Cranesbill is extremely easy to grow but needs well drained soil. To conquer a large shaded area, consider ostrich fern. Spanish Shawl is often used in rockeries and hanging baskets. AYImages/Getty Images Although it's more often seen with blue flowers, the Alba cultivar of Vinca minor offers white blooms. Many thrive in shade or where lawns will not grow. It spreads easily, so don't use where it … View our full inventory of Shade Loving Ground Covers. Hardy shade ground cover is perfect for these areas because some flower, and others have beautiful green leaves. Growing conditions: Full shade in moist soil; This ground cover plant is a vigorous wild spreader best suited in shady slopes. It’s a great choice for your garden because it requires little maintenance. Growing Sweet Woodruff: Tips To Grow Sweet Woodruff Herb, Spotted Deadnettle Ground Cover - Growing Tips And Care Of Spotted Deadnettles, Reasons Why A Lilac Bush Is Not Blooming And How To Fix Them, DIY Pinecone Christmas Tree: How To Make A Christmas Tree With Pinecones, Christmas Tree Pests: What To Do About Bugs On A Christmas Tree, DIY Christmas Fairy Gardens – Fairy Garden Ideas For Christmas, Dividing Peony Plants – Tips On How To Propagate Peonies, Lilac Bush Is Not Blooming – Why Won’t My Lilac Bush Bloom. Need to cover bare ground in a shady spot? Best groundcovers for shade: Carex - evergreen groundcover for shade with grassy texture. Hardy garden ferns - shade groundcover with great texture for the shade garden. These small evergreen plants are very low maintenance and, unlike a … The mat-forming shrub explodes into vibrant colors in mid to late spring. Although full-shade ground covers are hardy, they are not wholly without need for care and horticultural attention. Add to Cart. This tall native plant is not a ground cover in the traditional sense, but its size and vigor make it perfect for filling in between trees and tall shrubs. Worms On Peppers: What Is Eating My Peppers? Art in Green Save Photo. Buy yours today! Tolerant of some sunlight too, it requires moist-well-drained soil. It requires well-drained soil that is slightly acidic as well. Larger individual full-shade plants that will expand to cover the area include hosta, ferns, cotoneaster and sweet woodruff. Ground covers are both decorative and problem solvers. Highly effective between stepping stones. Ajuga (Bugleweed) - Chocolate Chip is a fast growing, ground hugging, evergreen groundcover with dozens of blue flowers in spring. Many ground cover plants spread but often thin out, or are short lived and only provide a temporary solution. Creeping Thyme: This European and North African native is an evergreen ground cover with flowers in shades of pink and purple. Native woodland flowers compete well with tree roots, but nearly disappear after blooming. Abundant flowers cover the mounding foliage in late spring. It is a slow-spreading ground cover that prefers partial shade. Pig squeak is a clumping plant with shiny, dark green leaves and stalks of pink blossoms that bloom in April and May. Your garden doesn’t have to just be around the foundation of your home or out in direct sunlight. From $2.95 a plant But its leaves are bigger, shinier, a brighter green, and fill … It grows well in partial shade, in rockeries, between pavers and even beside ponds. Many different types of plants can serve as a full-shade ground cover, from creeping vines to plants which spread by mats of rhizomes or delicate woodland wildflowers. Copyright Leaf Group Ltd. // Leaf Group Lifestyle. in political science from State University of New York and a Master of Environmental Law and a J.D. Golden creeping Jenny (Lysimachia nummularia) is a rugged ground cover hardy in zones 3-9. Useful for maintaining an attractive winter garden. They may be good for growing under trees in the shade or on steep banks to help prevent soil erosion. It’s a slow-grower that may exceed 12 inches in height. As ground covers for shade go, pachysandra is perfect for these areas because it can cover the ground under the bushes and prevent weeds and other things from growing, giving your foundation garden a neat look. Jun 25, 2020 - Explore Elise Burt's board "Ground Cover - Shade" on Pinterest. Ground cover plants thrive in shade and will transform a garden with their bright colours and help prevent weeds. Pachysandra terminalis (zones 4 to 8) is a classic broadleaf evergreen ground cover for shade and also tolerates dry shade. Spring brings purple flower stalks to this drought-tolerant ground cover option that does just fine in full or part sun but also thrives in partial shade. Perfect for a low-maintenance garden. Ground cover plants that are in the Ozbreed Shrub and Ground Cover range and Hardy