground covers into the landscape. Whether you do it yourself or pay a landscaper, maintaining a vibrant garden and lush lawn requires time, effort, and money. The nepeta genus includes roughly 250 species. One difference, though, is that it is more aggressive. Some hybrids offer striking, flat flower clusters that bees and butterflies can use as a landing pad. Spotted Dead Nettle is an excellent ground cover plant because of its flowers and its spreading growth habit. However, creeping ground coverings tend to spread the fastest. You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings, which can also be found in the footer of the site. By clicking Accept All Cookies, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Although taller than a typical ground cover, yarrow ranks among the most attractive ground cover flowering plants. Read our. 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Grow Morning Glory and Moon Flower Together, How to Grow Tulip Flowers like a Jeweled Crown, How to Care and Grow Perennial Iris Flowers, Caleana major Commonly Known as the Large Duck Orchid, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo (cacatua galerita), Types of Osprey Calls A Guide to Understanding Osprey Communication, Miletus Ancient Theater A Significant Historical Site in Aydin, Strategic Business Planning: Setting Your Company Up for Success, Five College and University Tips for Students to Get Through a Tough Class. It likes part to full sun. Use it to highlight other plants with darker foliage, such as boxwoods and conifers. Creeping thyme ground cover is not invasive, helps prevent weeds from growing, and is a natural deer repellent. While this perennial spreads rapidly, you can mow it to regain control. The Spruce uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. If you prefer a small hosta, opt for 'Blue Mouse Ears' that grows 6 to 12 inches high with round, heart-shaped blue-green leaves. David Beaulieu is a landscaping expert and plant photographer, with 20 years of experience. They can spread across bare ground, suppressing weeds and dust, preventing erosion, decreasing water evaporation, and adding color. Lamium is undemanding and easy to grow in partial to fully shaded locations. Lamium will grow under tree canopies and fill in around taller perennials, tolerating some dryness from the roots of other plants, but it grows better with irrigation. They thrive in or out of sunlight, and they seem to multiply on their own thanks to their rhizomatous roots. Growing only about 3 inches tall, this plant spreads over time, crowding out weeds and thus reducing maintenance further. If you've seen the lavender fields in Provence, you know this sweetly-scented perennial with purple or blue flowers looks amazing planted en masse. Just like other plants with the word "creeping" in the name, liriope can be considered aggressive and invasive in parts of the United States, from Virginia through to Mississippi. Well to make a long stroy short the Lamium is gone and in its place we planted a very small ground cover called Tiny Thyme. RELATED: How to Grow Zinnias in Your Home Garden. Deer are usually not interested, leaving more for you to enjoy for your garden and fresh bouquets. The foliage is evergreen and the 3-inch-high plant trails or spreads, favoring gravel and other sunny, dry conditions in zones 5 through 9. Lawns also are considered ground covers, but may require more moisture, sunlight, fertilizer and maintenance than other ground cover choices. spotted deadnettle (Lamium maculatum L.) is a perennial flowering ornamental commonly grown as a landscape plant for an adequate ground cover.. However, keep it away from turf grass to avoid damage. Sometimes called Pinks because the petals look like they've been trimmed with pinking shears, this pretty ground cover comes in a range of heights, anywhere from low-growing to 2 feet tall. Yellow archangel (Lamium galeobdolon 'Hermann's Pride', Zones 4-8) is one of the fastest-growing ground covers. It also doesn't die back in the winter. Willie Nelson pays lovely tribute to another country legend, Mayor: HISD has two optionsclose school or be taken over, Rare photos show 2 ocelots crossing South Texas road. Vinca minor(commonly known as periwinkle) is a very popular ground cover because it's drought-tolerant, pest-free, inexpensive, and easy to grow in just about any type of soil. This selection forms a spreading patch of small silver leaves with a stunning blue-green edge. This easy-care, mat-forming ground cover provides pops of purple blooms from mid-spring to early summer. This one is a horticultural hybrid developed by crossing Nepata racemosawithN. nepetella. Miniature hostas will grow less than 9 inches tall, small hostas grow to a foot or more, and giant hostas can grow over 30 inches tall. The only issue to watch for is rotting leaves. Creeping Raspberry is a wonderful and attractive ground cover that is naturally hardy, resilient, and adaptable. Growing and Harvesting a Saffron Crocus (Crocus sativus). Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved. But beware: This hardy opportunist, if left unchecked, can become unsightly and sometimes invasive. Because the common name is often given as spotted dead nettle. Mulching and weeding to prevent unwanted sprouts from stealing water from these low-maintenance succulents, and you can enjoy the cheery color of this low growing ground cover year-round, with a number of varieties to choose from. Reaches 3 to 9 inches tall with a spread of 6 to 12 inches. Its a good idea to add some mulch around the plant to help suppress weeds. 3. We recommend our users to update the browser. Whatever you decide to mix it with, remember to select plants that need partial to full shade. Like sedges, many different types of asters that will grow in partial shade to full shade. Glossy leaves in shades of deep green, bronze, and chocolate-brown make this perennial a great low-growing lawn alternative for almost any climate. manure tea is a good alternative. :) Thanks much guys. And Beacon Silver has pink flowers and silvery leaves. All our groundcovers are grown in biodegradable . As it spreads, new clumps will form. This sun-lover grows to a maximum height of about 12 inches with a 24-inch spread, and it blooms with lavender to pink flowers in July. One of the best fast-growing ground cover plants for full sun is flowering candytuft. When planted in groups, heuchera works well as a ground cover or along garden edging. You can plant this drought-tolerant, low-maintenance ground cover at the edge of a rock garden or other space and more or less forget about it (except for occasional watering) during the summertime. Cut them to the height you prefer them to be and thin them out if they're getting too thick by cutting some of the branches throughout the plant back to the ground. This tenacious perennial spreads rapidly, thrives in full sun, is cold hardy, grows in poor soil, and is drought tolerant once established. Native to Europe and western Asia, Lamium is frequently found naturalized along woodland trails and paths and colonized along the banks of streams. That kind doesnt make a good ground cover and needs lots of sun to grow well. For companion plants, select other shade-lovers. It is perfect for rock gardens, edging of pathways or front of the flower border. Growing to a height of about 6 inches with a spread of 9 inches, it has waxy green leaves that should be removed as they turn brown. They areespecially valued for use in shady spots, which is a condition that many plants dislike. Some of these ground covers will grow in sun and others in shade; all will put on growth quickly. Poke holes in the fabric and plant the junipers, then cover the fabric with mulch. Its cheerful bright lilac pink flowers add whimsy to the garden from early summer through midsummer. Apr 11, 2019 - Explore Karen Hine's board "Lamium", followed by 1,409 people on Pinterest. The lower the zone, the hardier the plant. Blooms from mid-spring through summer. Virtually disease and pest free, Spotted Dead Nettle is also deer and rabbit resistant. Lamium maculatum: Also called spotted deadnettle, forms a dense mat over. You may not have thought of using an onion as a ground cover, but doing so has some important advantages. Care requirements for creeping phlox are few. In ideal sunny conditions, Amethyst in Snow will spread quite quickly, but you can control it easily by pulling out stray shoots. Rock cotoneaster is considered a full-shun shrub but benefits from some afternoon shade. "Lamium maculatum" is a lovely ground cover, you can use them to decorate the hostas' edges. We are no longer supporting IE (Internet Explorer), Do not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Most of my dl have been in the ground at least 6 months, so I'm guessing they are well established enough for a ground cover. Many plant species from the genus Sedum are native to North America. Its a relative of mint, so its guaranteed to spread, and its hardy in the cold of Zone 3 but can take heat up to Zone 8. They save their energy for the surprisingly large flowers, white on desert zinnia and yellow on prairie zinnia. Aronia is a pretty low-growing native shrub that has tiny white flowers amid glossy green foliage. Q. 14. Available at Etsy; $10.99 per 