Sounds perfect, except that plumbago can spread aggressivelycut it out with a spade if it oversteps its borders. This spreading plant also grows well in full sunshine. In agriculture, ground coverings have the extra function of protecting your property from erosion and can even prevent weed growth. In contrast with creeping juniper, Vinca minor is one of the ground covers that can take shade. Sweet woodruff grows along the ground and can grow up to 20 (50 cm) long. It does bloom in the summer, but it is a little tall as a ground cover, and so I use it more in smaller areas for drama. The absence of flowers may be a deal-breaker for some gardeners, but others adore good foliage plants. That said, I do have one pet peeve with a commonly used ground cover: Asiatic jasmine. It requires watering to keep the soil moist, but not too damp. Copyright Leaf Group Ltd. // Leaf Group Lifestyle. The clumping evergreen plant is identified by its large lance-shaped leaves measuring 20 to 24 (50 60 cm) long and up to 6 (15 cm) wide. Survives on rainwater and three or four monthly supplements. Corsican mint (Mentha requienii) is one of the smallest varieties of the mint family and spreads out to form a green mat-like covering in shady areas. Avoid planting caladiums. When not expounding on the benefits of trees and limited lawns, youre likely to find him hiking San Antonios wilderness parks or expounding on the virtues of geography and history to his friends. Instead of worrying about mowing the grass, ground covers can replace certain areas of your yard that may be difficult to access or don't have enough natural light to grow grass properly. It turns golden in autumn, but, otherwise, offers only a green color. Other plants, though, require some consideration. Hi, Im Neil Sperry, back in your neighborhood, Calloways Nursery. Buying ground cover plants in gallon containers assures a greater immediate impact and allows spacing them farther apart. Wild ginger is a perennial plant that can be evergreen or semi-evergreen (deciduous in colder climates). Neil Sperry, a McKinney resident, hosts Neil Sperry's Texas Gardening from 8 to 10 a.m. Sundays on WBAP-AM (820). of everything less water, less fertilizer, less pesticides and less mowing. Hi, Im Neil Sperry, back in your neighborhood, Calloways Nursery. Also called pinwheel cape jasmine, the lush evergreen foliage of glossy, leathery leaves makes the plant ideal as a screen or low-growing hedge. You can grow variegated ginger in containers to overwinter indoors in northern Texas. Plus, deer don't like it. Coupon eligible. After blooming, the small flowers give way to vibrantly colored red berries. Grow carpet bugle in USDA zones 4 through 9. Branching out as much as 80 feet, English ivy will even scale trees, making it more troublesome than most other invasive plants. This eye-catching plant can give your garden a designer feel without sacrificing much time or commitment to its growth. Mow it once a year with a lawn mower. They grow best in USDA hardiness zones 4-9. On the positive side, it does form such a dense mat that weeds are generally choked out. However, this grass type of ground cover thrives better in full sun rather than shade. Does not exceed 12 inches in height. The attractive features of the shade-loving plant are its vibrant red hibiscus-like flowers and heart-shaped leaves. This beautiful ground cover will fill in all of those bare spots in your yard but make it looks well-manicured and intentional. Yellow star-shaped flowers appear on the bedding plant around the end of springtime. Compared to other plants that you can use for green ground cover, the Corsican mint needs a warmer climate. Learn which plants thrive in your Hardiness Zone with our new interactive map! In my opinion, its not deer-resistant so use only in fenced areas or in the city. These are excellent ground cover plants for dry shade. Its great in the shade. Mow yearly. Not a turf grass, but more of a bunch grass perennial, since it goes dormant in the winter. These can be simply evergreen or provide seasonal flowers. Texas is a large state, but most of it is warm and often susceptible to drought. The mound-forming perennials have long, dark green leaves and tolerate drought, heat, and shade. Classified as a form of dogwood, this is a low-growing (3 to 9 inches) deciduous shrub that makes for an excellent ground cover plant in part shade locations. Other names for Epimedium plants include horny goat weed, barrenwort, or Bishops hat. Work the soil up, work in organic matter, and choose shade-tolerant groundcovers. Perennial discounts. Searching for a tree to provide your garden or home with some much needed shade? also known as dwarf plumbago, this native to western China is a fantastic cobalt blue-flowered plant that tolerates both sun and shade. Generally, ground cover plants for shade are hardy types of creeping or spreading plants that are green all year long. Some hostas grow pretty large, while others, like 'Blue Mouse Ears,' stay under a foot tall. Average minimum winter temperatures are 0F to 10F. Wild ginger is an excellent ground cover for shade. The plant grows as a mound and spreads, creating ground cover in the shade. Apart from its 6-foot tall flowering spikes, the plant has showy green oval leaves with wavy margins. Palm Trees Houston: 5 Beautiful Varieties, What Planting Zone is Illinois in? Pigeonberry is perfect for dry landscapes in partial to full shade to grow as flowering ground cover if there is little sunlight. She has over 30 years of experience in gardening and sustainable farming. Good