She's been a frequent speaker at various garden events. Most perennial ground coverings fall into these categories. Houston pitmaster goes viral after hilarious TV interview, Astros GM Dana Brown has more praise team's top prospect, Principal fired for reading 'I Need a New Butt!' Planted along sloped pieces of land, it can neaten up the area while providing ground covering. Desert zinnia (Zinnia acerosa) and prairie zinnia (Zinnia grandiflora) are native ground covers in the Southwest. Original Author. Cut the runner off with pruning shears, plant it in another spot, and then water. Pollinating bees and butterflies delight in its bright golden yellow, daisy-like flowers that appear from late spring into early summer. Though pruning is not necessary, hostas will yellow and die back so trimming dead foliage can look better, especially in a small area. All our groundcovers are grown in biodegradable . Thus you need to be careful in choosing the right spot to grow this plant. Water it during dry spells and give it a haircut at the end of its blossoming period. You might not think of oregano as a ground cover, but this herb forms dense clumps of scented foliage. book to class, Report: Houston ranked No. Lamium is evergreen from Zone 6 south. Spotted dead nettles will naturalize in some areas. Equally at home hanging from a planter or covering a hillside, Lysimachia (more commonly known as creeping Jenny) is a plant admired for its trailing branches. In shade, its OK if the soil dries out now and then. Hardy in zones 7 through 10, these low maintenance ground cover plants love full sun and heat. 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. Going to google creeping jenny. Good news. It grows in little clumps, likes moist soil, and prefers full to part sun. Native to Africa, purple ice plant (Delosperma cooperi) became popular as a cold-hardy ground cover in the United States in the 1990s. Evergreen ground covers, such as creeping juniper, require little care. English ivy is considered an evergreen perennial covering, period. Hedera helix. It prefers shade, but will tolerate some sun. spotted deadnettle (Lamium maculatum L.) is a perennial flowering ornamental commonly grown as a landscape plant for an adequate ground cover.. Spotted dead nettles propagate easily by themselves from runners, by dividing, or from cuttings. A native of Moultrie, Ga., she graduated from Queens University of Charlotte, formerly Queens College. Firecracker Sedum ( Sedum) 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. 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. Species can be annuals or perennials, with many valued for their ground cover abilities, pollinator-friendly flowers and preference of shady areas. BUY IT ($18) Jill King/EyeEm/Getty Images. Oak sedge prefers partial shade to full shade in USDA Zones 3 through 8. Some leaves may revert back to an all-green color (instead of being variegated); be sure to prune these out, so that the green color does not eventually take over the plant. Also known as lonicera, honeysuckle is an aromatic perennial that blooms with white, yellow, or red flowers in the spring and summer. In the south, however, they may develop problems with leaf-spotting due to the high humidity. This lesser-known perennial has attractive little mounds of grassy foliage, and teeny ball-shaped blooms that pop up in late spring to early summer. English Ivy. A particularly vigorous variety, Walkers Low, was The Perennial Plant Associations plant of the year in 2007. Many use the ground cover to define the borders of garden paths. Here are a few varieties to consider. In spring, tiny white flowers add to its ethereal beauty. Ground-huggers in the 1- to 3-inch range that tolerate foot traffic can be used between stepping stones. Those fleshy, bluish-green leaves help retain what little water it receives. Another bonus is that it is common and considered one of the cheapest ground covering plants. Lamium covers up that soil and adds colorful flowers, foliage and texture. They can spread across bare ground, suppressing weeds and dust, preventing erosion, decreasing water evaporation, and adding color. Glechoma hederacea is not the same as henbit (Lamium amplexicaule) or Purple Deadnettle (Lamium purpureum L.), AKA red deadnettle, red henbit. Lamium (Deadnettle) Wonderful as ground cover in a shady area, Spotted deadnettle ( Lamium maculatum) can cover large areas quickly, prevailing in the most unforgiving of conditions. Overall, the plant is shaggy and short. Place lamium where you won't be smashing it underfoot, though, because its stems are somewhat fragile. Note that Lenten rose is toxic to animals. There are also several cultivars (all cold-hardy to at least zone 4, most 3 to 12 inches tall, and all wanting the sun/soil conditions of the species plant) of L.maculatum, including: While dead nettle plants areflowering perennials,stinging nettles, by contrast,arenoxious weeds(but edible when properly prepared). Hardy in USDA Zones 3 through 8, it will be deciduous in all but the mildest climates. Lamium maculatum stays relatively short, with the typical cultivar standing less than a foot tall. Excellent evergreen ground cover for shadeThe North American native speciesPachysandra procumbensis harder to find but a more graceful and less spready choiceGrows 6 to 10 inches 15-25 cm tall. Lamium. Note that the green type of European native can be highly invasive, especially in wet areas of the Northeast westward to Indiana, and in the parts of the Northwest. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); You have entered an incorrect email address! Key Dead-nettle facts Name - Lamium maculatum Family - Lamiaceae Type - perennial Height - 8 to 12 inches (20 to 30 cm) Exposure - full sun to shade Soil - rich and well drained Foliage - deciduous Put lamium next to other plants with darker foliage so this ground cover can bring out those colors. Whether you do it yourself or pay a landscaper, maintaining a vibrant garden and lush lawn requires time, effort, and money. RELATED: 25 Plants That Survive With or Without You. Fun bonus: The flowers, either fresh or dried, can be used in salads or steeped in teas. This easy-care mat-forming ground cover provides pops of purple blooms from mid-spring to early summer. Here's how: While they can self-seed themselves, spotted dead nettles do not do well if you try to grow them from seed. 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. Also known as periwinkle and creeping myrtle, vinca minor will spread wherever its planted and will even scale trellises or fences if trained. 4. The Spruce uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Check out these favorite ground covers that will require little effort on your part once you plant them. In midsummer, after the blooming period is over, prune plants back by one-third to help prevent them from becoming too invasive. Interrupted fern, like bunchberry and liverleaf, is a North American native that can serve as a low-maintenance ground cover for shade. Roger Clemens makes surprise appearance at Astros' Spring Training, Hiker captures 'once-in-a-lifetime' photo of wildlife at Brazos Bend State Park, This is how astronauts see Houston, Texas Gulf from space with unaided eyes, These bites won big at the Houston rodeo's foodie awards, Here's what Lina Hidalgo carb-loads before a long run, Heres how you can watch 'Daisy Jones and the Six', Houston police ticket man for feeding homeless people, Texas Republican wants to ban access to abortion websites. 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. NC State University Cooperative Extension. 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. Its native habitat is wooded areas, so it is perfect for a shady woodland garden. That kind doesnt make a good ground cover and needs lots of sun to grow well. With very attractive foliage and either white or pink flowers, Lamium maculatum makes an excellent ground cover plant for a shaded position. Lamium is a fast-growing, perennial ground cover that deer and rabbits avoid. If you have a sunny to partially shaded spot in USDA Zones 3 through 9 where youd like a flowering ground cover but want something more colorful, try this ornamental onion. New delosperma varieties boast yellow, orange, apricot, and bicolor flowers. It even takes on the terribly invasive Garlic Mustard. Don't site near small plants which may be overtaken. It's cold hardy and prefers part shade. You may not have thought of using an onion as a ground cover, but doing so has some important advantages. The promise is that Lamiums are fast-growing perennial ground cover or container plants that brighten partly sunny spots and produce charming flowers. Thanks to its bold blue hue and its ability to attract butterflies, Grace Ward lithodora will add bursts of color to your landscape from spring through the end of summer. A favorite type is 'Silver Carpet' as it spreads easily, rarely flowers, and stays short at 4 to 6 inches tall. 5. Lamium is a fast-growing perennial ground cover that deer and rabbits avoid. Noteworthy Characteristics Attractive foliage makes a good groundcover. General description Fast-growing perennial ground cover that may be either trailing or upright depending on conditions. Mow it down once in late winter and watch the fresh green growth fill right back in. Pruning it back can help keep rambunctious runners under control or set your mower to high and shear it back after it flowers in the summer. Ice plant is a fast and easy-growing ground covering, but pick the right species for your climate. It will happily soak up the excess moisture, especially if its a sunny spot. Swallowtail butterflies, hummingbird moths and hummingbirds are all fans. Hostas are some of the happiest and hardiest perennial ground coverings you can grow. Spotted dead nettles tolerate evenshady areas that have dry soil. Good For: Plant Hardiness Zones 3-10 SHOP DEAD NETTLE SEEDS skymoon13 // Getty Images Advertisement - Continue Reading Below 10 Creeping Phlox It is far too unattractive a little for this low-growing carpet of leaves. Copyright 2013-2023. Sweet woodruff foliage can be dried and used in wreaths, potpourri, and other craft creations. Lamium is in the mint family (Lamiaceae), which provides a hint as to its toughness. 