1-quart plant. In fact, beware of this potentially invasive ground cover, especially if you live near a forest. A member of the mint family, Lamium spreads quickly, is self-seeding, and will rapidly create a ground cover wherever it is planted. The beauty of this easy-care perennial ground cover is that it's deer-resistant which means flowers may be trampled, but not typically eaten. Cut the runner off with pruning shears, plant it in another spot, and then water. I put the Lamium along a side of the housewhere the soil is very thin and a lot of plants do not like to grow. While it may be one of the toughest (er, tolerant) plants out there, Lily of the Valley looks as sweet as can be with darling white bells dangling from strappy green leaves. Rock cotoneaster is a deciduous shrub. It grows best where it has plenty of space to spread out. For example, choose Delosperma brunnthaleri, a hardy ground cover that grows around 2 inches tall and 2 feet wide with yellow flowers and ideal for zones 4 to 9. This plant can be invasive, depending on where you live. Lamium needs shade and a fertile, moist but well-draining soil. There may be restrictions on planting it in these areas. These creeping ground cover plants will reward you with easy care and bright colors. Both have tiny needle-like foliage that spreads along the ground or down rock walls. Noteworthy Characteristics Attractive foliage makes a good groundcover. Within two to three years of planting, it forms a lush carpet of velvety, green, heart-shaped leaves that hug the ground. Bloom time begins sooner, of course, after a mild winter, since plants do not have to regrow. Creeping phlox is the quintessential ground cover plant. This clumping perennial is less than a foot tall, with slender, long, arching leaves. Select either a shady or half shady location when growing Lamium maculatum. It does best in cooler summer weather and prefers full sun to part shade. Low-growing, ground-hugging perennial plants are the best low-maintenance ground coverings. The low-lying, flowering ground coverit grows no more than 4 inches tallcan endure being stepped and stomped on, making it a smart choice for planting between pavers or for replacing grass. From creeping phlox to creeping thyme these perennial ground cover plants are loaded with flowers to attract pollinators to the garden. This plant works as a ground cover, a border plant or even a houseplant in a hanging basket. Height is a foot or so. It can be excellent for covering large areas of difficult terrain, such as slopes where growing grass would be difficult or impossible. Although it is most. Clusters of rose-pink flowers appear in spring, then continue off and on until fall, appearing more reliably through summer than other varieties. The reality is that this hardy opportunist, if left unchecked, can become unsightly and sometimes invasive. Consult with your local extension office before growing spotted deadnettle because it is invasive in some areas. Candytuft is a ground-hugging, clumping, and flowering perennial that dies back each winter and rebounds each spring and early summer. .css-1byi7p4{-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;text-decoration-thickness:0.0625rem;text-decoration-color:#125C68;text-underline-offset:0.25rem;color:#fff;-webkit-transition:background 0.3s ease-in-out,color 0.3s ease-in-out;transition:background 0.3s ease-in-out,color 0.3s ease-in-out;display:inline-block;background-color:#000000;border-radius:0.125rem;font-family:NeutraDisplay,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:0.79054rem;line-height:1;font-weight:bold;height:unset;letter-spacing:0.05rem;padding:0.6rem 1rem;text-transform:uppercase;width:auto;}.css-1byi7p4:hover{color:#000;text-decoration-color:#595959;background-color:#53c2be;}.css-1byi7p4:focus-visible{outline-color:body-cta-btn-link-focus;}SHOP LILY OF THE VALLEY. Compost should be sufficient, as the plants do not require rich soil. In addition to making your garden look good, lithodora is a useful ally: The plant works as a natural deer repellent (the animals dislike the taste of the flowers) and helps control erosion. Hardy in USDA Zones 3 through 8, it will be deciduous in all but the mildest climates. Root-hardy, it will return after a freeze, but in mild winters such as this year's, little damage is done to the foliage. Creeping Charlie is also known as ground ivy, Alehoof, Catsfoot, creeping jenny, gill-over-the-ground, haymaids, field balm, run-away-robin and tunhoof. Finely textured, semi-evergreen, bright green blades form a slowly spreading mass that tops out about six to eight inches tall. In fact, they are one of the best perennials