And the reason I like it so much and have used it throughout my landscape is that it does not have runners. Remember, though, that some types of hosta need a bit more sun to achieve their best color. Cut them back by half after flowering. It can also be used between stepping stones to add a lush quality to your yard. Ground covers offer a protective layer over the topsoil, preventing it from drying out too much during warmer temperatures and retaining moisture throughout the winter. Creeping thyme belongs to the mint family and has a pleasant scent; while not grown as an herb, it can be used for cooking. They're evergreen in most of the South, with leaves that can be green, purple, or variegated with pink and white. The plant is slow-growing and will reach a height between 4 and 24 (10 60 cm) after 3 years. Blooms in the spring and keeps foliage over the summer and fall. Texas is a large state, but most of it is warm and often susceptible to drought. Perennial discounts. It also looks stunning with its white flowers and evergreen foliage cascading over a hanging basket. Ground Covers Vines Dwarf Shrubs Small Shrubs Medium Shrubs Large Shrubs Small Trees Medium Trees Large Trees GROUND COVERS (space 1 apart) This mat-forming ground cover perennial grows best in hardiness zones 5 to 10. You also won't have to worry about any issues with pests or disease. I use a lot of wood ferns. If you have tried and tried and tried again to get grass to grow beneath your shade trees, maybe, just maybe, you have too much shade. Velvety, rich petals to add a touch of luxury to your outdoor spaces. You can blow the leaves out of it in autumn. Plant 'White Nancy,' a vigorous ground cover, in a confined space. Most Deadnettle cultivars survive a light frost and start growing again in the spring. Login/Register New Account | Accessibility Statement | Site Map | Safety Data Sheets. The most widely planted ground cover in the world isto no one's surprisethe lawn. Turks Cap and Fire Spike are prolific red flowering perennials that survive just fine under the shade of trees or under your covered patio. It emits a vanilla aroma and attracts pollinators. Try out this hardy plant if youre new to gardening or dont have much time to dedicate to the practice. The cast iron plant thrives in Central and Southern Texas and needs hardly any sunlight to thrive. These can be simply evergreen or provide seasonal flowers. Use the two-inch-tall plants to fill gaps between stepping stones, line borders, or sprawl over rock walls. Another reason for the popularity of Stonecrop is that it is also a flowering low-maintenance plant that is good for hillside landscaping. Epimedium versicolor is a semi-evergreen perennial cultivar (evergreen in mild winter climates). Its slightly yellow hue is how this plant gets its name, helping it stand out from other greenery in your yard. Santolina an extremely drought-tolerant plant that comes in green and gray varieties, both with yellow flowers. Finally, ground covers like Aspidistra, Monkey Grass, Ajuga or Liriope provide the finishing touches. No water, fertilizer, or pruning required. Its great in the sun. The perennial ground cover is a member of the mint family (Lamiaceae) and grows around one foot tall. These can be simply evergreen or provide seasonal flowers. In autumn, the lush greenery turns a coppery bronze, making this the perfect year-round landscaping feature. It does well in Texas, tolerating both full and partial shade. Bush germander a very low growing perennial with purple flowers; excellent for those hot and dry row areas along the street. Once established, it spreads to create a bright green bedding that blooms beautiful lavender flowers in late spring and summer. Although this fast-spreading plant thrives best in shady areas and woodlands, many gardeners consider it too invasive to plant in the garden. The perennial plant, Bishops Weed (Aegopodium podagraria) is another low-maintenance gardening solution for ground cover in shady areas. Your local university extension office is usually the best place for information. Let me suggest to you, shade-tolerant, shade-loving groundcovers. Plants that perform well as ground covers in shady areas earn this reputation because they are extremely tenacious and able to thrive without much sunlight. This strength is to the gardener's advantage in areas where the weather can be unpredictable. Choosing the best shade plants for Texas is a crucial part of gardening in the south. Many types of ground cover plants are perfect for planting in the shade. The plant resembles spotted deadnettle, but is slightly larger (1 to 2 feet) with larger leaves. The plant survives well in drought conditions but thrives and blooms when it gets enough water. So, this may not be the best type of ground-covering plant if you only have a small garden. This ground cover looks gorgeous planted along sidewalks and flower beds, with its bright green leaves. The recommended USDA hardiness zones for hostas are 3 8. Actually, this ground cover plant provides a thick dense carpet of foliage in most soils. Once the roots of these plants are established, its very hardy and drought tolerant. Hi, Im Neil Sperry, back in your neighborhood, Calloways Nursery. Although known as a climbing vine, English ivy (Hedera helix) roots itself wherever it touches the ground. If you need to get good ground cover in shaded areas, then choose some of the more robust Epimedium varieties. Ground covers are spreading or mounding plants that cover most or all of the soil surface. American Beautyberry 4. Plant the flowers in window boxes, containers, or along a driveway. 