This shrub also offers some fall-foliage value. Susan Martin is a lifelong gardener who enjoys sharing her passion for plants, gardening and the business of horticulture with fellow plant enthusiasts across North America. The Spruce uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Good Housekeeping participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites. .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. Lamium, or dead nettle, is a perennial ground cover, often with variegation. Spotted dead nettles have few problems in the north; among other good features is the fact that they are deer-resistant plants. Add compost if you have clayey soil to improve drainage. This easy-to-grow plant spreads and produces numerous offspring from seed. It does best in sun. Its also heat tolerant through USDA Zone 9. If you have bare acreage behind your home that does not lead to another property, Chinese lantern can be a great ground cover and filler. If you set out a little nursery-grown pot of Lamium in spring. For companion plants, select other shade-lovers. Read our. RELATED: 30 Plants for Your Easiest Garden Ever. This perennial creeper is a great ground cover that will quickly carpet your landscape with pretty and small flowers. Fast growing and a good all round plant for beneath trees you get a ground cover with good foliage and the added attraction of flowers. Cost: Buy 200 seeds for around $7 or a large, potted plant for around $20. It prefers moist ground, drought-tolerant once established, and needs 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. A particularly vigorous variety, Walkers Low, was The Perennial Plant Associations plant of the year in 2007. Check out these favorite ground covers that will require little effort on your part once you plant them. They have silver foliage and produce showy pink, purple or white flowers in late spring. 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 maculatum) . high and can spread out 2 feet (61 cm.) Compost should be sufficient, as the plants do not require rich soil. It prefers full shade, but can handle some morning sun. 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. Ground cover plants play an important role in the forest garden, protecting the soil, providing refuge for wildlife at ground layer, preventing unwanted plants from establishing and can provide some food such as berries or leaves. Growing as high as 36 inches, it blooms all summer long with purple flowers. Using several ground covers can add variety to the landscape and prevent soil erosion. The kaleidoscope of red, blue and green all at once lights up the shade like ground level fireworks. Water the seedlings and apply a mulch layer on top of the soil. It often grows vertically along trellises, but the plant can also serve as a ground cover. Susan has received visitors from around the world in her home garden which has been featured in numerous gardening publications. 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. Manure tea is a good substitute when it is too difficult to work more compost into the soil. Spotted Dead Nettle ( Lamium maculatum) is a flowering type of low growing ground cover plant that thrives in the shade. Its native habitat is wooded areas, so it is perfect for a shady woodland garden. 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. However, keep a good supply of glyphosate on hand to keep these in check! 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. Plant this deer- and rabbit-resistant herb in the spring and its fuzzy leaves will cover large areas by autumn. They can spread across bare ground, suppressing weeds and dust, preventing erosion, decreasing water evaporation, and adding color. It grows to a maximum height of about 12 inches with an 18-inch spread, and it flowers with white blossoms in spring. While grass is typically the best way to fill out empty space, sometimes low-growing plants are a better and prettier option. Dont worry if it doesnt reappear first thing in spring. Lamium needs shade and a fertile, moist but well-draining soil. It prefers full sun. Creeping Raspberry is a part of the Rosaceae family. Slugs and snails are attracted to the liquid, fall in and drown. In the South or West, the ground cover may lose its leaves or die back in the cold months. Spotted Dead Nettle is an excellent ground cover plant because of its flowers and its spreading growth habit. She's been a frequent speaker at various garden events. 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 is evergreen, but some of the leaves may turn brown during winter. Many plant species from the genus Sedum are native to North America. There are more native species of sedge than any other plant in North America, and many make fine ground covers for shade. A critical bit of deadnettle plant info to be aware of, however, is . Lamium is evergreen from Zone 6 south. Its starry white flowers appear late in the season at a time when many other perennials are finished blooming, making it an important food source for pollinators. Botanical Name: Cotoneaster horizontalis This tall ground cover has a horizontal growing habit, give it plenty of water and afternoon shade until it is fully grown. 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. In spring, tiny white flowers add to its ethereal beauty. If you prefer a similar but less aggressive variety, consider C. montana 'Amethyst Dream'. 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. Noteworthy Characteristics Attractive foliage makes a good groundcover. But they are not grasses, and are instead herbaceous floweringperennial plantsin the asparagus family. It needs full sun to survive. 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. It will happily soak up the excess moisture, especially if its a sunny spot. Use it as an underplanting for tall trees, as a ground cover in places where the hose cant reach, and even as a no-mow lawn alternative where there isnt much foot traffic. It grows best where it has plenty of space to spread out. 