for shade. Try some honeysuckle! Shes passionate about gardening, baking, reading, and spending time with the people and dogs she loves. It is mainly grown for beautiful berries that succeed the blossoms over green leaves. If you prefer a similar but less aggressive variety, consider C. montana 'Amethyst Dream'. Grow spotted dead nettles in full to partial shade. Mature plants that have gotten "leggy" should be cut down to just above the ground, which then will grow back into a bushy, compact plant. The success of many invasive plants is due to this means of spreading. Lamb's Ear. This is a large plant with a horizontal growth habit (thus its species name). This native ground cover is as useful as it is pretty, acting as the larval host of the Pipevine Swallowtail butterfly and as a weed suppressing ground cover. Ajuga spreads rapidly in varying conditions, tolerating shade or sun. NC State University Cooperative Extension. To plant creeping juniper on a grassy slope, get rid of the grass, then lay down landscape fabric along the slope. Farther north, it can take increasing sunlight. Ground cover plants are all-around problem-solvers: They retain moisture, control erosion, and provide.css-1me6ynq{-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;text-decoration-thickness:0.0625rem;text-decoration-color:#125C68;text-underline-offset:0.25rem;color:#125C68;-webkit-transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;}.css-1me6ynq:hover{color:#595959;text-decoration-color:#595959;} habitat for pollinators like bees and butterflies. This is a slow-growing and long-lasting ground cover that simply needs pruning every so often to prevent it from growing leggy. Using several ground covers can add variety to the landscape and prevent soil erosion. Houston pitmaster goes viral after hilarious TV interview, Astros GM Dana Brown has more praise team's top prospect, Principal fired for reading 'I Need a New Butt!' Spotted deadnettle (Lamium maculatum) grows as a spreading mat of herbaceous stems and leaves. Aside from good exposure to sunlight, these leafy green clusters ask little of their gardener with no need to replant every season. Low-growing varieties of sedum make easy-to-care-for ground covers, especially since its fleshy leaves retain enough water to survive dry spells. Ground covers are used to provide edgings to pathways, control erosion, and add interest to landscape design. It grows to a maximum height of about 12 inches with an 18-inch spread, and it flowers with white blossoms in spring. Hedera helix. This is a deer- and rabbit-resistant ground cover that is ideal for large swaths of landscape. It tucks into shaded rock gardens and naturalized borders. It can climb walls and grow across landscapes as unstoppable ground cover. Height is a foot or so. Creeping Raspberry is a part of the Rosaceae family. And lasting from late spring to midsummer, and can be reddish-purple, pink, or white depending on the variety. Ooo. It also produces lovely purple, white, blue, or pink flowers in the summer. which is great for using as a ground cover in large fields and gardens. chezmoose. Groundcover plants are helpful for weed suppression, while also adding texture and color to your garden with low maintenance needs. Divide this plant in the spring for additional and long-living ground cover that can last for a couple of decades. Honeysuckle grows best with full sun and moist soil, and its resistant to heat. I still like the stuff It is really a pretty ground cover. Once established, its drought tolerant. Original Author. Lamium is in the mint family (Lamiaceae), which provides a hint as to its toughness. Equally at home hanging from a planter or covering a hillside, Lysimachia (more commonly known as creeping Jenny) is a plant admired for its trailing branches. In addition to white flowers, you can find colors like moonshine yellow, paprika, or vintage violet. Scott Little. Spotted deadnettle ground cover grows about 6 to 12 inches (15-31 cm.) Spotted dead nettles tolerate evenshady areas that have dry soil. Hardy and deer resistant in USDA Zones 4 through 8, this colonizing fern prefers humus-rich, moist but well-drained soils. This plant grows vibrant purple flowers that grow against grey-green foliage from early spring through early summer. It has basic requirements and is well worth cultivating in your garden. Care Grow the quick-growing groundcovers in moist, but well-drained soil in partial or full shade. Spotted dead nettles should be pruned in the summer after the first blooming period. The plant's multicolored leaves and tiny pastel flowers look attractive by themselves along a walkway or