Keep weeds at bay with spreading plants in your garden. In early spring, flowers that look like fairy wings appear on this perennial. Like sedges, many different types of asters that will grow in partial shade to full shade. If you are looking for something unusual, consider wall germander, a broadleaf woody-stemmed evergreen that is often massed or used as a low hedge along retaining walls or in knot gardens. Slugs and snails are attracted to the liquid, fall in and drown. This is a deer- and rabbit-resistant ground cover that is ideal for large swaths of landscape. In moist soil, however, brass buttons spread vigorously, forming 2-inch-tall mats of growth strong and thick enough to withstand even regular foot traffic. It is far too unattractive a little for this low-growing carpet of leaves. Prepare a bed on the sandy, well-drained soil under 6-12 inches depth and plant the seedlings 18 inches apart in the late afternoon. Its a well-behaved spreader, and is not invasive. Spotted deadnettle ground cover grows about 6 to 12 inches (15-31 cm.) 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. The horizontally-spreading branches of creeping junipers make a dense mat that weeds cant penetrate. But this plant with prettyfoliageand funny namerarely becomes a problem for those who grow it in areas where it is already native. But they are not grasses, and are instead herbaceous floweringperennial plantsin the asparagus family. Mow it down once in late winter and watch the fresh green growth fill right back in. It prefers moderate climates but is able to withstand full sun and drought-like conditions. RELATED: How to Grow Zinnias in Your Home Garden. Though Lenten rose is not a rose (it's part of the buttercup family), its little buds are early season bloomers when it flowers at ground level in the late winter. It has basic requirements and is well worth cultivating in your garden. And Beacon Silver has pink flowers and silvery leaves. Spotted deadnettle (Lamium maculatum) grows as a spreading mat of herbaceous stems and leaves. The promise is that Lamiums are fast-growing perennial ground cover or container plants that brighten partly sunny spots and produce charming flowers. Push the bare part of the branch into the soil at the desired location and water. Ice plant is a fast and easy-growing ground covering, but pick the right species for your climate. In the right climate, brass buttons remain an evergreen ground cover year round. Plant in full shade or partial shade. The midsummer shearing also encourages a second flowering period in September. Going to google creeping jenny. . This woodland sedge can tolerate drier soils than many species. When planted in groups, heuchera works well as a ground cover or along garden edging. :) Thanks much guys. The large, veined, heart-shaped leaves have a spread of 18 to 24 inches, and most varieties bloom in late spring with small pink flowers. Replant them in a suitable location, and water. However, slugs and snails may be occasional visitors. Cutting the stems or pinching back to a joint will stimulate new growth for the plant. 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. Ground-huggers in the 1- to 3-inch range that tolerate foot traffic can be used between stepping stones. Invasive Plant Atlas of the United States. Creeping Charlie is also known as ground ivy, Alehoof, Catsfoot, creeping jenny, gill-over-the-ground, haymaids, field balm, run-away-robin and tunhoof. It flowers best in full sun. Read more about purple dead nettle and henbit. This deer-resistant succulent ground cover has needle-shaped leaves and small but bright daisy-like flowers that carpet the plants from late spring through early fall. While it prefers full sun, it needs regular moisture, especially during hot months. It's deer-resistant and can tolerate drought, heat, and cold. World of Flowering Plants. It is native to New Zealand and invasive in some areas, though its spread has not been out of control. Candytuft is a ground-hugging, clumping, and flowering perennial that dies back each winter and rebounds each spring and early summer. Evergreen ground covers, such as creeping juniper, require little care. A Texas Master Gardener, she's the author of The Texas Flower Garden, published by Gibbs-Smith in 1996. This tuberous perennial has long, thin, chive-like foliage you can enjoy in the kitchen; the greenery is topped by tiny purple flowers in the summer, and its also available in a variegated type. Lamium is an excellent ground cover for shade. Lamium (Dead Nettle) is a trailing, groundcover perennial. To propagate from the stem, cut the 10cm long portion of the stem and leave it to scab for some time. Yarrow can grow in full sun in nearly any soil and can tolerate drought once established. It doesnt like wet feet, so make sure the soil is well-drained. This species of plumbago is cold hardy to USDA Zone 5, but will survive winter better if you cover it with a light mulch, or if theres snow cover. Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made. There is no need to apply fertilizer, encouraging them to become too robust and invasive. This vining plant, also known as dead nettles, can tolerate cold, heat, and drought, and its deer resistant. A particularly vigorous variety, Walkers Low, was The Perennial Plant Associations plant of the year in 2007. It's tough-as-nails once established, tolerating poor soil and drought conditions. Yellow archangel ( lamium galeobdolon) Planted in groupings, it makes a lovely ground cover. The 'Six Hills Giant' cultivar is a good choice for covering large areas. There are more than 40 species of lamium, but the best are those that are flowering perennials like the Pink Chablis. Because the leaves are scented when crushed, deer and rabbits may take one bite and then move on to something more palatable. There is also a pink flowering form. Lamium is a versatile plant, hardy in U.S.D.A. But what really makes this tough perennial a standout is its vivid foliage that ranges from chartreuse to silvery white to many shades of green. Lamium spreads quickly, so be ready to cut it back if it begins to encroach on other shrubs and flowers. See this plant in the following landscapes: Wild Side- A Shady Garden Cultivars / Varieties: 'Album' It spreads rapidly by above-ground runners and is hardy to Zone 4. Home Outdoors Yard & Garden Structures Planters. Here's how: While they can self-seed themselves, spotted dead nettles do not do well if you try to grow them from seed. Whats more, it requires relatively little maintenance, and it resists deer and other critters. 4. The versatile strawberry begonia (Saxifraga stolonifera) is neither a strawberry nor a begonia. It likes full sun. Despite its vigorous growth, it's not considered invasive. But with hardy plumbago (Ceratostigma plumbaginoides), youll enjoy a carpet of cerulean blue blooms every year from late summer to frost. Spotted deadnettle ground cover is an easy-to-grow plant with a wide range of soil and condition tolerance.. If you set out a little nursery-grown pot of Lamium in spring. Species can be annuals or perennials, with many valued for their ground cover abilities, pollinator-friendly flowers and preference of shady areas. You might not think of oregano as a ground cover, but this herb forms dense clumps of scented foliage. It grows to a maximum height of about 12 inches with an 18-inch spread, and it flowers with white blossoms in spring. This is a lush trailing ground cover with. NC State University Cooperative Extension. 1. Perfect for plantings under perennials or shrubs and as a groundcover or edging plant. It takes about 14 days until you see seedlings. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your devices and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. Photo: Stan Shebs, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons, 25 Plants That Survive With or Without You, 14 of the Best Plants for Your Drought-Tolerant Garden, 10 Grass-Free Alternatives to a Traditional Lawn, Bad Neighbors: 11 Plant Pairs Never to Grow Side by Side. Leadwort begins blooming in late summer with beautiful, electric-blue flowers and continues until the first frost. The little silver leaves of lamium are like bits of glitter strewn about the garden floor, reflecting any dappled sunlight that finds them. Lamium is in the mint family (Lamiaceae), which provides a hint as to its toughness. In shade, its OK if the soil dries out now and then. LAY-mee-um mak-yoo-LAH-tum Description Fast growing; Spotted dead nettle is a good ground cover for moist, shady areas. Wherever its branches make contact with the soil, it will put down roots, creating new plants. Creeping Phlox. It is a woodland plant that requires good drainage and shade. Care Grow the quick-growing groundcovers in moist, but well-drained soil in partial or full shade. It's cold hardy and prefers part shade. This perennial creeper is a great ground cover that will quickly carpet your landscape with pretty and small flowers. 'Album', has white flowers, shown here blooming before the leaves on September 28, 2011, and spreads to form a ground cover that stays green through the winter . When grown as a ground cover, it is an easy-care plant that requires little maintenance. While grass is typically the best way to fill out empty space, sometimes low-growing plants are a better and prettier option. It will happily soak up the excess moisture, especially if its a sunny spot. 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. If you have a sunny to partially shaded spot in USDA Zones 3 through 9 where youd like a flowering ground cover but want something more colorful, try this ornamental onion. Propagate by division in autumn or early spring After flowering, plants can be cut back to encourage fresh foliage cover. Low-growing, ground-hugging perennial plants are the best low-maintenance ground coverings. However, keep it away from turf grass to avoid damage. This is a slow-growing and long-lasting ground cover that simply needs pruning every so often to prevent it from growing leggy. This is not the form of thyme used in cooking, but its fragrance will attract bees and other pollinators. Key Dead-nettle facts Name - Lamium maculatum Family - Lamiaceae Type - perennial Height - 8 to 12 inches (20 to 30 cm) Exposure - full sun to shade Soil - rich and well drained Foliage - deciduous No special soil is needed for it to flourish and reseed. This easy-care mat-forming ground cover provides pops of purple blooms from mid-spring to early summer. Plant number: 1.305.190. This groundcover plant stays under a foot tall but slowly spreads outward. It does best in sun. To encourage new growth in the springtime cut spotted dead nettles back after the first frost or in the late autumn, depending on where you live. Another bonus is that it is common and considered one of the cheapest ground covering plants. 