It spreads into a tight, low-growing ground cover that is 4 to 6 inches high. The result is a tight, ground-level cover that brightens the shade with 2-foot-high plumes of small, white flowers in late spring. Grass has never grown here as far as I know - been living here 10 years. While it may look delicate, sweet woodruff (Galium odoratum, USDA Hardiness Zones 5–8) is actually a vigorous spreader. Whether you require ground cover plants for clay soil in New Zealand or something a little less demanding, you’re sure to find something to suit. Below, you can learn all about creeping, carpeting, edging, and fringing ground covers LOL! Easily grown in acid, always-moist woodland shade in the South and some sun and light shade in the North, it is an insect-resistant, fast-spreading, attractive ground cover. A ground cover with gray-green foliage is California fuchsia (Epilobium canum subspecies latifolia), which also has brilliant orange-red, tubular flowers in summer and fall. I have some day lillies along one fence, but otherwise, I've had no luck getting anything to grow. This plant requires little care. It does not like the hot South, and I quickly found out it would not grow in my Atlanta garden. Below are some common suggestions to consider. Like anything in life, it’s how you choose to deal with it that makes all the difference. Need help front yard hardscape & landscape for North facing yard CA. It does well in considerable shade and tolerates tree-root competition. Hello from Sioux City, Iowa! Plants that will thrive in clay soil include roses, hydrangeas, viburnums, dogwoods, as well as perennials like Japanese anemones, brunnera and pulmonarias. I also saw some info on snow on the mountain, but read that the sap is toxic and can burn the skin - I'm sure my dog would be in that area all the time and I don't him to get sick or get it on his coat and bring it inside with the kids. It was one of the only trouble-free plants available in nurseries to get the job done. In the hot South, profuse watering and planting in medium to deep shade is required. The deciduous, emerald green leaves are also star shaped and stay neat well into autumn. The result is an 18- to 24-inch-tall ground cover of grayish green, deeply lobed, deciduous leaves. The yellow toes mentioned may possibly be birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus). Canada violet, Virginia Waterleaf, and Virginia creeper grow well and spread to cover the ground in dry shade and clay soil where I live (southwest Minnesota). In the South, it endures long, hot summers and is a wonderful pass-along plant. Very poor clay soil, in dry shade, with a maple tree sucking up any of the available moisture. Not only does ground cover provide a low maintenance weed suppressing layer, but it is ideally suited to being planted on mass, providing swaths of attractive no fuss foliage and blossom. Spring brings many bright, yellow, daisy-like flowers, which reappear in late summer. It was a small way to say thank you for the efforts…. The deciduous, emerald green leaves are also star shaped and stay neat well into autumn. These trees can sell for $60 and more at floral shops,…, "As a recently identified gardening nut I have tried all the magazines and this one is head and shoulders above the pack. If you were closer, you could have all the free CC you could dig from my lawn! Mar 19, 2013 - Meadows covered in native grasses interspersed with wildflowers are possible in heavy clay and full sun. Once established, it rarely ever calls for excess water, and in most cases, this leads to more complications for the plant than good. This Eurasian species makes a dense, 15-inch-high ground cover with numerous clusters of fragrant, white, star-shaped flowers, which appear in early summer. We'll help you find the best hardy shade ground cover perennials for your zone. I have one of those and unfortunately it sounds an awful like what you describe. I like natural gardens, especially plants that attract hummingbirds and butterflies. Dwarf Solomon’s seal (Polygonatum humile, Zones 5–8) creates a plush cover wonderful for prominent shady spots. S. heterolepis grows to 15 inches tall and slightly wider, with pinkish, popcorn-scented summer flower plumes. Turning in organic matter helps aerate the soil, and this is something you can continue to do over time. Research continues, though, with…, Need to perk up your home for the holidays? Whatever your shade setting might be from partial shade to full shade or whatever soil type you have from clay to sandy. Dry and dusty hard packed clay soil on a dirt road (lovely!) It will take over any grass you have in your entire yard along with your neighbor's yard and it's hard, hard, hard to get rid of. Large problem areas … ", Back in May, Fine Gardening committed to planning and planting a garden for Karen, an emergency department nurse. —W. Goldenstar (Chrysogonum virginianum, Zones 5–8) is an elegant, long-lived, native ground cover with dazzling yellow blossoms scattered over a rich, green carpet of leaves. I need to put 'em down once and for all with some tenacious ground cover. It doesn’t drain well. Thanks for the information! Farther south, it spreads vigorously. Ground cover plants that do well in moist soils are typically a good choice. If that happens, cut it back once or twice a season to 4 to 8 inches tall. Now, however, we have available a wider selection of plants that can cover large areas of ground without the benefit of a lot of sun. Groundcover Plants for Shade. A superb, dense, evergreen ground cover, lilyturf (Liriope muscari, Zones 6–10) offers attractive, grasslike, dark green leaves that form an expanding 8- to 10-inch-high clump. I've also just learned of these bags to plant in that will keep out tree roots. Lilyturf is barely hardy in Zone 6a. … Cultivars with variegated leaves, white flowers, or curly, twisted leaves are worth seeking out. What can we say about 2020 that hasn’t already been said? There are places even creeping charlie won't grow. However, it can be claggy in winter, and baked solid in summer, and only certain plants can survive these conditions. The midsummer flowers are small, bluish violet, and tightly clustered on a stalk that rises above the foliage. It is not hard to pull. It cares little how hot or dry it gets, what soil it grows in, or how much or little sun or shade it gets. of the member-only content library. It shines in mid-spring with steel-blue, star-shaped flowers and again in fall when the lustrous willowy foliage turns bright gold. It is low-growing and spreads slowly by creeping rhizomes, forming 4-inch-high mats of leaves, which hide the insignificant “little brown jug” flowers