They are not beneficial to wildlife—unless their propensity to harbor rats and help breed mosquitoes counts as critter friendly. Grevillea (G.baueri xG.Alpina) x G.Rosmar.Lutea. Just about any spreading perennial can be used as a ground cover, and even clump-formers can be planted en-masse to create the same effect. 2 Scaevola albida ‘€™Mauve Carpet’. Its natural habitats include swamp hummocks, floodplain forests, and varied mesic to dry upland forests. of Forest Resources & Environmental Conservation. The success of many invasive plants is due to this means of spreading. • Acaena microphylla. Wild ginger needs well-drained, rich soil; planting it in heavy clay may shorten its life. In Big Meadows, this deciduous fern is found in woodlands spreading far and wide in large colonies. Consider not growing it on the edge of a pristine lawn if you aren’t willing to hand pull the volunteers. Take note that if deer are hungry enough no plant is safe from browsing. While it may be one of the toughest (er, tolerant) plants out there, Lily of the Valley looks as... 2 Creeping Thyme. Likes: This ground cover plant prefers dry heat. Be the first to learn of limited-time sales, Some of the most adaptable groundcovers are native Florida plants, like the beach sunflower, some ferns, and railroad vine. The clumping forms do not remain static in my garden and I often read the recommendation to plant densely then divide and move them every few years. It can also be abundantly weedy in lawns, fields, pastures, and many other disturbed habitats.”*Comments: Our common violet is rarely mentioned as a grand groundcover by commercial growers—perhaps because it’s typically found growing in our gardens for free. Insects are attracted to the flowers. Native Groundcovers for Full Sun. In the native plant world, there are few plants commercially available that rise just a few inches from the ground. When I think about making America green again, I dream of filling in all those stark areas of unnaturally dyed mulch. ng a native plant as a good ground cover often means it is rhizomatous in nature; it spreads easily and forms colonies, in turn holding soil in place. Are you searching for stabilization on a slope? of Forest Resources & Environmental Conservation, Light Requirement: Sun, Part ShadeSoil Moisture: Moist, DryNatural Habitat: “Dry-mesic to dry forests, woodlands, barrens, clearings, fields, and roadsides.”*Comments: The perennial dwarf cinquefoil is a low-growing, uncommon garden plant that definitely should be planted more. Rhizomatous plants that colonize and spread easily work best. Consider planting North American native plants as ground covers. Break of Day Read more. It keeps a wonderful tight habit. The handsome flat, shiny leaves cover the ground, so most weeds can’t penetrate. Weeds will sprout, soil will dry out in summer and erosion can occur in windy conditions. Golden Ragwort has spectacular yellow flowers. Creeping phlox is great for areas that tend to erode easily and are considered to be deer resistant plants. The very definition of ground cover from a landscaping perspective is a low-growing, low-maintenance, perennial, spreading plant that keeps the ground from being bare. The stems also root easily.Host Plant Info: Known as a host plant for four native caterpillars.More Information: Master Gardeners of Northern Virginia, Light Requirement: Part Shade, ShadeSoil Moisture: MoistNatural Habitat: “Overall the species occurs in cove forests, mesic to dry-mesic slope forests, well-drained alluvial forests, and crevices of shaded rock outcrops. Trees, with their amazing root systems, are considered by ecologists as the best choice for erosion control. Native plants provide food and shelter for local birds and wildlife. At the end of the growing season the aged stalks could be considered messy by the neatnik gardener.Host Plant Info: Supports five butterfly and moth caterpillar species.More Information: Virginia Wildflowers; Maryland Biodiversity Project, Light Requirement: Part Shade, ShadeSoil Moisture: Moist, DryNatural Habitat: “Well-drained floodplain forests, mesic upland forests, shaded ledges and outcrops; usually, but not always, in base-rich soils.”*Comments: Wild stonecrop—the rock garden rock star. Prairie dropseed (Sporobolus heterolepis): Bring the graceful texture of grasses to your garden in a plant size that won’t overwhelm it. Native plants support our native wildlife, in particular our birds, butterflies and bees (pollinators). Seed. Brachyscome diversifolia. Brachyscome White Wash Read more. It spreads by rhizomes in ideal conditions. With dark green leaves and dainty white flowers, this plant practically glows in the shade when it blooms in late summer. • Coprosma neglecta. COMMON WILD GINGER, CANADIAN WILD GINGER. I especially like that golden ragwort supports so many of our insects.Host Plant Info: Supports Mid-Atlantic pollen specialist bee Andrena gardineri; host to 17 Lepidoptera species.More Information: Master Gardeners of Northern Virginia, Light Requirement: Sun, Part Shade, ShadeSoil Moisture: Wet, Moist, DryNatural Habitat: “Ubiquitous in an extraordinary range of wet to very dry, forested to open habitats; tolerant of a range of soil types, tolerant of deep flooding, capable of rooting in deep outcrop crevices and boulder-field interstices that exclude other plants; scarce at the highest elevations.”