They are tough and their easy-going adaptability to a wide variety of rocky slopes, clay, and alkaline soils keep them comfortable in the west. A Texas Master Gardener, she's the author of The Texas Flower Garden, published by Gibbs-Smith in 1996. Pachysandra is one of the most widely used ground covers in the country thanks to its extreme durability while it grows under challenging conditions such as too much shade and drought. The petite white star-shaped flowers provide a nice contrast to the deciduous green foliage. In warm regions and/or insheltered areas of your yard, they may be evergreen. Plant Lenten rose ground cover in the early fall or late spring but away from the path of bitter winter winds. These creeping ground cover plants will reward you with easy care and bright colors. It is mainly grown for beautiful berries that succeed the blossoms over green leaves. Lamium maculatum (white nettle, pink pewter, and spotted nettle) Lamium galeobdolon . A popular climbing vine, English ivy will creep along to cover the ground if you let it, and thrives in the shade. Copyright 2023 Acton Media Inc. All rights reserved. Swallowtail butterflies, hummingbird moths and hummingbirds are all fans. Hardy in USDA Zones 3 through 8, it will be deciduous in all but the mildest climates. Like sedges, many different types of asters that will grow in partial shade to full shade. It is perfect for a small space, like a little garden along a north-facing wall. Lamium needs shade and a fertile, moist but well-draining soil. RELATED: How to Grow Zinnias in Your Home Garden. Within two to three years of planting, it forms a lush carpet of velvety, green, heart-shaped leaves that hug the ground. Ajuga or Bugleweed is a low-maintenance option that is also . Leadwort is an excellent low-maintenance groundcover for putting on a late-season show. This plant can be invasive, depending on where you live. If you prefer a small hosta, opt for 'Blue Mouse Ears' that grows 6 to 12 inches high with round, heart-shaped blue-green leaves. There are so many options to choose from, including old favorites like Pachysandra and Vinca, as well as small shrubs, perennials, and annuals. Aronia is a pretty low-growing native shrub that has tiny white flowers amid glossy green foliage. With full sun, this green herb will grow small flowers in summer, attracting plenty of pollinators. Hostas:Lamium in the hosta bed - Dave's Garden She has over 30 years of experience in gardening and sustainable farming. If you prefer a similar but less aggressive variety, consider C. montana 'Amethyst Dream'. 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. Noteworthy Characteristics Lamium maculatum, commonly called spotted deadnettle, is native to Europe and North Africa to West Asia. Lamium: How To Grow and Care For Dead Nettle David Beaulieu is a landscaping expert and plant photographer, with 20 years of experience. In extremely hot climates it needs a little shade, but otherwise it enjoys being in the sun. It spreads well, but is easy to manage. The silvery foliage of theseshade plantsmakes them a good fit for landscape designs with creative color schemes. Commonly used as a ground cover in the shade garden, spotted dead nettle is short- 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. Native to Africa, purple ice plant (Delosperma cooperi) became popular as a cold-hardy ground cover in the United States in the 1990s. Aromatic enough for both kitties and their owners, catmint (Nepeta) is an easy-care, low growing ground cover. Though Chinese lantern is also considered invasive, it is a novel and colorful perennial ground cover with autumn interest because of its bright orange-red shaped seed pods that turn into papery husks. Can be invasive in moist, fertile soils. Ground-huggers in the 1- to 3-inch range that tolerate foot traffic can be used between stepping stones. I simply pick the seedlings if they pop up where I don't want them. 44 Best Flowering Ground Cover Plants | Balcony Garden Web The attractive foliage has a silvery cast and shows well . Use it as an underplanting for tall trees, as a ground cover in places where the hose cant reach, and even as a no-mow lawn alternative where there isnt much foot traffic. Fast growing and a good all round plant for beneath trees you get a ground cover with good foliage and the added attraction of flowers. Do spotted dead nettle attract butterflies? Try it in part shade to full shade, with moist, well-drained soil. General description Fast-growing perennial ground cover that may be either trailing or upright depending on conditions. They areespecially valued for use in shady spots, which is a condition that many plants dislike. As it spreads, new clumps will form. Overview: Spotted Dead Nettle - Lamium maculatum is a herbaceous perennial growing to 0.2 -0.9m at a fast . It has a stripe down the middle that can be white, yellow, red, or silver. She writes a weekly garden Q&A and feature stories. The ground has only recently thawed and most are waiting for just the right amount of consistent warmth and moisture before coming up. Society garlic can also tolerate dry conditions. There may be restrictions on planting it in these areas. Arricca Elin SanSone has written about health and lifestyle topics for Prevention, Country Living, Woman's Day, and more. This type of evergreen comes in an array of shapes and sizes. Choose from an annual or perennial variety, and watch charming daisy-like flowers bloom throughout this bushy plant. 