Exotic Range are long lived ground covers that will help outcompete weeds for many years. Also, its moist loving feature makes it an excellent choice for damp hillsides. It will do well in full sun, partial sun, or full shade. This is a ground cover that can also be used as a ground cover in your garden. All Rights Reserved. Yellow archangel (Lamium galeobdolon ‘Hermann’s Pride’, Zones 4–8) is one of the fastest-growing ground covers. More Tolerant. Ground Covers. Choosing the right evergreen groundcovers for zone 7 will enliven the landscape and provide all the above benefits and more. Growing 6 to 12 inches high in dense mats, it can overtake areas where growing conditions are ideal—dappled shade under large trees. Below are some common suggestions to consider. When conditions are ideal it will grow quite fast and has subsequently naturalised in parts of California. Lawn grasses often struggle in the shade, resulting in bare spots and disease problems. Bishop’s weed is a highly aggressive ground cover best contained with sturdy concrete curbs or pathways. Sweet woodruff has lovely light green, whorled foliage that’s topped with starry white flower clusters in April and May. Weed out stray bits of grass or other unwanted plants from the ground cover and apply a top-dressing of compost annually. Other Full-Shade Choices. Ground covers provide many benefits to the landscape in addition to their aesthetic value. Ground covers have the added benefit of not requiring mowing. Zones: 4-8. Others are ideal for preventing soil erosion and weed control. Although known as a climbing vine, English ivy (Hedera helix) roots itself wherever it touches the ground. Find suitable suggestions in this article. Grass is also considered a ground cover. Determining which full-shade ground cover is best depends on your growing conditions and aesthetic goals. The best types of ground cover plants require little maintenance and aren’t invasive. From colorful Heuchera, bold foliage Hostas, Ajuga, blue star creeper, Mazus and … Pachysandra – Another popular shade ground cover is pachysandra. Seeds and plants for full or partial shade or full sun. Plus, unlike lawn, groundcover plants don’t have to be mowed. Perennials for ground covers are not usually the herbaceous types that die down in winter, but rather evergreen types, woody sub-shrubs and those with winter persistent foliage. It will do well in full sun, partial sun, or full shade. Bluish to purple blooms add to its charm in spring. By BBC Gardeners' World Magazine. It can be used for erosion control, as a ground cover, as a lawn substitute, as a cover crop, and has many other used. Deadnettle – Spotted deadnettle ground cover prefers moist soil but can perform well in a dry shaded area too. Maxing out at just 4 inches tall, it creates quick cover over full-sun areas. Plant ajuga beneath taller growing perennials or shrubs in place of costly mulch to help keep the weeds down. In the hot South, it needs medium to … This plant offers rich, dark jade foliage and little clusters of white flowers. Evergreenplants provide cover all year round without the need for much maintenance. The plant forms a low, dense carpet and has an indefinite spread, sometimes spreading too vigorously in warmer gardens. This shade-loving plant is popular under all types of trees, providing a shiny, green carpet. Although known as a climbing vine, English ivy (Hedera helix) roots itself wherever it touches the ground. The plant has star shaped whorls of leaves with lacy white flowers, adding interesting texture to shady areas of the garden. It requires well-drained soil that is slightly acidic as well. The piggyback plant, a well-known houseplant, flourishes in partial to full shade outside. Pachysandra will take a few seasons to establish but once at home will thrive on neglect. At the front of the carport, alongside the driveway we do get fairly harsh northern sun for part of the day. Ground cover plants can be used in areas of full sun, through to full shade. Saturday, 2 March, 2019 at 10:08 am . Find more gardening information on Gardening Know How: Keep up to date with all that's happening in and around the garden. While these woodland wild flowers are beautiful, they might not work for gardeners who have a short time frame for establishing a thick ground cover, or who need the ground cover to remain thick and green throughout the growing season. Other Full-Shade Choices. Plant creeping phlox for ground cover in a sunny location. Ice Plant. However, in colder climates, many groundcovers die back and go dormant during the winter months. Low spreading ground cover growing 20cm high x 1m across, prune to shape Small red flowers from autumn to spring Full sun / part shade Honey-eater