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. When mature, it forms such a dense mat that weeds cannot penetrate it. It will trail off a fence or a hillside. Blossoms are individual and white in color, and leaves are bright green with toothed edges. Related reading:The top shade plants for growing in Florida. Coupon eligible. Bugleweed is such an aggressive plant that the best advice is to avoid it altogether in all situations. USDA Zone 8: Central Texas, but the eastern part of the state. After the weed killers have done their work, till the soil, incorporating a 4- to 6-inch layer of organic matter. Tolerating a little more sun than some of the others, lily turf (Liriope muscari) gets taller, too, averaging 12 to 18 inches high. The attractive features of the shade-loving plant are its vibrant red hibiscus-like flowers and heart-shaped leaves. Ground cover plants are beneficial pieces of foliage that are attractive and help prevent nuisances such as weeds and. ( Chrysactinia mexicana) Native to the high desert regions of Arizona, Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, Texas and Mexico. I find it does best in small, confined beds. Pachysandra is an evergreen perennial or subshrub comprised of five species, of which P. terminalis (Japanese pachysandra) is the most commonly used landscape variety. Survives on rainwater and three or four monthly supplements. Damianita. (USDA Plant Hardiness Zones), Why is My Phlox Not Flowering? Plant Lily-of-the-Valley in partial shade for best results, but some morning sun is also acceptable. It needs moist soil, but it will not tolerate wet roots. Copyright Leaf Group Ltd. // Leaf Group Lifestyle. Adding a ground cover with seasonal blooms or an interesting texture can separate the area from typical grass. Maidenhair ferns grow in places where typical plants are not found, including in-between rocks, making it great for a spreading ground cover. Also called bloodberry, this Texas native shade plant blooms throughout the year, producing dainty white or pink flowers. Wild ginger is a perennial plant that can be evergreen or semi-evergreen (deciduous in colder climates). Its black berries are poisonous, and it is considered an invasive plant in Texas, as well as in other states. Different cultivars of this plant have dark green, silver, purple, or gold-colored leaves. Just plant, establish and walk away. Use vinca as a bedding plant, in a container garden, or alone in a hanging basket. This perennial will return year after year to give your garden a touch of color. Liriope is a type of fast-growing perennial landscaping plant that provides excellent ground cover in the shade. The spotted laurel is a great type of shrub for partial sun and shady areas with its decorative foliage. The clear benefit of using ground covers instead of grass is less of everything less water, less fertilizer, less pesticides and less mowing. Lets look in detail at the best plants that thrive in shaded areas or grow in the shadows of tall trees, shrubs, or buildings. That said, I do have one pet peeve with a commonly used ground cover: Here are some examples of great ground covers, separated by light requirements. BLUE PLUMBAGO (Plumbago auriculata): clusters of baby blue flowers; drought tolerant; well-drained soil; full to part sun; 2 to 3 feet. Use as a shrub border, back-of-bed accent plant, informal hedge, or foundation planting. In some areas, the invasive nature of creeping buttercups causes them to be listed as pests. It has glossy green leaves and yellow flowers in early spring. 6. It adds color and texture to the back of flower beds or foundation plantings. Spreading by underground rhizomes, Japanese pachysandra forms colonies of handsome, glossy, deep-green foliage that stays green year-round. Shrubs that also thrive in the shade include Philodendron, Aralia, Aucuba and Mahonia with ferns like Holly fern or Autumn fern providing a cool tropical look. This herbaceous clumping plant thrives in the warm regions of Texas. English Ivy. Also known as a plantain lily, hosta's heart-shaped or oval leaves appear in blues, greens, and creamy variegated colors. Some plants for light shade require dappled sunlight or a few hours of early morning sunshine. Pigeonberry 5. Chili Petin 7. Size: 3 to 10 ft. (1 3 m) tall and 2 to 4 ft. (0.6 1.2 m) wide. Use Caution with Spreading Plants. Size: 4 to 6 ft. (1.2 1.8 m) tall and 2 ft. (0.6 m) wide. Its attractive and hard-wearing, making it the perfect choice if you want a plant that isnt too fussy. Light: Sun, Part Sun; Zones: 5-9; Plant Type: Perennial; Plant Height: 6 inches to 4 feet tall; Plant Width: 1-4 feet wide; Landscape Uses: Containers, Beds . Coupon eligible. The low-growing plants have flowers measuring up to 2 (5 cm) across. You get the idea. Sun exposure: Full sun to complete shade. Features purple foliage and pink flowers, and the only maintenance required is pruning once every five years. Inland sea oats a native grass for large swaths of backyard understory. Small white bell-like flowers appear in the spring where they are famed for their strong scent. 