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. Look for varieties like Ghost that are heavily silvered and really brighten up lightly to densely shaded spaces. Species can be annuals or perennials, with many valued for their ground cover abilities, pollinator-friendly flowers and preference of shady areas. Leadwort is an excellent low-maintenance groundcover for putting on a late-season show. Scott Little. Lamium Excellent Ground Cover for Shade. Infinitely touchable, the velvety, fuzzy foliage of this plant is aptly named (c'mon, just look at it). Will ruellia make a good ground cover? Straight from your grandma's garden, Dianthus is an old-fashioned perennial with a vanilla-like scent. Its cheerful bright lilac pink flowers add whimsy to the garden from early summer through midsummer. Plant it with an assortment of flowering plants, including paperwhites, cyclamen, and coral bells. 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. Spotted dead nettles are a great plant to put in containers or hanging baskets. 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. By Sarah Littleton and Teresa Odle Published Jan 10, 2023 4:50 PM. Although rich, moist, acidic soils are ideal, this plant will also grow in alkaline, sandy and clay soils. Those fleshy, bluish-green leaves help retain what little water it receives. It spreads well, but is easy to manage. Because the common name is often given as spotted dead nettle. The small leaves are speckled with spots, which earns the plant its name. Flowering Plants for Bare Garden Spots - Ground Cover Dogwood. `Katie' produces petunialike, purple blooms for months. In midsummer, after the blooming period is over, prune plants back by one-third to help prevent them from becoming too invasive. Check with your local county extension for any warnings that they may issue for your own region. In fact, they are one of the best perennials for shade. Creeping liriope plants make low-maintenance, tough, and drought-tolerant ground covers with spikey flowers and grass-like foliage. Deer are usually not interested, leaving more for you to enjoy for your garden and fresh bouquets. Several plants in this list happily grow in full or partial shade. Hedera helix. It spreads rapidly by above-ground runners and is hardy to Zone 4. 11 Garden Fence Ideas That Will Complement Any La 10 Lush Landscaping Ideas for a Hilly Backyard. Going to google creeping jenny. FYI: Full sun means an area gets 6+ hours of direct sunlight per day, part sun is anywhere from 3 to 6 hours of direct sunlight, and full shade is up to 3 hours of sun. Providing extra spacing between plants can lessen leaf-spotting, but this somewhat defeats the purpose of growing spotted dead nettles, as one of their best features is that they spread and fill in an area, thereby crowding out weeds. It prefers well-drained soil but will do fine in the dry shade if you provide it with regular watering. Height is a foot or so. When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. The promise is that Lamiums are fast-growing perennial ground cover or container plants that brighten partly sunny spots and produce charming flowers. You could first try it in a small area container to see how it does in your garden. It even takes on the terribly invasive Garlic Mustard. In fact, beware of this potentially invasive ground cover, especially if you live near a forest. Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Copyright 2023 Acton Media Inc. All rights reserved. When you buy Centaurea montana 'Amethyst in Snow', you may be thinking of it as an uprightperennial plant with attractive flowers. In regions with cold winters, Lamium is deciduous. It flowers best in full sun. Within two to three years of planting, it forms a lush carpet of velvety, green, heart-shaped leaves that hug the ground. What plant labels typically fail to mention is that, under the right growing conditions, 'Amethyst in Snow' makes a flowering ground cover that will spread nicely. Put lamium next to other plants with darker foliage so this ground cover can bring out those colors. Liverleaf's spring floral display makes this small perennial special. "Lamium maculatum" is a lovely ground cover, you can use them to decorate the hostas' edges. If you arent sure if it will survive the winter outdoors where you live, pop it out of the ground and into a container to grow as a houseplant until the following spring. Though bugleweed's deer-resistant flower spikes can't be missed (they can grow 6 to 9 inches tall) this fast-growing perennial is a ground cover that has an aggressive creeping habit. '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 . 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). 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. This vining plant, also known as dead nettles, can tolerate cold, heat, and drought, and its deer resistant. It is native to New Zealand and invasive in some areas, though its spread has not been out of control. Leadwort begins blooming in late summer with beautiful, electric-blue flowers and continues until the first frost. 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. 14. Hailing all the way from Siberia, this cold-hardy evergreen has fern-like foliage that turns a pretty bronzy color in colder climates. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Depending on the variety, you can expect this ground cover to behave as a creeper, or a low-mounded perennial, with small flowers that resemble snapdragons blooming in summer. Plant Lenten rose ground cover in the early fall or late spring but away from the path of bitter winter winds. Keep it in a shady spot, especially under trees and shrubs. If your garlic outgrows its space, thin it out and divide the old clumps every few years for a consistent ground cover. 4. Select either a shady or half shady location when growing Lamium maculatum. Named for the color and the shape of their flowers, brass buttons stand out perhaps most of all for their serrated, fern-like leaves. RELATED: Bad Neighbors: 11 Plant Pairs Never to Grow Side by Side. And while deer might not like itspink flowers, they do attract butterflies and honeybeesits even believed that it enhances the flavor of the honey. Then, the leaves turn a gorgeous shade of burgundy red in fall. Can be invasive in moist, fertile soils. Choose from an annual or perennial variety, and watch charming daisy-like flowers bloom throughout this bushy plant. Choose native common yarrow. 