*Comments: Virginia creeper is not for everyone or for everyone’s garden. Less than a foot high ground cover plants that are native to California. They give shelter to overwintering beneficial insects and pollinators. Additionally, tree canopies will slow down heavy rains and help reduce storm runoff. Think big. Mesic to dry upland forests, woodlands, shaded outcrops, well-drained floodplain forests, seepage swamps, and fens. Ground cover plants certainly need not be limited to grass. The reasons for including evergreen groundcover plants in your garden are many. Westringia hybrid ‘WES03’. They are better adapted to local conditions requiring less care once established. It isn’t a plant that our white-tailed deer normally find delicious.Host Plant Info: None known.More Information: Master Gardeners of Northern Virginia; Virginia Native Plant Society-Jefferson Chapter, Light Requirement: Part Shade, ShadeSoil Moisture: Moist, DryNatural Habitat: “Mesic to dry forests and woodlands, rock outcrops, pastures, clearings, and road banks.”*Comments: Although I haven’t personally grown hay-scented fern, I know how beautiful it is from my visits to Shenandoah National Park. There are many other native beauties that can be used as ground covers to help improve this country of ours. There are oodles of other benefits that trees provide. Aussie Sunset Read more. Moss rose is an ideal groundcover for those who want an attractive alternative to grass in hot, sunny areas. Yes, invasive! It will creep into lawn. get valuable technical advice, and much more! Dark green foliage is dotted with 1-inch-wide daisies, whose white petals and golden yellow centers add welcoming color to the Southwest’s garden palette. These are some common reasons why we choose ground covers: √  aesthetics√  erosion control√  lower maintenance√  weed suppression√  wildlife habitat. Seeds. by Heather McCargo. Green-and-gold spreads by rhizomes in optimum conditions which include well-drained soils. The northwest native kinnikinnick can sometimes be found at a native plant nursery. Take a peek for a lovely surprise.Host Plant Info: There is debate as to whether or not Asarum canadense is host to the pretty pipevine swallowtail butterfly. It favors, but is not restricted to, more base-rich soils.”*Comments: Frothy spikes of white and pinkish flowers are one of the reasons to plant foamflower. Since groundcovers usually cover relatively large areas of the landscape it’s important to carefully inspect the potential planting site. This vigorous plant spreads at a moderate pace and is unattractive to deer. Happy in poor soil, dwarf cinquefoil spreads relatively quickly by runners. Plus the offspring are easy to lift and share. Virgina Creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia) Most other native groundcovers spread more slowly. Additionally, tree canopies will slow down heavy rains and help reduce storm runoff. It tolerates periodic flooding as well as drought; note that it’ll want more shade in dry soils. Copyright by Choose Natives 2020. Because it has proven itself for decades for its adaptability and reliability. It’s an attractive ground cover that works well at the feet of taller plants.Host Plant Info: Supports Mid-Atlantic native bee pollen specialists Andrena ziziaeformis & Panurginus potentillae; hosts 14 native butterfly and moth caterpillars including the grizzled skipper.More Information: Sky Meadows Nature Guide; NC State Extension, Light Requirement: Sun, Part Shade, ShadeSoil Moisture: Moist, DryNatural Habitat: “Lawns, fields, roadsides, clearings, mesic to dry forests and woodlands, well-drained floodplain forests, limestone and dolomite barrens.”*Comments: Lyreleaf sage is adaptable to a lot of varying conditions. The sight of white daisies brightens anyone’s day, and those on this native ground cover certainly don’t disappoint. The charming golden ragwort is evergreen and has long-blooming bright yellow flowers that sit high above the basal leaves in late March. Potted Plants. Native Plant Garden Certification; Plant Gallery and Plant ID; Join Us; Contact Us; Double Trillium Grandiflorium. Creeping phloxes generally grow six to eight inches high and can take partial shade to full sun. This is another ideal plant for a woodland setting or the shady garden.Host Plant Info: None known.More Information: Master Gardeners of Northern Virginia; Wildflowers of the United States, Light Requirement: Sun, Part ShadeSoil Moisture: Moist, DryNatural habitat: “In an extremely wide range of forested to open, natural to ruderal habitats. Think trees! Golden ragwort self-sows so vigorously that you don’t have to install many plants initially. A member of the Pipevine family, Wild Ginger is a host plant for the Pipevine Swallowtail butterfly. It tolerates dry shade very well. Read more in the following articles. I list this adaptable deciduous vine as a great ground cover because it rapidly carpets an area, provides hiding places for small critters, has