16 inches apart for coverage in two seasons. Spotted dead nettles are a great plant to put in containers or hanging baskets. One of the best fast-growing ground cover plants for full sun is flowering candytuft. Overview: Spotted Dead Nettle - Lamium maculatum is a herbaceous perennial growing to 0.2 -0.9m at a fast . Ground covers that develop flowers and fruit often require more maintenance to keep them attractive. This type of evergreen comes in an array of shapes and sizes. Creeping lamium averages 10 inches tall, with small flower groups appearing in the summer. When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Growing as high as 36 inches, it blooms all summer long with purple flowers. Get daily tips & tricks to help make your best home, Spotted Dead Nettles vs. Stinging Nettles. Avoid planting Chinese lantern in garden beds and near turf grass. RELATED: The 15 Best Plants for Rookie Gardeners. This shrub flowers from May to July with white flowers, and grows to a maximum height of about 9 inches. Lawns also are considered ground covers, but may require more moisture, sunlight, fertilizer and maintenance than other ground cover choices. Growing to a height of about 6 inches with a spread of 9 inches, it has waxy green leaves that should be removed as they turn brown. It is far too unattractive a little for this low-growing carpet of leaves. Spectacular as a ground cover in the shade garden, Lamium maculatum (Spotted Dead Nettle) is a perennial plant whose appearance is unlike other perennial ground covers. It isnt too particular about soil type as long as the drainage is decent. The only maintenance you'll need to do is remove tattered leaves damaged from a bad winter. Lamium covers well and adds colorful flowers, foliage and texture. Plants that are under 12 inches tall are good for tight spaces and as edging but can require some weeding to look their best. Its aromatic grayish-green foliage spreads easily, and lavender-blue flowers rise on stalks from spring through fall. 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. Aromatic enough for both kitties and their owners, catmint (Nepeta) is an easy-care, low growing ground cover. Whatever you decide to mix it with, remember to select plants that need partial to full shade. Grow spotted dead nettles in full to partial shade. This is not the form of thyme used in cooking, but its fragrance will attract bees and other pollinators. There is also a pink flowering form. It matures to a maximum height of only 6 inches, so many gardeners choose to plant creeping phlox on a slope or along the top of a retaining wall to appreciate its beauty from several angles. When planted in groups, heuchera works well as a ground cover or along garden edging. This fact sheet primarily discusses non-native ground covers and rock garden plants for mountain areas above 7,500 feet as well as highlighting some native plants not covered in fact sheet 7.242, Native Herbaceous Perennials for Colorado Landscapes. Pink or white flowers bloom in spring and summer. Basket of Gold also goes by the name yellow alyssum, another reference to its adorable clusters of bright yellow flowers. The soft moss-like foliage of this plant forms a dense mat underfoot. It prefers well-drained soil but will do fine in the dry shade if you provide it with regular watering. Its a relative of mint, so its guaranteed to spread, and its hardy in the cold of Zone 3 but can take heat up to Zone 8. Lamium is undemanding and easy to grow in partial to fully shaded locations. She has spent over two decades working in the horticulture industry on new plant development, garden design, sales, marketing and consulting. It matures to a height of about 3 feet, and it, too, can be used as a taller ground cover. This plant forms a ground-hugging mat topped with wispy white flowers that flutter atop 15-inch-tall stems in late spring to early summer. I think I'll try some . chezmoose. All that being said, ground covers are a terrific option for your situation. This low-maintenance plant thrives year-round! Catmint can handle several types of soil as well as both humidity and drought, and its also deer and rabbit resistant. Once dense, it can be quite attractive, but you will need to corral it or you'll have a sea of ruellia. There are so many options to choose from, including old favorites like Pachysandra and Vinca, as well as small shrubs, perennials, and annuals. Nepeta x faassenii is one such species that makes for a good ground cover, since it is one of the best ground coverings to stop weeds. In fact, beware of this potentially invasive ground cover, especially if you live near a forest. This item: Perennial Farm Marketplace Lamium m. 'Beacon Silver' (Dead Nettle) Groundcover, Size-#1 Container, Metallic Leaves and Pink Flowers $1495 Mixed Heart-Shaped Hosta Bare Roots - Rich Green Foliage, Low Maintenance, Heart Shaped Leaves - 6 Roots $1699 ($2.83/Count) Total price: $31.94 Add both to Cart