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. You can also plant this native small, fast-growing plant along a foundation line or fence or brighten a mixed bed. The ground cover plant thrives in full to partial shade and flowers every spring when new leaves appear. Ground covers play an essential role in our ecosystem, providing diversity in many environments. 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. Often used for medicinal purposes or in beauty products, Chamomile is a fragrant, sweet-smelling option to plant near walls or as a creeping plant. Some hostas grow pretty large, while others, like 'Blue Mouse Ears,' stay under a foot tall. Wild ginger is an excellent ground cover for shade. USDA Hardiness Zones: 6 to 10 Mondo grass cultivars: nippon, variegatus, and kioto Care: Easy. Ajuga this low growing perennial with blue or purple flowers is perfect for pervious patios and borders along paths. a virtually indestructible perennial that can also be used in the kitchen. Liriope is hardy in USDA zones 5 to 10. The Texas Redbud will liven up any garden with magenta flowers in the early spring and thrives just fine in low-sunlight conditions. Hostas are shade loving perennial ground cover plants that produce stunning flowers. Firespike is a tall, showy, drought-tolerant, evergreen shrub with erect flowering stems and clusters of bright red tubular flowers. This plant is an excellent landscaping choice to protect soil from erosion and have dense ground foliage. Some ornamental grasses are also well suited for shade conditions. Japanese laurel is a non-native evergreen shrubby plant that is perfect for shady gardens in Texas. She founded Gaia's Farm and Gardens,aworking sustainable permaculture farm, and writes for Gaia Grows, a local newspaper column. It has striking spikes of bright yellow blooms contrasting with dark green spiky leaves. Mondo grass spreads by underground rhizomes. Silver ponyfoot this South America native loves sun and heat. This evergreen grass grows to be four to six inches tall. Because all Texas lawn grasses do best in full sun, homeowners in the state often find bald spots in shady areas of their yards. Like Liriope muscari andspecies of the Ophiopogonfamily(such as black mondo grass), it is commonly called "monkey grass." It grows well in soil and shade and has a starry pink flower. However, this grass type of ground cover thrives better in full sun rather than shade. Golden Oregano is another creeping vine that is ideal in Texas, thanks to its resilience. Not a turf grass, but more of a bunch grass perennial, since it goes dormant in the winter. This is the one that gets about five or six inches tall. It has a low maintenance requirement and can thrive in hot climates. Vinca minor is an evergreen, flowering cultivar with spreading ability. Bunchberry (Cornus canadensis) is a native plant in northern regions of North America. She holds a B.A. Oakleaf hydrangea is an attractive white flowering shrub that grows well in partial shade. Mazus reptans (creeping mazus) is the cultivar that is fast growing and has creeping and rooting stems. Carpet bugleweed does best in fertile, well-drained soil with good air circulationwet soil leads to rot. Now hiring! Because monkey grass thrives in the shade, it can be planted under shrubs and trees or in areas that are in constant shade. Asiatic jasmine is a shade-tolerant evergreen shrub or vine famed for its fragrant white flowers and lush foliage. Creeping thyme has become a popular ground cover for filling dry, hot areas of the garden. I prefer the small, variegated variety. Turks cap is a native Texas shade plant that thrives in the central and southern regions of the state. One of the reasons why many gardeners choose this low-maintenance landscaping option is for its good all-year-round cover. Ground covers are low-maintenance plants that spread quickly and usually grow from one to 12 inches in heighttechnically anything that covers the soil, including various types of grass. Great groundcover for the sun. Japanese Pachysandra is a shade loving ground cover plant. Garden ferns are an unusual family of plants, since they include several different genera that reproduce from spores rather than from flowers and seeds. Consider expanding your landscape plant palette by removing the grass monoculture. this comes in standard and dwarf versions, but dont let the names fool you. Geranium macrorrhizum is a drought-tolerant and shade-tolerant perennial with semi-evergreen, fragrant leaves. However, knowing which Texas flowering plants and shrubs are suitable for the shade can be challenging. Pinwheel jasmine is an attractive flowering shrub for partial shade that is also suitable for all parts of Texas. I prefer the small, variegated variety. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Plus, deer don't like it. Plant firespike in a shady frost-free Texas garden landscape if you want to add a splash of vibrant red colors. Consider expanding your landscape plant palette by removing the grass, https://www.gardenstylesanantonio.