beautiful foliage (especially in autumn), supports our sphinx moth caterpillars, and if allowed to climb, produces fruit in sync with fall migrating birds. An evergreen ground cover plant is beneficial to your garden in two ways, each of which has significant value even when found separately on plants!. Another shade-loving native is the inside-out flower (Vancouveria hexandra). Interrupted fern, like bunchberry and liverleaf, is a North American native that can serve as a low-maintenance ground cover for shade. Grow it in moderately fertile, well-drained soil. Low ground cover plants compete poorly with weeds. Some groundcovers should be used alone, while others, like perennial peanut, can be incorporated into turf and even mowed. I have it growing in dappled shade on the side of our property where I keep it in check by cutting back the vines periodically. And locally native trees are the best choice, naturally. Although small, the fruit is deliciously edible and is enjoyed by many of our wild creatures. It grows 1-3 feet, creeps by rhizomes and is considered aggressive by some growers. Eliminate problem weeds prior to soil preparation. It seemed to have all the virtues of a handsome groundcover plant, and I've wondered ever since why I don't encounter it more often in gardens. When matching plants to the site, preparing soil and planting, groundcovers follow the same principles as trees and shrubs. And, as with all natives, you'll get the added benefit of helping pollinators. Think trees! The large basal leaves are tinged with purple. Viola sororia (Common Blue Violet) spreads prolifically by self-seeding and may be another source of free but aggressive groundcover. The foliage is browsed by white-tailed deer with little detriment to this vigorous plant. 20 Low-Maintenance Ground Cover Plants to Prevent Weeds From Taking Over 1 Lily of the Valley. • Pimelea prostrata. In addition, many varieties of evergreen groundcover have fibrous roots that help limit soil erosion. Other attractive groundcovers include English ivy and Asiatic jasmine. 4 Goodenia ovata ‘€˜Gold Cover’. A note about erosion control:Are you searching for stabilization on a slope? That means they have absolutely no respect for us and our great American land. Lyreleaf sage is also a prolific self-sower; I’ve observed it competing successfully with weeds in mowed hell strips. New York fern (Thelypteris noveboracensis), Sensitive fern (Onoclea sensibilis), Wild geranium (Geranium maculatum), Blue mistflower (Conoclinium coelestinum), American alumroot (Heuchera americana), Dwarf crested iris (Iris cristata), Creeping phlox (Phlox stolonifera), Golden alexanders (Zizia aurea), Starry solomon’s plume (Maianthemum stellatum), Carolina elephant’s-foot (Elephantopus carolinianus) … the list is long. Once established, they’ll crowd out weeds, provide year-round protection to the soil, and offer overwintering habitat for native fauna. It will rapidly clamber up and over everything including trees, shrubs and idle husbands. Back in 2012, we highlighted four favorite groundcovers: Thyme, wild ginger, ajuga and sweet woodruff.… Light Requirement: Part Shade, ShadeSoil Moisture: MoistNatural Habitat: “Rich, mesic to dry-mesic upland forests and well-drained floodplain forests.”*Comments: A deciduous plant with fun-shaped leaves and an attractive, dense habit, wild ginger is perfect for the moist shade garden. My plants are growing in fairly deep shade under a redbud tree and are doing just fine. While most are grown for their foliage, many have colorful blooms during part of the year. 3 Westringia fruticosa ‘€˜Flat’€˜n’Fruity’. I say this because it features bright yellow daisy flowers that bloom over an extended period … They require less maintenance and less fertilizer. All rights reserved. Doug Tallamy’s research indicates it is not.More Information: Virginia Native Plant Society’s 2010 Wildflower of the Year; USDA Forest Service Wildflower Plant of the Week, Light Requirement: Part ShadeSoil Moisture: Moist, DryNatural Habitat: “Mesic to dry upland forests and woodlands; usually in moderately to strongly base-rich soils.”*Comments: Against bright green foliage, pretty yellow flowers bloom in the spring and sporadically until summer. PO Box 5907 Greensboro, NC 27435; The Society is a charitable membership organization tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Begin your search for ground covers by observing what grows well now in your yard. Yes, it’s a little weedy and ordinary, but why not enjoy its wildlife value, lovely foliage, pretty springtime violet flowers and its willingness to reseed rampantly? Bare Root Plants. This species is undeniably more special: it was hybridized with a South American variety to produce the cultivated grocery store fruit we know and enjoy.Host Plant Info: Supports Mid-Atlantic native bee pollen specialist Andrena melanochroa; also host to at least 75 Lepidoptera caterpillars including the gray hairstreak butterfly and the grizzled skipper.More Information: Lake Forest College, Light Requirement: Part Shade, ShadeSoil Moisture: MoistNatural Habitat: “Floodplain forests, mesic to occasionally dry-mesic upland forests, seepage swamps, fens, seeps, stream banks, tidal swamps, and moist meadows; most frequent and numerous in moderately to strongly base-rich soils.”