Last week I discussed what makes a ground cover plant successful. Today I’ll talk about a variety of plants that are used for ground cover.
The first plants I want to talk about may be ones that you might never think of – strawberries and Heuchera, coral bells; the others will follow in alphabetical order.
Strawberries
If you have a mature garden and don’t add many annuals to your beds, strawberries make a wonderful ground cover. These plants come with the added incentive of producing juicy, ripe, red berries. This is a particularly apt application of these plants in the small yard.
You’ll need to be brutal because strawberries can stress even the hardiest of perennials. You’ll probably need to tear them out from around your roses and other perennials that can’t hold their own against them. If the runners are kept pinched back, annuals will also flourish in your flower beds.
Heuchera
•Heuchera, called coral bells, are not prolific growers, but they will tolerate a semi-shady location and like a humus rich soil. These plants come in a variety of leaf colors from variegated through purples and custard colors. The blooms are lovely but do not have much impact because of their size and airy habit. So choose your plants by leaf color and enjoy the blossoms, whatever the color. The clumps form a woody crown and should be transplanted every three years according to the books. Mine are not that rampant.
Aegopodium
•Aegopodium, commonly called Bishop’s weed, is a green-leafed, edged with cream, plant. Hardy to USDA Zone 4, this is one plant you might want to avoid. Once started it is very difficult to eradicate from an area and is listed on an invasive weed list across the country.
Ajuga
•Ajuga is a member of the mint family; so it should be no surprise that it is listed as a ground cover. It is hardy, depending on the variety, to USDA Zone 3 or 4. It has an ovate shaped leaf and comes with blue or pink flowers. It will grow in the worst of shade problems, dry tree shade. It will also withstand being in a location where it can be awash with water from a downspout occasionally.
Convallaria
•Convallaria, Lily-of-the-Valley, can make itself at home in an area that it likes and some people consider it invasive. Hardy to USDA Zone 2, it can grow in sun or shade and is a usable ground cover under trees and shrubs. Frequent division may keep its aggressive ways under better control.
Epimediums
•Epimediums are hardy from USDA Zone 3-4. They have heart shaped leaves and like a moist average-humus soil. One source remarked that once started in an area they will even tolerate dry shade. Cut to the ground in spring. Division will help control the plant.
Lamiastrum
•Lamiastrum, yellow archangel, is hardy to USDA Zone 4. The leaves are brushed with silver and will drape downwards if used in a planter. This plant will survive partial sun to full shade.
Vinca minor
•Vinca minor, periwinkle, is hardy to zone 4. It roots at leaf nodes and can often be found in purchased hanging containers. It likes well-drained soil in partial to full shade. Cut the runners back to keep the plant looking full.
For lack of room, I’ll finish up next week with the last of the ground cover ideas. The final list will be mostly plants that will tolerate the more xeric landscape.
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