15 Best Ground Cover Plants For Shade | Hausette Whats more, it requires relatively little maintenance, and it resists deer and other critters. Grows in zone 2 to 6 in part shade and part Sun. That kind doesnt make a good ground cover and needs lots of sun to grow well. Spotted dead nettles have few problems in the north; among other good features is the fact that they are deer-resistant plants. Plant it with an assortment of flowering plants, including paperwhites, cyclamen, and coral bells. Not picky, spotted Dead Nettles do just fine in average, well-drained soil. The low-lying, flowering ground coverit grows no more than 4 inches tallcan endure being stepped and stomped on, making it a smart choice for planting between pavers or for replacing grass. Ground Cover Plants: Everything You Need to Know - This Old House Vinca has few pests, so it can be considered invasive, which is good news if your goal is to keep weeds at bay. This is a lush trailing ground cover with. Ferns come in many different colors, heights and forms. Because the common name is often given as "spotted dead nettle". Cut the runner off with pruning shears, plant it in another spot, and then water. However, keep it away from turf grass to avoid damage. It should be pinched back frequently to keep the plants bushy and "shrubby.". Divide this plant in the spring for additional and long-living ground cover that can last for a couple of decades. Read our, Amethyst in Snow (Centaurea montana 'Amethyst in Snow'), 31 Best-Deer Resistant Flowers and Plants to Grow, 10 Best Deer-Resistant Shrubs for Landscaping, 18 Perennial Flowers That Bloom in Spring, Summer and Fall, 35 Types of Orange Flowers: Identification & Photos, 15 Best Plants for Drought-Tolerant Gardens, Angelina Sedum (Sedum rupestre 'Angelina'), Rock Cotoneaster (Cotoneaster horizontalis), Chinese lantern is also considered invasive. Ground Covers for Alabama Landscapes - Home Grounds I've never tried that one. One of the most popular is Carex pensylvanica, commonly known as oak sedge, and it can be found across the eastern half of North America. Perfect for plantings under perennials or shrubs and as a groundcover or edging plant. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your devices and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. Thus you need to be careful in choosing the right spot to grow this plant. But purple deadnettle (Lamium purpureum) takes advantage of the open expanses of soil and lack of competition. 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. How to Grow Lamium Flowers (Lamium maculatum), a Guide Botanical Name: Cotoneaster horizontalis This tall ground cover has a horizontal growing habit, give it plenty of water and afternoon shade until it is fully grown. Hostas are definitely not deer-resistant but they are toxic to other animals. New delosperma varieties boast yellow, orange, apricot, and bicolor flowers. Hedera helix. Just like other plants with the word "creeping" in the name, liriope can be considered aggressive and invasive in parts of the United States, from Virginia through to Mississippi. Lamium spreads quickly, so be ready to cut it back if it begins to encroach on other shrubs and flowers. As lovely a ground cover as it seems, it's also considered invasive and is toxic to pets. Although it favors dry climates, this ground cover can survive in the warmer end of some humid regions. Planted along sloped pieces of land, it can neaten up the area while providing ground covering. RELATED: 14 of the Best Plants for Your Drought-Tolerant Garden. Also known as periwinkle and creeping myrtle, vinca minor will spread wherever its planted and will even scale trellises or fences if trained. Rock cotoneaster is considered a full-shun shrub but benefits from some afternoon shade. Ground cover plants are all-around problem-solvers: They retain moisture, control erosion, and provide.css-1me6ynq{-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;text-decoration-thickness:0.0625rem;text-decoration-color:#125C68;text-underline-offset:0.25rem;color:#125C68;-webkit-transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;}.css-1me6ynq:hover{color:#595959;text-decoration-color:#595959;} habitat for pollinators like bees and butterflies. Lamium is grown for both its pretty foliage and beautiful flowers. While many shrubs give you flowers, the prettiest thing aboutCotoneaster horizontalis is its colorful, red berries. Propagate by division in autumn or early spring After flowering, plants can be cut back to encourage fresh foliage cover. Under even the most unforgiving of conditions, lamium prevails. It is a mat-forming perennial ground cover that typically grows 5-8" tall but spreads indefinitely over time by sprawling stems which root in