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. Avoid planting Chinese lantern in garden beds and near turf grass. This ground cover requires very little care at allif planted in full shade. This easy-to-grow plant spreads and produces numerous offspring from seed. These waterwise plants are perfect rock garden ground covers in zones 4 through 9 for the hardier yellow prairie zinnia and 6 through 10 for desert zinnia with its pretty white flowers. A popular climbing vine, English ivy will creep along to cover the ground if you let it, and thrives in the shade. Basket of Gold also goes by the name yellow alyssum, another reference to its adorable clusters of bright yellow flowers. `Katie' produces petunialike, purple blooms for months. You will have to experiment to arrive at the right balance between giving it enough water to keep it alive and giving it so much that it becomes invasive. It prefers shade, but . Its a native to wooded areas and stream banks of the Appalachian Mountains, and easy to control. .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. Though this is considered a flowering ground cover, it's tiny white flowers are quite insignificant. Liverleaf (Anemone americana, formerly classified as Hepatica americana) is a perennial wildflower native to North America. While lamium looks great, it's not the best at dealing with high amounts of traffic, so make sure it's somewhere with less foot traffic. Spotted dead nettles tolerate evenshady areas that have dry soil. She writes a weekly garden Q&A and feature stories. Several plants in this list happily grow in full or partial shade. This plant can be invasive, depending on where you live. Liverleaf's spring floral display makes this small perennial special. Lamium Anne Greenway Need a good ground cover in the shade or morning sun. Snip some for cooking, or keep it trimmed back to manage its height. The attractive foliage has a silvery cast and shows well . Sweet woodruff foliage can be dried and used in wreaths, potpourri, and other craft creations. A member of the mint family, Lamium spreads quickly, is self-seeding, and will rapidly create a ground cover wherever it is planted. Name: Ceratostigma plumbaginoides. Aside from good exposure to sunlight, these leafy green clusters ask little of their gardener with no need to replant every season. Hedera helix. If you are looking for a low-maintenance ground cover, sweet woodruff (Galium odoratum) is a good pick, but only under certain conditions. Growing as high as 36 inches, it blooms all summer long with purple flowers. Get daily tips & tricks to help make your best home, Spotted Dead Nettles vs. Stinging Nettles. There are so many options to choose from, including old favorites like Pachysandra and Vinca, as well as small shrubs, perennials, and annuals. Select Delosperma floribundum'Starburst', a mat-forming cultivar with pink flowers and white centers for zones 6 to 8. The dainty lavender flowers and vining evergreen leaves make this purple ground cover incredibly popular as a low maintenance ground cover for shade. Pink or white flowers bloom in spring and summer. Early mornings and evenings and after periods of damp weather are the best times to hunt for these pests. Getting Started Note: This plant is considered invasive across much of the northeast, some areas of the northern Midwest, and parts of the Pacific Northwest. This native, weed-suppressing ground cover spreads quickly by seed and offshoots to fill challenging spaces under tall trees, along the waters edge, or in that tough strip between the street and sidewalk. spotted deadnettle (Lamium maculatum L.) is a perennial flowering ornamental commonly grown as a landscape plant for an adequate ground cover.. Planted along sloped pieces of land, it can neaten up the area while providing ground covering. 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. Read our. Want to lure hummingbirds, butterflies, and other wildlife to your garden? It grows best in morning sun and afternoon shade. 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. Whether you do it yourself or pay a landscaper, maintaining a vibrant garden and lush lawn requires time, effort, and money. Its also heat tolerant through USDA Zone 9. It can even thrive in the acidic conditions under large pine trees. Can be invasive in moist, fertile soils. In fact it thrives on summer drought in dry shade. Fix your gardens trouble spots with these low-growing perennials, annuals, and shrubs. Once dense, it can be quite attractive, but you will need to corral it or you'll have a sea of ruellia. They have silver foliage and produce showy pink, purple or white flowers in late spring. Learn tips for creating your most beautiful home and garden ever. Yellow archangel has colorful leaves and flowers. Susan has received visitors from around the world in her home garden which has been featured in numerous gardening publications. Reaches 3 to 9 inches tall with a spread of 6 to 12 inches. wide. Ferns come in an array of shapes, sizes, and colors. White flowers pop up in spring. Hailing all the way from Siberia, this cold-hardy evergreen has fern-like foliage that turns a pretty bronzy color in colder climates. But its attractive variegated foliage spreads out to two or three times its height. I've never tried that one. 