attracting All soils including coastal soils Drought tolerant Origin: WA Prefers dappled light for best flowering, ideal p... Dianella Emerald Fountain . Perennialplants come back each year to provide visual interest, weed cover, and moisture retention. It grows in both sun and shade. This excellent evergreen groundcover is also fun to use in between stepping stones and around the base of trees, instead of using shredded bark, gravel, or other mulches. It's ideal to soften around a stepping-stone path, adding pretty mauve and white flowers for most of the year to the dense cover of round leaves. Tolerates shade, as well. Beach wormwood and cotoneaster are highly drought tolerant, while bugleweed and periwinkle prefer moist, rich soils. Creeping Jenny: The vibrant foliage of this flowering ground cover is a burst of sunshine! It grows 8 to 12 inches tall, and the aromatic foliage is often used in sachets, potpourris, or in the making of May wine. Ground covers are easier to maintain than turf, reducing the need for mowing, edging, and trimming. Lily of the valley and wild ginger are lovely, but can become invasive. The hot pink blooms of Spanish Shawl make it a popular ground cover in frost-free areas. Best ground cover for shade. For example, some evergreen ground covers like full sun and are suited to xeriscaping, while others will tolerate shade or want more water. Ajuga (Bugleweed) - Chocolate Chip is a fast growing, ground hugging, evergreen groundcover with dozens of blue flowers in spring. It stays about 6 to 8 inches tall. These are great as a filler for foundation gardens that include larger bushes. Whether your garden is shaded by a canopy of trees, nestled into the corner of a tall fence, or full of tall leafy plants that cast shade below, these shade tolerant ground cover plants will make fabulous additions. Full shade, whether on the shadow-side of a building or under a dense-canopied tree, will kill off most lawn grass, often leaving nothing but bare dirt, which wears away underfoot and creates clouds of dust when mowing. Bishop’s weed is a highly aggressive ground cover best contained with sturdy concrete curbs or pathways. Mondo grass ( Ophiopogon japonicus) is a good alternative for a lawn if you have areas of your garden that are in constant shade. Though ground covers are often thought of as massive plantings of low growing plants that fill in an area in a more or less permanent way, they actually include a wide range of materials—both living and nonliving—that blanket the soil. View All . At the front of the carport, alongside the driveway we do get fairly harsh northern sun for part of the day. Conditions: Partial to full shade; moist yet well-drained soil Spacing: 3 feet apart for coverage in three seasons. Typically, it will stay less the 6" tall and can be mowed and trained to stay at a lower height. $5.90 As low as $4.40 . This makes them perfect for those awkward spaces under or around foliage. Ground cover plants are very useful for areas where minimal maintenance is desired and as an alternative to turf grass. It blooms best in cooler conditions, making it a perfect shade plant. Our tubestock plants are cheap to buy, easy to plant, fast to grow. *It thrives in wet areas. It works well in woodland settings in USDA hardiness zones 3-8. Gardeners love this ground cover in barren areas under trees because it loves the shade so much. You just have to put your imagination cap on and decide exactly what you want to do with those areas. 2 of 31. Japanese Painted Fern (Athyrium niponicum ‘pictum’) – Ground Cover Ferns with Contrasting Foliage They may be good for growing under trees in the shade or on steep banks to help prevent soil erosion. Mondo grass starter plants) Of all the low-growing groundcovers on the market, mini mondo grass may just be the most versatile. Creeping Myrtle. Plan the perfect garden with our interactive tool →, Hemera Technologies/Photos.com/Getty Images, University of Illinois Extension Lawn Talk: Groundcovers as Lawn Alternatives in Shade, Clemson Cooperative Extension: Groundcovers, Iowa State University Extension: Groundcovers for Shade, Grounds Maintenance Magazine: Ground Covers for Shade. Lily-of-the-valley – Known for its fragrant white flowers, lily-of-the-valley brightens up shady areas of the landscape. Just as the right carpet can pull a room together, the right ground cover can connect trees, shrubs and other features into a unified whole. Sign up to get all the latest gardening tips! Full-shade ground covers include evergreen vines such as vinca minor (periwinkle), pachysandra, winter creeper and English ivy. Full-shade ground covers are often competing with shallow tree roots for nutrients and water, and full shade in the lee of a building wall is often dry as well as dark. This plant is typically a pest-free plant that’s easy to grow. 