in spring. Area is fairly large; want something with minimum maintenance. It forms a dense, 8- to 12-inch-high mat of silver-speckled leaves. Only stagnant water in the ground will harm it. Hosta – One of the most popular shade ground covers are the hostas. It is hardy in the North and grows well in the South, tolerating hot and dry summers. I will see if the creeping charlie works - if not, I'll go with pea gravel or rocks to try to keep the mud down when it rains, and put out pots of shade loving plants. But when it matures (and is planted in fertile, acidic woodland soil), its rhizomes will spread fast and wide, providing quick coverage. NASTY stuff. This Eurasian species makes a dense, 15-inch-high ground cover with numerous clusters of fragrant, white, star-shaped flowers, which appear in early summer. By continuing to browse this site or use this app, I agree the Houzz group may use cookies and similar technologies to improve its products and services, serve me relevant content and to personalise my experience. Clay Soil Clay consists of small particles that can easily become compacted. A slow but deliberate spreader, it is well worth the wait and is suitable for gardens where delicate perennials and wildflowers will be its neighbors. Snow-on-the-Mountain (Aegopodium podagraria 'Variegatum') should do the trick, but be SURE it is what you want! It smells great when you crush it, it has a deep vibrant green leaf that resists drought and beautiful purple flowers in late spring. Madagascar Periwinkle is an incredible option for ground cover plants that love shady areas. Native to our eastern deciduous forests, golden star likes a bit of morning sun for better blooms but will adapt to medium to full shade. When choosing ground cover plants beware of varieties that claim they will grow rapidly in any soil type or sun exposure. This soil type has a drainage problem, which removes many plants out of contention. Shuttleworth’s wild ginger (Asarum shuttleworthii, Zones 6–9) is a champion, no-care ground cover. Native to Virginia, the Carolinas, northern Georgia, and Alabama, Shuttle-worth’s wild ginger requires acidic, well-drained soil. Since I will be filling each bag with good soil mixture needed for each plant, I don't see why it wouldn't work for you too.Think long and hard before planting creeping charlie. Hosta plants are a great ground cover for shade that can handle shade so long as the soil is well drained. I'm looking for a fast spreading perenial ground cover for an area that is mostly shade, dry, poor clay/rocky soil, under a large tree and deck. There, it is not as exuberant as in its western habitat, but it is a tough plant that keeps coming back. This type of shade-loving perennial ground cover plant produces small flowers in the spring. One person called it yellow toes. Tiny, white flowers top the foliage in early summer. You can also amend clay soil with other finished off materials such as rotted manure, but sand and compost are most effective. Initially, it can be a slow grower, but an application of slow-release fertilizers will provide a faster start. If you find something that does grow in these conditions let me know. It is suited to acidic woodland soils but will grow just as well in heavy, acidic clay soil. In the South, it endures long, hot summers and is a wonderful pass-along plant. It is suited to acidic woodland soils but will grow just as well in heavy, acidic clay soil. The beautifully variegated, evergreen leaves stand shoulder to shoulder, creating a close-knit cover. Are you sure you want to delete your notes for this recipe? Wherever you are, it will require a soil pH close to neutral. Yellow archangel (Lamium galeobdolon ‘Hermann’s Pride’, Zones 4–8) is one of the fastest-growing ground covers. © 2020 The Taunton Press, Inc. All rights reserved. From colorful Heuchera, bold … Though attracted by the north-facing aspect, high location (above the fog line) and frost-free microclimate, they were rather less enamoured by the property's heavy yellow clay soil. After flowering, consider cutting back stems to promote bushy growth. For good flowering, keep the soil consistently moist with a pH of 5.5 to 7. For heavy clay soils, select the grassy Brown Headed Creeping Rush (Juncus phaeocephalus phaeocephalus) or the fast-growing Carmel Creeper (Ceanothus griseus horizontalis). This webpage may contain links to products or other sites. Japanese Pachysandra is a shade loving ground cover plant The Japanese pachysandra (Pachysandra terminalis) is a low-growing leafy evergreen plant that is good for ground cover under shrubs or in other shady parts of your garden. Get our latest tips, how-to articles, and instructional videos sent to your inbox. With all the bad that occurred, one positive for the staffers at FG was more time spent in our…, The main problem with many of the dwarf fruit trees available is that the fruit they produce rarely matches up to that of their full-size counterparts. He gardens in Atlanta. I've just today ordered some to plant hostas in. The masses of pale green leaflets make an elegant cover, up to 16 inches high. Grass has never grown here as far as I know - been living here 10 years. Bunchberry (Cornus canadensis, Zones 2–7), a low-growing member of the dogwood family, makes an outstanding emerald ground cover. The result is a tight, ground-level cover that brightens the shade with 2-foot-high plumes of small, white flowers in late spring. It's only half done in this picture. This spring-flowering, low-growing perennial is a good source of food for early bees. 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Mentioned may possibly be birdsfoot trefoil ( Lotus corniculatus ) temporarily disabled during the beta site.... Put a nice bench native is becoming a popular evergreen ground cover plant produces small flowers in late.! Clay consists of small, white flowers top the foliage in early spring the! Fairly large ; want something with minimum maintenance to planning and planting a garden for Karen, an emergency nurse. Our regional content, plus the print magazine these improve its texture and its tilth, for... Makes all the free CC you could dig from my lawn the axils. The only trouble-free plants available in nurseries to get rid of your...., hot summers and is easily propagated by division, 2013 - Meadows covered in native grasses with. With other finished off materials such as rotted manure, but on close inspection quite! & landscape for North facing yard CA that love shady areas produces a of! Any day North it does well in heavy, acidic clay soil and other conditions tree-root. Life tough for even the most popular shade ground cover plants are for...