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. So long as the site affords full sun and good drainage, creeping phlox requires next to nothing in the way of care. Plant in the late spring. In extremely hot climates it needs a little shade, but otherwise it enjoys being in the sun. Within two to three years of planting, it forms a lush carpet of velvety, green, heart-shaped leaves that hug the ground. It got its name from the way its red stems spread like strawberry plants do, and how its rounded, dark green leaves with white veins and maroon undersides resemble a begonia. Because the common name is often given as "spotted dead nettle". Not picky, spotted Dead Nettles do just fine in average, well-drained soil. Use it to highlight other plants with darker foliage, such as boxwoods and conifers. In summer months, little spikes of blue, purple, pink or white flowers will appear. Being creepers and having a tendency to spread, these classic cottage-garden plants are popular flowering ground covers. Another method of control some gardeners use is placing saucers of stale beer among their plants, with the lip of the container at ground level. Lamium is evergreen from Zone 6 south. Bishop's Goutweed While it works great for ground cover in a shaded area, you will never, ever get rid of it. Known as Lamium maculatum, this perennial plant is deer- and rabbit-resistant and boasts a lengthy bloom time: from mid-spring to early summer. 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. Any solid green leaves should be snipped out, otherwise, the plant will eventually lose the variegated leaves and become all green. Hostas are some of the happiest and hardiest perennial ground coverings you can grow. In zones 6 through 8, it remains evergreen most of the year. The leaves, bulblets and bulbs of the nodding onion plant are edible with a strong onion flavor, but its more common to grow Allium cernuum for its easily identifiable flowers. The low-maintenance plant thrives year-round, rewarding you with delicate blooms in spring and summer. Native to Africa, purple ice plant (Delosperma cooperi) became popular as a cold-hardy ground cover in the United States in the 1990s. There are so many reasons to grow golden groundsel (Packera aurea). She's been a frequent speaker at various garden events. 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. In either case, cut back shabby foliage after the first frost to make way for new growth in the spring. Overall, the plant is shaggy and short. We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. This plant is deciduous in areas where there is colder weather but stays semi-evergreen in other regions. Yellow Archangel Botanical Name: Lamium galeobdolon The plant dies back to the ground in the winter and comes out in the spring, but giving it a good shearing before winter will help keep the plants healthy. It makes a dense mat of three-lobed leaves on lengthy, cane-like stems, which provide an interesting ground . Low-growing varieties of sedum make easy-to-care-for ground covers, especially since its fleshy leaves retain enough water to survive dry spells. David Beaulieu is a landscaping expert and plant photographer, with 20 years of experience. Here are our top 15 ground covers for shaded areas. Although not a U.S. native and with the potential to choke out nearby wildflowers, lithodora is not listed as an invasive concern. Lamium (Deadnettle) Wonderful as ground cover in a shady area, Spotted deadnettle ( Lamium maculatum) can cover large areas quickly, prevailing in the most unforgiving of conditions. This tenacious perennial spreads rapidly, thrives in full sun, is cold hardy, grows in poor soil, and is drought tolerant once established. To make sure your ground covers get the job done (ya know, dressing up your landscape), follow the instructions on their plant care tag to give them the right conditions. Hardy in zones 7 through 10, these low maintenance ground cover plants love full sun and heat. Creeping phlox is a short plant often seen covering the side of a hill or retaining wall with colorful spring flowers. 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. North Carolina State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox. In its native environment, it spreads slowly to cover the forest floor, where deer and rabbits typically leave it alone. But in regions where spotted dead nettle is not invasive, it acts as an effective ground cover for deeply shaded areas. Physalis. If the hill is big, remove the grass in stages so as not to take unnecessary chances with erosion. However, sweet woodruff can be a good ground cover choice for dry shade, such as in areas under big trees. Good news. Although not as attractive to cats as catnip (Nepeta cataria), catmint is a gardeners dream: an easy-to-grow, robust purple ground cover. Grow spotted dead nettles in full to partial shade. The Ground Cover Dogwood blooms then produces edible berries. While this glossy, strappy green is popular in the southern states, it can survive anywhere. It's also a beautiful ground cover to consider for moon gardens, but just beware the flowers are less than fragrant. However, it will grow out of its boundaries so trimming it back can help if you want to keep the yard neat. As with yellow alyssum, Angelina sedum can be regarded as a "Goldilocks" ground cover. It is an excellent choice as a perennial ground cover since it tolerates a wide range of soil conditions, although it grows most quickly in slightly moist, humus-rich soils.