Ground covers

Handy Gardening Secrets ground covers  


Ground covers

Ground Covers Silver Brocade
Silver Brocade The Artemisia ‘Silver Brocade’, Artemisia stelleriana, is a compact, silver-white, wooly perennial with a plant spread of 24-30” and a height of 15”. ‘Silver Brocade’ produces yellow flowers in early summer, (not being showy). The foliage, however, has a wonderful fragrance. This striking variety is most noticeable when planted in perennial beds and borders and in herb gardens for color and texture. ‘Silver Brocade’ likes sandy soil but needs a well-drained area and should be planted in full sun with a small amount of afternoon shade. Try ‘Silver Mound’ with Echinacea ‘Purple Coneflower’ or Rudbeckia ‘Black Eyed Susan’ to add interest in your garden or to accent fresh or dried flower arrangements.

Bigleaf Periwinkle The Bigleaf Periwinkle, Vinca major, is also known as Greater (rosy) Periwinkle, Big Perwinkle and Large Periwinkle. The plant is shrub-like and grows to 12" tall with trailing ascending stems; 1-3 feet long. It has solitary violet flowers at the end of the stem. This ornamental plant is fast growing. It thrives in shady and damp areas; it will melt in full sun in the southern portion of its range. It is usually sold as an annual in zones 3-5 otherwise perennial.
Dwarf Mondo Grass It is also known as Dwarf Lilyturf, Mondo Grass Dwarf and Monkey Grass. Tiny, pale lavender flowers on short stalks bloom in summer are often hidden by the leaves. This perennial evergreen grows in average, medium wet, well-drained soil in part shade to full shade. Mondo Grasses are symmetrical with a fine texture and has a dense crown. It spreads by underground stems or tubers.
Japanese Spurge The Japanese Spurge plant, Pachysandra terminalis, and also known as Pachysandra, is a shrubby, evergreen ground cover which grows 8-12" high and spreads by rhizomes to form a dense carpet of rich, dark green foliage. Oval leaves (2-4" long) appear primarily in whorls at the stem ends. Tiny white flowers in 1-2" long, terminal (hence the species name) spikes bloom in early spring. Pachysandra can be used as a lawn substitute in shaded non-traffic areas and ground cover for shade areas. This perennial plant needs partial shade to full shade to prosper.
Purple Wintercreeper Euonymus Purple Wintercreeper Euonymus, Euonymus fortunei 'Coloratus', also known as Wintercreeper and Wintercreeper Eunonymus, is a dense, woody-stemmed, broadleaf evergreen plant which comes in a variety of forms. Euonymus fortunei 'Coloratus' (commonly called purple wintercreeper euonymus, is primarily a trailing ground cover form which typically grows to 6-9" tall and spreads indefinitely by rooting stems as a sprawling, tangled, bushy mat. It features lustrous, ovate to elliptic, dark green leaves (1-2" long) which turn dark purple in fall and winter. If allowed to climb a wall, tree or other structure, this plant assumes more vine-like characteristics and is more likely to produce flowers, though still sparse and inconspicuous. 'Coloratus' is sometimes sold as Euonymus fortunei var.
Virginia Creeper The individual flowers are tiny and inconspicuous, and arranged in elaborate long-stemmed clusters, with each flower at the tip of its own flower stem. Easy to grow, the Virginia Creeper can get out of hand if not managed. Virginia creeper will thrive in most soils, in sun or partial shade, with or without a structure to climb on. Virginia creeper is favored for its brilliant fall foliage and as a manitenance-free ground cover. When allowed to clamber over trees or other tall structures, it develops elongated leafy festoons that are especially showy.
Chameleon Plant The Houttuynia ‘Chameleon Plant’, Houttuynia cordata, is one of the most popular ground covers around. It is an extremely hardy ground cover and easy to grow but can become very invasive. They have a fresh, somewhat citrus-like scent when crushed.
Lambs Ears Big Ears ‘Big Ears Lamb’s Ear’ is a little bit larger than the average Lamb’s Ear, with a plant height of 10” and a spread of 18-24” and blooms in mid-summer. (Lamb’s Ear is not known for its flowering, but however its foliage. It is useful in the border or as a ground cover.
Liriope Big Blue The Liriope 'Big Blue', Lirope muscari 'Big Blue', also known as Lirope,is a grass-like foliage set with tall spikes of lavender-blue, hyacinth-like blooms in late summer. Place in location that is well drained.
Liriope Spicata The Liriope, 'Spicata', also known as Lirope, is an almost indestructible plant for stubborn areas. Liriope gracefully fills those spots where nothing else will grow. This Lirope has 3/4" wide grass-like dark green leaves, up to 24" long.
Liriope Variegated The Liriope 'Variegated', Lirope muscari 'Variegata', also known as Lirope variegated lily-turf, is as it's name implies, a variegated border grass.
Moneywort Golden With a plant height of 6”, ‘Golden Moneywort’ is known as being a little invasive.
Moneywort Goldilocks This Moneywort is versatile, tough, and extra cold-resistant.
Oriental Limelight The mounding self-branching habit makes 'Oriental Limelight' an ideal companion for many flowering plants.

 

Ground covers