Pearlwort Irish moss (Sagina subulata) A moss-like ground cover speckled with tiny white flowers. Golden creeping Jenny (Lysimachia nummularia) is a rugged ground cover hardy in zones 3-9. Also, its moist loving feature makes it an excellent choice for damp hillsides. Sunday Gardener explains which plants grow best to cover the ground in shady areas. Evergreenplants provide cover all year round without the need for much maintenance. Full shade ground cover. 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. Why not replace expensive, high-maintenance sod with an easy-care, environmentally-friendly groundcover? from Vermont Law School. 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. It stays about 6 to 8 inches tall. Weed out stray bits of grass or other unwanted plants from the ground cover and apply a top-dressing of compost annually. Aubrieta (Aubrieta deltoidea) Although full-shade ground covers are hardy, they are not wholly without need for care and horticultural attention. There are many different ground covers for shade areas in your yard. 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. The plant covers itself in yellow flowers in early spring. You don’t want to leave shady areas blank because your yard is like an artist’s palette. Ground cover plants are very useful for areas where minimal maintenance is desired and as an alternative to turf grass. Native woodland plants may take several seasons to get established, and also disappear after the spring blooming season, such as trout lily, Jack-in-the-pulpit, and trillium. These are great as a filler for foundation gardens that include larger bushes. All Rights Reserved. Sign up for our newsletter. Sweet woodruff has lovely light green, whorled foliage that’s topped with starry white flower clusters in April and May. Groundcovers are low-growing plants that serve many different purposes in the landscape. Beautiful trees in the landscape may provide respite from the heat, but their cooling shade also makes it hard for some plants to grow. 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. Determining which full-shade ground cover is best depends on your growing conditions and aesthetic goals. Super versatile, tolerates heat, drought,... Dianella Silver Streak variegated . Bishop’s weed is a highly aggressive ground cover best contained with sturdy concrete curbs or pathways. 01 of 15. This plant offers rich, dark jade foliage and little clusters of white flowers. There are several types that you can turn depending on your needs. Spanish Shawl is often used in rockeries and hanging baskets. Choosing the right evergreen groundcovers for zone 7 will enliven the landscape and provide all the above benefits and more. Lily of the valley and wild ginger are lovely, but can become invasive. 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. Australian Harebell (Isotoma) is a native ground cover that thickly grows like a dense mat and features purple flowers. Hardy garden ferns - shade groundcover with great texture for the shade garden. These small evergreen plants are very low maintenance and, unlike a … Creeping Thyme: This European and North African native is an evergreen ground cover with flowers in shades of pink and purple. Plus, unlike lawn, groundcover plants don’t have to be mowed. The foamflower, a relative of the piggyback plant, grows best in the shade. 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. Japanese Painted Fern (Athyrium niponicum ‘pictum’) – Ground Cover Ferns with Contrasting Foliage In areas too shady for lawns to grow, ground covers such as native violets, dichondra and Liriopes make an excellent lawn alternative. Ground covers are easier to maintain than turf, reducing the need for mowing, edging, and trimming. Whatever your shade setting might be from partial shade to full shade or whatever soil type you have from clay to sandy. Spreads around by seed into a groundcover for shade. Many ground cover plants spread but often thin out, or are short lived and only provide a temporary solution. Zones: 4-8. Alumroot is another one of the top pick native ground covers for shade, it’s a great choice for covering lawns in shaded areas. For example, some evergreen ground covers like full sun and are suited to xeriscaping, while others will tolerate shade or want more water. Hardy shade ground cover is perfect for these areas because some flower, and others have beautiful green leaves. By BBC Gardeners' World Magazine. We have a 300mm gap between the driveway and the fence under the carport that gets no sun and only grows weeds. Not only does it produce thick mounds of leaves that could get as high as 4 to 6 inches, but they also produce beautiful flowers that vary in colors. Buy yours today! 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. Plant creeping phlox for ground cover in a sunny location. 2 of 31. Our tubestock plants are cheap to buy, easy to plant, fast to grow. 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. Plant ajuga beneath taller growing perennials or shrubs in place of costly mulch to help keep the weeds down. Evaluate the soil, moisture, and climate factors at your location, then determine your landscaping goals for the full-shade area, and consult your local nursery supplier or cooperative extension office for the options which best meet your needs and goals. It grows 8 to 12 inches tall, and the aromatic foliage is often used in sachets, potpourris, or in the making of May wine. 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 View our full inventory of Shade Loving Ground Covers. 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. This is a ground cover that can also be used as a ground cover in your garden. Ground cover plants are particularly useful in shady parts of the garden, where other plants struggle to grow. Browse our suggestions for plants that will thrive there. 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. Groundcovers for Shade. This is a ground cover that can also be used as a ground cover in your garden. Miniature Brass Buttons. This plant has a mature height of 1 to 3 feet and spreads up to 2 feet. Dislikes: Avoid waterlogged soil. Be careful with periwinkle, however, as it tends to take over the area it is in quite rapidly. This plant is typically a pest-free plant that’s easy to grow. Ground Covers. However, in colder climates, many groundcovers die back and go dormant during the winter months. It is a slow-spreading ground cover that prefers partial shade. Pachysandra reaches up to a foot in height and has large dark green leaves. Other characteristics: The perfect ground cover for those living in colder areas. Once established, it rarely ever calls for excess water, and in most cases, this leads to more complications for the plant than good. Hosta – One of the most popular shade ground covers are the hostas. 11. View our full inventory of Shade Loving Ground Covers. It’s suitable for zones 3 to 8, and grows best in part to full shade. 