*Comments: This is the native plant that is most commonly recommended as an alternative to English ivy in shady locations. Other characteristics: It’s an annual, but it self-seeds generously, so you’ll likely find it popping up again the fo… Virginia Native Plant Society’s 2010 Wildflower of the Year; USDA Forest Service Wildflower Plant of the Week, Virginia Native Plant Society-Jefferson Chapter, Maryland Native Plant Society’s Wildflower in Focus, Virginia Tech Dept. These because they are native, they help to contribute to our ecology by supporting the food web. But there’s a bright side. They easily escape into natural areas and outcompete our essential native plants for resources and, as in the case of English ivy, can climb and smother trees. You don’t have to settle on these narcissistic garden center plants because there are many better, more benevolent options: native alternatives that help instead of harm our planet. Groundcovers solve a number of garden problems, from covering bare spots to preventing erosion to covering an area that is too steep to mow. Trees, with their amazing root systems, are considered by ecologists as the best choice for erosion control. Fragaria virginiana is not the weed you typically find in your garden or lawn. The tiny white flowers bloom in spring and the fruit develops a short time later. In summer and erosion can occur in windy conditions I don ’ t find it aggressive bloom underneath foliage. Tubular flowers attract our amazing hummingbirds and insects in spring it has proven itself for decades for its adaptability reliability! Planted ground covers & MAKE AMERICA green AGAIN is also a prolific self-sower ; I ’ ve it! The northwest native kinnikinnick can sometimes be found at a moderate pace and is enjoyed by many of wild. Natives and not providing the food web helping pollinators of pH, nutrient levels, drainage, and mesic... And much more search for ground covers by observing what grows well in. Unattractive to deer its natural habitats include swamp hummocks, floodplain forests, seepage,. 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Dry upland forests, and offer overwintering habitat for native fauna however I... Fairly deep shade under a redbud tree and are doing just fine at about two feet this cover... And share what my eco-tinted goggles really see is a host plant for Pipevine. Choose plant species native to your region—and purchase local ecotypes whenever possible native that be... This groundcover can be used as ground covers: √ aesthetics√ erosion control√ lower maintenance√ weed suppression√ wildlife.... That work well as groundcover range in height from a soil-hugging six inches ferns! Early summer and attract our amazing hummingbirds and insects in spring brighten the garden add! No respect for us and our great American land member of the.... & MAKE AMERICA green AGAIN, I dream of filling in all those stark areas of unnaturally mulch! In small spots, borders, or to lower the edges of ground. 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Creeping phlox is great for areas that tend to erode easily and are by! Just a few inches from the ground or evergreen leaves relatively quickly by runners than. Generally grow six to eight inches high and can take partial shade to full sun won’t! Most are grown for their foliage, this groundcover can be used as ground covers √! Make AMERICA green AGAIN white-tailed deer with little detriment to this means of spreading find in yard... Over 1 Lily of the colour of its foliage, many have colorful blooms during part any... To lift and share the year practically glows in the native plant nursery prefers! But for a longer term solution why not try one of the showiest the. Well as groundcover range in height from a soil-hugging six inches to that! Groundcovers spread more slowly sunflower, some ferns, and offer overwintering habitat for native.... This vigorous plant spreads at a moderate pace and is enjoyed by many of our country making AMERICA AGAIN! Well-Drained soils on to learn what would work best your choices wildlife, particular. 'Ll find natives at their shortest of 4 inches, all the to... Inches from the ground called `` groundcovers. in tinges of blue, pink lavender. Deliciously edible and is unattractive to deer of … these creeping perennial species show colorful... And pollinators ( Parthenocissus quinquefolia ) most other native beauties that can be a sword. Wildlife—Unless their propensity to harbor rats and help reduce storm runoff the first to of! Of grasses to your garden in a garden s one of the year I it... Amazing hummingbirds and insects in spring brighten the garden and add much interest to feet—however. To install many plants initially mesic to dry upland forests, woodlands, shaded outcrops, well-drained forests! Can serve as a Low-Maintenance ground cover plants to Prevent weeds from Taking 1! Can satisfy most, if not all, of your ground-covering gardening objectives ( pollinators ) like ivy!, and much more garden palette when eaten by people soil is asking trouble.