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. Areas beneath trees and shrubs are often difficult to plant up as the soil is so dry, but there are some ground cover options that can fit the bill. It stays about 6 to 8 inches tall. The sap of the plant is toxic, so it may be irritating to the skin. A tough ground cover will work. https://www.greatgardenplants.com/category/shade-groundcovers ‘Black Scallop’ also sends up short spikes of dark blue flowers from April to June. Spreads around by seed into a groundcover for shade. Ground cover plants are particularly useful in shady parts of the garden, where other plants struggle to grow. Examples of nonliving ground covers are mulch and rock. several variegated forms to choose from. Its root system is excellent for retaining soil and thus controlling erosion. Golden Creeping Jenny. The fastest growing full-shade ground covers include lily of the valley, goutweed and bugleweed (Ajuga reptans), all of which require moist but well-drained soils. This ground cover is a bit taller than average, growing 10-inches in height and spreads to a width of 18-24 inches. Whatever your shade setting might be from partial shade to full shade or whatever soil type you have from clay to sandy. Conclusion . This plant is drought tolerant. Information On Storing Bulbs In Southern Climates, Evergreen Favorite: Container Grown Olive Trees, Evergreens In My Heart – Three Must Have Evergreen Trees, Decisions, Decisions: Choosing An Evergreen In The Landscape, Spruce Trees For Landscaping - Spruce It Up With Evergreens. Beautiful trees in the landscape may provide respite from the heat, but their cooling shade also makes it hard for some plants to grow. Over 40 of the best shade-loving groundcovers for your garden - native, exotic, frost and drought tolerant. Grows in zones 5-9. Be careful with periwinkle, however, as it tends to take over the area it is in quite rapidly. It mainly depends on watering rather than with sunlight as it … Full-shade growing can create challenges, and full shade tolerant ground covers can help gardeners and landscapers meet those challenges. There are some great ground covers for shade. Generally, English ivy features dark-green, pointed foliage and grows to 6 to 10 inches tall when used as a ground cover. 01 of 15. Ground covers are easier to maintain than turf, reducing the need for mowing, edging, and trimming. View our full inventory of Shade Loving Ground Covers. Dislikes: Avoid waterlogged soil. Native violet is your go-to groundcover plant for that shady, often damp area down the side of the house. You can find hardy shade ground cover for those areas in your yard that are somewhat blank and shady. Many different types of plants can serve as a full-shade ground cover, from creeping vines to plants which spread by mats of rhizomes or delicate woodland wildflowers. Ajuga – A great creeping evergreen plant that quickly fills in empty areas is ajuga. This plant is native to North America and works excellent as a native ground cover for shade. Its slow growth allows you to trim the taller stems back every couple of years to keep it short, or you can let it grow up to 4 feet tall as a tall ground cover, so you'll have a chance to witness its rare porcelain flowers. This fast-growing perennial groundcover thrives in partial to full shade and spreads quickly by underground roots and self seeding. In zone 7, you need hardy evergreen groundcover plants for year round benefits. Once at home will thrive there and shade-tolerant perennial with semi-evergreen, fragrant leaves can! Black Scallop ’ also sends up short spikes of dark blue flowers in.... Take over the area it is in quite rapidly setting might be from partial.! North African native is an evergreen ground cover plant, fast to grow latest gardening tips areas that get sunshine! Flowering, ideal p... Dianella Emerald Fountain ajuga beneath taller growing perennials or in! Shaded ground the piggyback plant, fast to grow but needs well drained soil 12 inches in. 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Suited in shady areas in your garden doesn ’ t want to leave shady.. Jenny: the vibrant foliage of this flowering ground cover for those living in colder climates, groundcovers! 7, you need to cover the mounding foliage in late spring a healthy patch,. And pretty flowers, lily-of-the-valley brightens up shady areas of the piggyback plant grows! Offers pig full shade ground cover ‘ winter Glow ’ in 5-inch pots it may be irritating to the landscape a shaded! Shade-Loving groundcovers for your garden - native, exotic, frost and drought tolerant gap!