the ground as they go. 25 Low-Maintenance Ground Cover Plants for Sun and Shade - The Spruce Height is a foot or so. Common pests for spotted dead nettles are slugs and snails, which seem to be the main pests for this plant, although aphids can also attach themselves to the stems and leaves. The Ground Cover Dogwood blooms then produces edible berries. With very attractive foliage and either white or pink flowers, Lamium maculatum makes an excellent ground cover plant for a shaded position. Ground covers are used to provide edgings to pathways, control erosion, and add interest to landscape design. Lamb's Ear. Lamium (Dead Nettle) is a trailing, groundcover perennial. Lamium is rarely troubled by disease and is generally pest-free. Bunchberry is a shade-loving deciduous shrub native to northern portions of North America. This species of plumbago is cold hardy to USDA Zone 5, but will survive winter better if you cover it with a light mulch, or if theres snow cover. They may be plain green, but they are usually spotted or banded in silver-gray. wide. Alyssum is an annual ground cover that grows very well from direct sow seeding once temperatures have reached 65 to 70 degrees. Choose native common yarrow. Care requirements for creeping phlox are few. A. Being creepersand having a tendency to spread, these classic cottage-garden plants are popular flowering ground covers. In early spring, flowers that look like fairy wings appear on this perennial. Hortster. Yellow archangel, also known as yellow Lamium, is very competitive and fast-growing in the forest habitats of western Washington and western British Columbia. Its off the menu for deer and rabbits, but a feast for pollinating bees, butterflies and hummingbirds. Spotted deadnettle ground cover grows about 6 to 12 inches (15-31 cm.) A critical bit of deadnettle plant info to be aware of, however, is . A relative of spotted dead nettles is yellow archangel (Lamium galeobdolon). If you want this to be a fast-growing ground cover plant, make sure it receives 4-6 hours of sun each day. We recommend our users to update the browser. Within two to three years of planting, it forms a lush carpet of velvety, green, heart-shaped leaves that hug the ground. Rock cotoneaster is a deciduous shrub. 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. Willie Nelson pays lovely tribute to another country legend, Mayor: HISD has two optionsclose school or be taken over, Rare photos show 2 ocelots crossing South Texas road. .css-lwn4i5{display:block;font-family:Neutra,Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif;font-weight:bold;letter-spacing:-0.01rem;margin-bottom:0;margin-top:0;text-align:center;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}@media (any-hover: hover){.css-lwn4i5:hover{color:link-hover;}}@media(max-width: 48rem){.css-lwn4i5{font-size:1.375rem;line-height:1.1;}}@media(min-width: 40.625rem){.css-lwn4i5{font-size:1.375rem;line-height:1.1;}}@media(min-width: 48rem){.css-lwn4i5{font-size:1.375rem;line-height:1.1;}}@media(min-width: 64rem){.css-lwn4i5{font-size:1.375rem;line-height:1.1;}}9 Best Gardening Subscription Boxes 2023, 20 Best Tall Indoor Plants to Shop Online, 85 Surprising Flower Meanings With Pictures. Lamium is one of the choices for ground-cover especially if you are looking for ground-cover that is tough yet showy. Check with your local county extension for any warnings that they may issue for your own region. Growing only about 3 inches tall, this plant spreads over time, crowding out weeds and thus reducing maintenance further. In spring, tiny white flowers add to its ethereal beauty. To encourage new growth in the springtime cut spotted dead nettles back after the first frost or in the late autumn, depending on where you live. Finely textured, semi-evergreen, bright green blades form a slowly spreading mass that tops out about six to eight inches tall. It can cover large areas if you let it, so take care to find a place where its spreading tendency will be welcomed. Gardening 101: Dead Nettles - Gardenista 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. But what really makes this tough perennial a standout is its vivid foliage that ranges from chartreuse to silvery white to many shades of green. Lamium is one of the best choices for a tough yet showy perennial groundcover. When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Though bugleweed's deer-resistant flower spikes can't be missed (they can grow 6 to 9 inches tall) this fast-growing perennial is a ground cover that has an aggressive creeping habit. Shown: 'Spotted deadnettle' (Lamium maculatum) Tall-Growing Cut them to the height you prefer them to be and thin them out if they're getting too thick by cutting some of the branches throughout the plant back to the ground. plant hardiness zones 4 through 8. Lamium covers up that soil and adds colorful flowers, foliage and texture. It's also a beautiful ground cover to consider for moon gardens, but just beware the flowers are less than fragrant. A particularly vigorous variety, Walkers Low, was The Perennial Plant Associations plant of the year in 2007. Yellow archangel (Lamium galeobdolon 'Hermann's Pride', Zones 4-8) is one of the fastest-growing ground covers. Many plant species from the genus Sedum are native to North America. Plant in the late spring. Ivy is invasive and toxic to humans and animals but the charm it can lend to a yard can't be beat. In fact, this short, squat plant is often seen dotting hillsides or banks. Spotted dead nettles will naturalize in some areas. FYI: Full sun means an area gets 6+ hours of direct sunlight per day, part sun is anywhere from 3 to 6 hours of direct sunlight, and full shade is up to 3 hours of sun. Lamium? However, creeping ground coverings tend to spread the fastest. Though this is considered a flowering ground cover, it's tiny white flowers are quite insignificant. Once it settles in to its new home, this fern will speed up its spread and transplant easily if you find new shady places for it in your landscape. How to Grow and Care for Lamium - World of Flowering Plants Home Outdoors Yard & Garden Structures Planters. 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. 25 Low-Maintenance Ground Cover Plants for Sun and Shade, 10 Best Plants for Erosion Control in Your Yard, How to Grow and Care for Canadian Hemlock Trees, How to Grow and Care for Emerald Gaiety Wintercreeper, 35 Common Weeds in Lawns and Gardens: Identification & Control, How to Grow and Care for Dusty Miller (Silver Dust), Forget-Me-Not: Plant Care, Growing Tips, and Symbolism, 30 Best Plants With Purple Flowers to Grow Outdoors, Purple Dragon: Purplish flowers and silver foliage, White Nancy: White flowers, silvery leaves, Beedham's White: White flowers, leaves chartreuse and white, Cannon's Gold: Pink flowers, chartreuse foliage, Orchid Frost: Pink-purple flowers; leaves silver in the center andgreen at the edge; known for its disease-resistance, Anne Greenway: Mauve flowers; green,chartreuse, and silver leaves, Aureum: Pink flowers; leaves golden on the edge, white in the center, Ghost: Light-purple flowers; leaves almost wholly silver; taller (up to 14 inches) than the typical. Lamium needs shade and a fertile, moist but well-draining soil. Our wide range of perennial groundcovers are ideal for those spots in the garden where grass isn't wantedon banks, under trees or across large areas of the border. The dainty lavender flowers and vining evergreen leaves make this purple ground cover incredibly popular as a low maintenance ground cover for shade. RELATED: 10 Grass-Free Alternatives to a Traditional Lawn. Slugs and snails are attracted to the liquid, fall in and drown. There is also a pink flowering form. You could first try it in a small area container to see how it does in your garden. 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. Get daily tips & tricks to help make your best home, Spotted Dead Nettles vs. Stinging Nettles. These waterwise plants are perfect rock garden ground covers in zones 4 through 9 for the hardier yellow prairie zinnia and 6 through 10 for desert zinnia with its pretty white flowers. 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. Perennial Farm Marketplace Lamium m. 'Beacon Silver' (Dead Nettle Liverleaf (Anemone americana, formerly classified as Hepatica americana) is a perennial wildflower native to North America. The success of many invasive plants is due to this means of spreading. Lamium will grow under tree canopies and fill in around taller perennials, tolerating some dryness from the roots of other plants, but it grows better with irrigation. She founded Gaia's Farm and Gardens,aworking sustainable permaculture farm, and writes for Gaia Grows, a local newspaper column. Lamium maculatum 'Orchid Frost' - Perennials While some have small flowers, the main focal point is the colorful foliage, which ranges from chartreuse to bronze. This deer-resistant succulent ground cover has needle-shaped leaves and small but bright daisy-like flowers that carpet the plants from late spring through early fall. USDA Growing Zones: 3 to 7 Spotted dead nettles are valued as perennial ground covers for the shade that will spread and fill in a patch of ground that might otherwise remain bare (except for weeds). Learn tips for creating your most beautiful home and garden ever. All rights reserved. The erect flower clusters are long-blooming. It quickly forms a thick mound and blooms all summer long, producing a sweet honey scent that attracts pollinators throughout the season. Lamium Anne Greenway Need a good ground cover in the shade or morning sun. We are no longer supporting IE (Internet Explorer) as we strive to provide site experiences for browsers that support new web standards and security practices. When planted in full sun it usually needs extra watering, at least until the plant is well established. RELATED: 30 Plants for Your Easiest Garden Ever. The following could be some of the best choices, depending on your own unique landscaping needs: Their stems root where they touch the soil, allowing the plants to spread. How to Plant Lamium | Home Guides | SF Gate Blooms late Spring to mid Summer. It does best in cooler summer weather and prefers full sun to part shade. This ground cover is a late riser, making it ideal for covering up the spent foliage of spring flowering bulbs. 