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. Though Chinese lantern is also considered invasive, it is a novel and colorful perennial ground cover with autumn interest because of its bright orange-red shaped seed pods that turn into papery husks. Although not as attractive to cats as catnip (Nepeta cataria), catmint is a gardeners dream: an easy-to-grow, robust purple ground cover. I've never tried that one. Kathleen Miller is a highly-regarded Master Gardener and Horticulturist who shares her knowledge of sustainable living, organic gardening, farming, and landscape design. Poke holes in the fabric and plant the junipers, then cover the fabric with mulch. Low-growing, ground-hugging perennial plants are the best low-maintenance ground coverings. 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. 3. Spotted dead nettles should be pruned in the summer after the first blooming period. This is great if you need to cover a problem area with an attractive ground cover, but not so good if you are trying to grow them in a place where you need a well-behaved plant. 100 Perennials for a Zone 3 Garden Send me the list! 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 also doesn't die back in the winter. Vinca has few pests, so it can be considered invasive, which is good news if your goal is to keep weeds at bay. You may not have thought of using an onion as a ground cover, but doing so has some important advantages. Soil & Transplanting. Home Outdoors Yard & Garden Structures Planters. Are insane ticket costs pricing Astros fans out of Opening Day? Bishop's Goutweed While it works great for ground cover in a shaded area, you will never, ever get rid of it. Here are a few varieties to consider. Lamium maculatum stays relatively short, with the typical cultivar standing less than a foot tall. Yet, it quickly covers the ground and produces clusters of white flowers. Oak sedge prefers partial shade to full shade in USDA Zones 3 through 8. Blooms late Spring to mid Summer. Overview: Spotted Dead Nettle - Lamium maculatum is a herbaceous perennial growing to 0.2 -0.9m at a fast . 30. Though this is considered a flowering ground cover, it's tiny white flowers are quite insignificant. Glechoma hederacea is not the same as henbit (Lamium amplexicaule) or Purple Deadnettle (Lamium purpureum L.), AKA red deadnettle, red henbit. Spotted deadnettle (Lamium maculatum) grows as a spreading mat of herbaceous stems and leaves. Lamium groundcovers are the right choice for High Mountain, shady gardens. This quickly spreading ground cover forms a tight, six- to 10-inch tall mass of shiny green foliage that blushes bright red and bronze beginning in early fall. Avoid planting Chinese lantern in garden beds and near turf grass. They may be plain green, but they are usually spotted or banded in silver-gray. Lamium covers well and adds colorful flowers, foliage and texture. 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. Thus you need to be careful in choosing the right spot to grow this plant. Spotted dead nettles will naturalize in some areas. In early spring, flowers that look like fairy wings appear on this perennial. It reaches 6-inches in height and spreads to 24-inches wide. Low-growing varieties of sedum make easy-to-care-for ground covers, especially since its fleshy leaves retain enough water to survive dry spells. Subscribe now and be up to date with our latest news and updates. Our wide range of perennial groundcovers are ideal for those spots in the garden where grass isn't wantedon banks, under trees or across large areas of the border. With very attractive foliage and either white or pink flowers, Lamium maculatum makes an excellent ground cover plant for a shaded position. It does best in cooler summer weather and prefers full sun to part shade. It is, therefore, a sterile plant that will not come true from seeds. 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. There are so many options to choose from, including old favorites like Pachysandra and Vinca, as well as small shrubs, perennials, and annuals. Grows in zone 2 to 6 in part shade and part Sun. Ice plants need plenty of sun to thrive. 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. Press Esc to cancel. While some have small flowers, the main focal point is the colorful foliage, which ranges from chartreuse to bronze. She writes a weekly garden Q&A and feature stories. We recommend our users to update the browser. This is not the form of thyme used in cooking, but its fragrance will attract bees and other pollinators. Just like the name implies, the fuzzy silver leaves resemble lamb's ears. A Texas Master Gardener, she's the author of The Texas Flower Garden, published by Gibbs-Smith in 1996. They dont add much ornamental value, but they do help out the pollinators. #9. At the time of this publication, there were 30 cultivars of L. maculatumlisted in the RHS Plant Finder, compared to 11 cultivars for all the other species combined. If those conditions describe your landscape, then you may want to check out this wonderful little relative of the dogwood trees. Care Grow the quick-growing groundcovers in moist, but well-drained soil in partial or full shade. Catmint can handle several types of soil as well as both humidity and drought, and its also deer and rabbit resistant. In fact, this short, squat plant is often seen dotting hillsides or banks. Dead nettle, also known as Lamium, is a low-growing perennial with silver-splashed leaves and bursts of purple, pink, or white flowers that pop up in spring and early summer. 15. 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. Most perennial ground coverings fall into these categories. Here's how: While they can self-seed themselves, spotted dead nettles do not do well if you try to grow them from seed. However, keep it away from turf grass to avoid damage. It's also a beautiful ground cover to consider for moon gardens, but just beware the flowers are less than fragrant.