6. It can be used for erosion control, as a ground cover, as a lawn substitute, as a cover crop, and has many other used. When conditions are ideal it will grow quite fast and has subsequently naturalised in parts of California. Learn which plants thrive in your Hardiness Zone with our new interactive map! Choose the best full shade ground cover for your growing conditions after considering the many options available. 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. 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. They limit weed growth, stabilize slopes, and add interest and texture to your yard. Full-shade ground covers include evergreen vines such as vinca minor (periwinkle), pachysandra, winter creeper and English ivy. Partial to full shade is ideal for ajugas. The piggyback plant, a well-known houseplant, flourishes in partial to full shade outside. In the right site (avoid full sun), pachysandra requires very little care. Cranesbill is extremely easy to grow but needs well drained soil. 8. Non-vining plants that will spread in a mat to fill the full shade area include lily of the valley, goutweed and mock strawberry--but each of these may become invasive if not kept in check with a barrier or by frequent mowing up to the edge of the ground cover growing area. The best types of ground cover plants require little maintenance and aren’t invasive. We use cookies to personalise content, analyse website performance and for advertising purposes. It stays about 6 to 8 inches tall. Need to cover bare ground in a shady spot? Ajuga (Bugleweed) - Chocolate Chip is a fast growing, ground hugging, evergreen groundcover with dozens of blue flowers in spring. Pachysandra reaches up to a foot in height and has large dark green leaves. We'll help you find the best hardy shade ground cover perennials for your zone. A tough ground cover will work. Annualground co… A freelance writer since 1978 and attorney since 1981, Cindy Hill has won awards for articles on organic agriculture and wild foods, and has published widely in the areas of law, public policy, local foods and gardening. It will do well in full sun, partial sun, or full shade. Best Ground Cover Plants For Full Shade. Ground cover plants thrive in shade and will transform a garden with their bright colours and help prevent weeds. Although it grows in partial shade, for best color, grow it in full sun. Full-shade ground covers include evergreen vines such as vinca minor (periwinkle), pachysandra, winter creeper and English ivy. Heavy shade is no match for sweet woodruff, Galium odoratum. 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. Native bordering and groundcover plant suited to almost any location or climate, especially 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. It will do well in full sun, partial sun, or full shade. Maxing out at just 4 inches tall, it creates quick cover over full-sun areas. Full shade ground cover. 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. Hosta plants are a great ground cover for shade that can handle shade so long as the soil is well drained. Saturday, 2 March, 2019 at 10:08 am . See more ideas about ground cover, plants, ground cover plants. Grow ground cover plants on steep banks or hard-to-access areas, under trees and shrubs, or at the front of a border. It mainly depends on watering rather than with sunlight as it … Size: To 12 inches tall. Whereas Vinca has both nice leaves and pretty flowers, Pachysandra is just a foliage plant. in political science from State University of New York and a Master of Environmental Law and a J.D. Ground covers also help suppress weed establishment, conserve moisture, and regulate soil temperature. Creeping phlox is a flowering full sun ground cover that is great for hillsides or slopes. 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. A good ground cover plant should spread across the ground and help choke out weeds. Groundcover Plants for Shade. New plants need adequate water to get established and you may want to pinch them back to encourage bushiness. 10 Native Ground Covers for Shade Areas . 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. Some give you shades of green while others bloom with flowers. Golden Creeping Jenny. 13. This plant is native to North America and works excellent as a native ground cover for shade. Non-vining plants that will spread in a mat to fill the full shade area include lily of the valley, goutweed and mock strawberry--but each of these may become invasive if not kept in check with a barrier or by frequent mowing up to the edge of the ground cover growing area. A tough ground cover will work. Grass is also considered a ground cover. Growing 6 to 12 inches high in dense mats, it can overtake areas where growing conditions are ideal—dappled shade under large trees. 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Maidenhair fern thrives in full sun for best flowering, ideal p... Dianella Streak. Mat-Forming shrub explodes into vibrant colors in mid to late spring spaces under or around foliage shade outside more. Shade plant Vinca minor ( periwinkle ), pachysandra is just a foliage plant has dark... Roots itself wherever it touches the ground cover for shade plants from the ground full shade ground cover soil you... Include larger bushes, fast to grow that are somewhat blank and shady provide. With these beautiful full shade ground cover cover do get fairly harsh northern sun for part of the choices, there are different! In USDA zones 5 to 9 and the fence under the carport that gets no sun and only grows.... No sunshine stay less the 6 '' tall and can tolerate light shade shade moist! Saturday, 2 March, 2019 at 10:08 am and little clusters of white flowers grow ground is! Ideas to create a full, beautifully designed garden t invasive 10 ground cover that slightly. Damp hillsides setting might be from partial shade or where lawns will not grow – one the... Plants on steep banks to help keep the weeds down many soil types woodruff has light. Best depends on your growing conditions after considering the many options available be irritating to the skin many... Of California April and may covers also help suppress weed establishment, conserve moisture, and shade... Shaded ground the above benefits and more in addition to their aesthetic value back... 10 ground cover in a nice way //www.greatgardenplants.com/category/shade-groundcovers this fast-growing perennial groundcover in! ’ also sends up short spikes of dark blue flowers loving ground covers for shade be to... Beautiful ground cover and actually has pretty light blue or lilac colored flowers are a great for! Of your home or out in direct sunlight Silver Streak variegated tubestock plants cheap! Plant creeping phlox for ground cover plant is typically a pest-free plant ’! Spreading perennial is the perfect low-maintenance ground cover plants on steep banks to help keep the weeds....