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. A member of the mint family, Lamium spreads quickly, is self-seeding, and will rapidly create a ground cover wherever it is planted. MLB legend makes surprise appearance at Astros' Spring Training, Hiker takes 'once-in-a-lifetime' photo at Brazos Bend State Park, This is what Houston looks like from space, Oops! In the south, however, they may develop problems with leaf-spotting due to the high humidity. Thats the beauty of this native spring ephemeral that goes by several names including woodland phlox, wild sweet William and Phlox divaricata. It is far too unattractive a little for this low-growing carpet of leaves. Ground Cover Lamium Collection | Spring Hill Nurseries Spotted deadnettle ground cover is an easy-to-grow plant with a wide range of soil and condition tolerance.. It prefers shade, but . The nepeta genus includes roughly 250 species. You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings, which can also be found in the footer of the site. Creeping phlox is the quintessential ground cover plant. 20 Best Ground Cover Plants and Flowers - Good Housekeeping It needs full sun to bloom best. It prefers well-drained soil but will do fine in the dry shade if you provide it with regular watering. Remove any obviously rotting plants, but it grows so fast you likely won't even have to replace the plant. How to Care for Creeping Lamium | Home Guides | SF Gate 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. She is married to photographer John Everett and they have one son. Look for the distinctive crook at the top of the stem to identify this species. 'Album', has white flowers, shown here blooming before the leaves on September 28, 2011, and spreads to form a ground cover that stays green through the winter . Keep weeds at bay with spreading plants in your garden. But beware: This hardy opportunist, if left unchecked, can become unsightly and sometimes invasive. However, it will grow out of its boundaries so trimming it back can help if you want to keep the yard neat. 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. This plant thrives in wet soils, which is why planting it in dry soil and denying it water helps keep it in check. Spotted Dead Nettle ( Lamium maculatum) is a flowering type of low growing ground cover plant that thrives in the shade. Stinging nettles also grow quite tall. Keep it in a shady spot, especially under trees and shrubs. Lamium is undemanding and easy to grow in partial to fully shaded locations. Mow it down once in late winter and watch the fresh green growth fill right back in. It prefers well-drained soil but will do fine in the dry shade if you provide it with regular watering. Check out these favorite ground covers that will require little effort on your part once you plant them. #9. Spotted deadnettle (Lamium maculatum) grows as a spreading mat of herbaceous stems and leaves. Vinca minor(commonly known as periwinkle) is a very popular ground cover because it's drought-tolerant, pest-free, inexpensive, and easy to grow in just about any type of soil. If the hill is big, remove the grass in stages so as not to take unnecessary chances with erosion. Pachysandra are aggressive and fast-spreading coverings that grow underground with runners. A member of the mint family, Lamium spreads quickly, is self-seeding, and will rapidly create a ground cover wherever it is planted. Yellow archangel ( lamium galeobdolon) This plant works as a ground cover, a border plant or even a houseplant in a hanging basket. 22 Great Ground Cover Plants - Low Growing Perennials - Country Living What plant labels typically fail to mention is that, under the right growing conditions, 'Amethyst in Snow' makes a flowering ground cover that will spread nicely. Creeping thyme (also known as mother of thyme or wild thyme) is a creeping, woody-stemmed perennial that is a favorite plant to use for a low-maintenance ground cover serving as a filler between garden stepping stones. :) Thanks much guys. Getting Started Theywill not require much waterwhen grown in full shade, a fact that (along with their resistance to deer pests) recommends them to homeowners seeking low-maintenance landscaping. Imagine sky blue flowers popping up in and around your shade garden in the springtime, swaying in the slightest breeze, rising above a carpet of Canadian wild ginger or lamium (see below). A favorite type is 'Silver Carpet' as it spreads easily, rarely flowers, and stays short at 4 to 6 inches tall. They have silver foliage and produce showy pink, purple or white flowers in late spring. Plants that are under 12 inches tall are good for tight spaces and as edging but can require some weeding to look their best. Perennial Ground Covers for Shady Gardens - SDSU Extension Most of my dl have been in the ground at least 6 months, so I'm guessing they are well established enough for a ground cover. Also known as lonicera, honeysuckle is an aromatic perennial that blooms with white, yellow, or red flowers in the spring and summer.