mingled. Excellent evergreen ground cover for shadeThe North American native speciesPachysandra procumbensis harder to find but a more graceful and less spready choiceGrows 6 to 10 inches 15-25 cm tall. Grow Canadian wild ginger in humus-rich, moist soil in light shade to deep shade conditions in USDA Plant Hardiness Zones 3 through 8. Check your plants regularly and if slugs or snails are present, handpick and dispose of them as they appear. North Carolina State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox. Choose plants that are hardy to USDA zones 2 to 4. General description Fast-growing perennial ground cover that may be either trailing or upright depending on conditions. If you're planting a shrub or perennial that you want to last from one year to the next, make sure it's suited according to your USDA Hardiness Zone (find yours here). Lamium is one of the best choices for a tough yet showy perennial groundcover. This plant thrives in wet soils, which is why planting it in dry soil and denying it water helps keep it in check. The attractive foliage has a silvery cast and shows well . This is a highly invasive plant but it's also popular for growing on huge swaths of areas that need ground cover and won't encroach on another's property. Although rich, moist, acidic soils are ideal, this plant will also grow in alkaline, sandy and clay soils. It's also used for ground cover to stop erosion because its tough roots hold soil in place. Oak sedge prefers partial shade to full shade in USDA Zones 3 through 8. RELATED: The 15 Best Plants for Rookie Gardeners. A variety of cultivars are available, including Juniperus horizontalis'Blue Rug.'. Because the leaves are scented when crushed, deer and rabbits may take one bite and then move on to something more palatable. It is, therefore, a sterile plant that will not come true from seeds. Its ornamental value is twofold: it bears splendid blossoms in various colors (depending on the variety), and it displays eye-catching silver leaves, which provide color long after the flowers have faded. It's also toxic to humans and pets. A critical bit of deadnettle plant info to be aware of, however, is . The petite white star-shaped flowers provide a nice contrast to the deciduous green foliage. Lamium is grown for both its pretty foliage and beautiful flowers. Cutting the stems or pinching back to a joint will stimulate new growth for the plant. One of the most popular is Carex pensylvanica, commonly known as oak sedge, and it can be found across the eastern half of North America. This sweetly-scented perennial spreads easily, so keep it in check by planting it in well-groomed areas like along walkways or close to the house's foundation. Lamium is a fast-growing, perennial ground cover that deer and rabbits avoid. Our native white wood aster (Aster divaricatus), which grows in USDA Zones 3 through 8, spreads underground and by seed to form dense colonies even in dry shade conditions. Perfect for plantings under perennials or shrubs and as a groundcover or edging plant. For a sun-loving, pollinator-friendly herb, creeping thyme ( Thymus praecox) will fill your lawn with a fine-leaved mat of dainty pink, white, or purple flowers. It likes full sun, and requires regular trimmings to keep it from taking over the yard. Home Outdoors Yard & Garden Structures Planters. It does spread under the right conditions, but it is fairly easy to pull it out and keep it from taking over areas where it does not belong. Ajuga ground cover doing very well in low light. The silvery foliage of theseshade plantsmakes them a good fit for landscape designs with creative color schemes. Blooms late Spring to mid Summer. Thats the beauty of this native spring ephemeral that goes by several names including woodland phlox, wild sweet William and Phlox divaricata. When several are planted together, they form a dense hedge that thrives in almost any type of soil and full sun. Lamium is an excellent ground cover for shade. Her goal is to inspire and educate people about how to garden every day. With moist shade and deep, acidic woodland soil of good tilth, it will form a tight ground cover. When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Ferns come in an array of shapes, sizes, and colors. Planted in groupings, it makes a lovely ground cover. Yellow Archangel Botanical Name: Lamium galeobdolon I've never tried that one. When grown as a ground cover, it is an easy-care plant that requires little maintenance. The 'Six Hills Giant' cultivar is a good choice for covering large areas. It is much less noticeable at other times of the year, but that doesn't detract from its role as a spring superstar.