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/tour-antler-circle-3-800x450-1.jpg, There Is No Standard Setting for Irrigation Systems. Size: 1 to 2 ft. (0.3 0.6 m) tall and wide. Other plants, though, require some consideration. Thats a wonderful groundcover. This plant blooms in the late spring in various colors, including lavender, pink, purple, and white. It can withstand some sun but also needs some protection during the day. This shrub has a rounded habit and can be used as an accent plant, flowering hedge, or foundation planting. Many experts caution against growing it. There are fern species to meet the needs of shady locations in just about every climate zone. Coupon eligible. The mound-forming perennials have long, dark green leaves and tolerate drought, heat, and shade. English ivy - the classic and still great ground cover for the shade. Cast iron plant this is a shade loving green foliage plant that requires no care and no supplementary water to survive. While growing like a weed because it is one, it loves sun to shade and makes a great ground cover averaging 2 x 2'. All Rights Reserved. Mondo grasses are clumping groundcovers that look great underneath trees or alongside walkways. Sign up to receive special offers, expert advice and tips to transform your yard into a landscape showplace! Some landscaping ideas to use this plant for good ground cover is to prevent erosion on slopes, use as a colorful edging border, or have foliage under trees or shrubs. Perennial geraniums may form large colonies. Spotted Dead Nettle has many cultivars including some with variegated leaves (meaning they have more than one color) and different colored flowers. Even St. Augustine grass (Stenotaphrum secundatum), hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 8 through 10 and the most shade tolerant, needs four hours of direct sunlight daily to thrive. This drought-tolerant, sun-seeking ground cover emits a lemon scent and bears large amounts of tiny flowers. And it has weed control, sending out chemicals that inhibit their growth. Purple heart a classic and still one of the best, this one is also virtually indestructible. Shrubby Boneset 8. 8. , this plant is a perennial, so youll be able to appreciate its beauty each year that it returns. Epimedium is a slow-growing genus of herbaceous perennial plants that are good for ground cover where you have cool shade. All parts of the plant are toxic and may cause digestive upset or skin irritations. With blades thinner than those of liriope, mondo grass grows in clumps from rhizomes in USDA zones 7 to 11. Lily-of-the-valley has overrun many abandoned homesteads in eastern North America, and many garden centers no longer even sell the plant. There are bush and creeping selections. https://www.wildflower.org/collections/collection.php?collection=centex_dry_shade. All you have to do to keep Mondo grass from becoming too long is to cut it back once a year. The plant in the picture is the Lamium maculatum cultivar. This ground cover plant should not be used as a substitute to ginger because it contains toxic substances. The shrub has an irregular mounding habit. This ground cover is rather unassuming when it's not in flower and serves nicely as a dark green backdrop. The Spruce uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. This easy-to-grow plant, which doesn't require deadheading flowers or fertilizer, blooms in the spring and summer. Learn tips for creating your most beautiful home and garden ever. Epimedium cultivars also produce small clusters of flowers in a variety of different colors. They prefer sun but can take part shade. The Bloody Cranesbill (Geranium sanguineum) is a hardy type of flowering ground cover plant that belongs to the Geranium family. Epimedium plants can provide stunning ground cover in shady parts of your garden. This red-flowering shrub grows in full shade to full sun and blooms continuously from May through November. If you live in a region of Texas where winters are cool, you might get the chance to watch it turn a dazzling shade of gold or bronze. Hostas are generally well-behaved plants that grow and spread slowly. Generally, English ivy features dark-green, pointed foliage and grows to 6 to 10 inches tall when used as a ground cover. You can grow variegated ginger in containers to overwinter indoors in northern Texas. Thanks to its vertical presentation, it can help add depth to your flower garden without obscuring your flowering plants that need full sunshine to thrive. It is a notable problem in many parts of the U.S., especially the Pacific coastal states. In my opinion, its not deer-resistant so use only in fenced areas or in the city. There are 19 of them in the metroplex and a couple in Houston under the name of Cornelius, wonderful places to shop. Some plants thrive in the direct South Texas sun, while others like to play it cool in the shade beneath other plants or artificial shades. The clumpy plants can spread up to 8 (20 cm). If you want to add a bit of variety to shady areas of your garden, then choose a variegated variety of Bishops weed. Apply weed killers to eliminate existing grass and weeds in the designated spot. Yarrow A North American native, Yarrow is popular with bees, butterflies, and other pollinators.