drainage is a must. It reaches a height of 12 to 18 inches with rose-colored flowers. You can grow this colorful herbaceous ground covering plant in USDA hardiness zones 2-6. Creeping, clumping, or trailing plants are good landscaping solutions that generally require little maintenance. It thrives in humid environments with temperatures between 65 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit. It does best in full sun for vibrant color. Bunchberry (Cornus canadensis) is a type of ground cover plant that loves to grow in shady areas. When Stonecrop (Sedum acre) blossoms with its bright yellow flowers, it turns into a stunning type of colorful ground cover plant. Its a lot easier to keep clean. Late: plant cosmos, sunflowers, morning glory, gomphrena but keep an eye on upcoming freezes. Aug. 17, 2007. Related article: Nandina Plant Care and Growing Guide. During the summer and fall, this evergreen plant produces tiny upright lavender-colored flowers that look like spikes. Shade-Tolerant Groundcovers Your sales reps at Calloway's Nursery, talk to one of the Texas-certified nursery professionals. Size: 6 to 10 ft. (1.8 3 m) tall and 5 to 9 ft. (1.5 2.7 m) wide. However, it is a hardy flowering plant that survives the winter well. Sun exposure: Full sun to complete shade. Tolerating a little more sun than some of the others, lily turf (Liriope muscari) gets taller, too, averaging 12 to 18 inches high. These hardy plants spread up to 12 (30 cm) and can quickly turn garden areas into a blanket of flowering foliage. Creeping juniper is a favorite for planting on slopes. This feathery foliage is ideal as an evergreen, low-growing shrub. Our specialized formula nourishes every blade of grass for a healthier, fuller, lush landscape. Deadnettle is a flowering ground cover plant for shade with many cultivars. The evergreen Japanese mahonia shrub has yellow flower spikes and is suitable for landscaping partial or full shade areas. Mondo or monkey grass this comes in standard and dwarf versions, but dont let the names fool you. But this virtue can lead to problems, since some shade-loving plants can overrun a landscape and may even escape a garden, naturalize, and threaten native plant species. Size: 6 to 8 ft. (1.8 2.4 m) tall and wide. Here you go. Lily of the valley leaves and flowers (left), variegated cultivar (center) and berries (right). Well, if you dont have three or four hours of sunlight in South Texas, and four or five hours of sunlight in North Texas, youre not going to get St. Augustine to grow. Size: 5 to 6 ft. (1.5 2.4 m) tall and wide. 2 But, like creeping juniper, it's a short (3 to 6 inches) evergreen. Forming a dense carpet, it also thrives in USDA zones 5 to 9. If you are looking for some ideas where to plant this ground covering variety, then you can plant it on the north side of a building. Creeping liriope has a very bad reputation in the Southeast U.S., though it is less troublesome in the northern part of its hardiness range. Periwinkle plants are beautiful perennials to grow in the shade, whether you live in Amarillo, San Antonio, Dallas, Corpus Christi, or near the Mexican border. In colder zones, you have to plant Corsican mint as an annual type of plant. Gardeners who plant it for its attractive shiny dark-green or bronze leaves often come to regret the decision, as it can quickly spread into turf grass or onto neighboring properties. It is a good choice for areas under large shade trees and can hold soil on steep slopes. Trim dead flowers to remove seeds and keep the spread under control. It does have runners, but its really good. It is showier (when in bloom, at least) than some of the other native choices in the region, such as spotted wintergreen. Perennial Canadian anemone ( Anemone canadensis) is a US native wildflower that spreads well in Zones 3 to 8, prefers moist soil, and thrives in full sun to part shade. Buying ground cover plants in gallon containers assures a greater immediate impact and allows spacing them farther apart. Shade plants are a staple part of any low-water gardening or Xeriscaping plan, and some shade plants can be just as beautiful as their sun-loving cousins. Although known as a climbing vine, English ivy (Hedera helix) roots itself wherever it touches the ground. Actually, this ground cover plant provides a thick dense carpet of foliage in most soils. David Beaulieu is a landscaping expert and plant photographer, with 20 years of experience. This easy-to-grow plant, which doesn't require deadheading flowers or fertilizer, blooms in the spring and summer. But the soil is still cold and freezes could still arrive. Allegheny Pachysandra is a drought tolerant ground cover plant for shade, The Allegheny Pachysandra (Pachysandra procumbens) is a popular type of perennial ground cover plant due to its low height and dense green foliage. Coupon eligible. The trailing nature of periwinkle makes it ideal as a ground cover for shade in Texas landscaped gardens. Turks cap is a small native shade loving red flowering shrub for central and south Texas. This habit can make it an ideal ground cover for some areas where lawn grasses are difficult to grow, but it does require you to monitor its spread. If youre a gardener in Texas searching for some ground cover for your garden, youll be pleased to find plenty of varieties to choose from. This shade-loving ground cover is tolerant of partial sun but will thrive in areas other plants won'tlike under-tree canopiesbecause it is drought-tolerant and adapts to most soil conditions. 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