Green-and-gold spreads by rhizomes in optimum conditions which include well-drained soils. Consider planting North American native plants as ground covers. It climbs by tendrils with adhesive tips so it doesn’t need support and as another attribute, Virginia creeper does not damage walls. North Carolina Native Plant Society. And locally native trees are the best choice, naturally. 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? by Heather McCargo. These creeping perennial species show off colorful flowers in tinges of blue, pink or lavender in early Spring. They are better adapted to local conditions requiring less care once established. Plus you can’t beat the price! Once established, they’ll crowd out weeds, provide year-round protection to the soil, and offer overwintering habitat for native fauna. And it reseeds like the dickens. I like Sedum ternatum because in a garden setting it spreads at a good pace and is easy to lift and relocate to other areas. There are oodles of other benefits that trees provide. The reasons for including evergreen groundcover plants in your garden are many. Creeping phloxes generally grow six to eight inches high and can take partial shade to full sun. For although these ground-huggers are undeniably popular, we know that doesn’t mean they’re good choices for our gardens. Brachyscome White Wash Read more. It will rapidly clamber up and over everything including trees, shrubs and idle husbands. Grevillea (G.baueri xG.Alpina) x G.Rosmar.Lutea. BLUE GEM™. 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. There are many other native beauties that can be used as ground covers to help improve this country of ours. Less than a foot high ground cover plants that are native to California. Prairie dropseed (Sporobolus heterolepis): Bring the graceful texture of grasses to your garden in a plant size that won’t overwhelm it. 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. Back in 2012, we highlighted four favorite groundcovers: Thyme, wild ginger, ajuga and sweet woodruff.… Aussie Crawl Read more. Its dainty yellow flowers bloom from spring through early summer and attract our native bees and other insects. These introduced plants are also designated as invasive in the Mid-Atlantic and in other parts of our country. Plus the offspring are easy to lift and share. It spreads via rhizomes, a trait that can be a double-edged sword. 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. Groundcovers solve a number of garden problems, from covering bare spots to preventing erosion to covering an area that is too steep to mow. of Forest Resources & Environmental Conservation. The tiny white flowers bloom in spring and the fruit develops a short time later. But what my eco-tinted goggles really see is a decrease in the commonly planted ground covers like English ivy, Pachysandra and periwinkle. The dainty masses of flowers attract tiny insects.Host Plant Info: None known.More Information: Master Gardeners of Northern Virginia, Light Requirement: Sun, Part Shade, ShadeSoil Moisture: Moist, DryNatural Habitat: “Mesic to dry upland forests, woodlands, and well-drained alluvial forests; more characteristic of old fields, clearings, meadows, pastures, roadsides, and other open, disturbed habitats.”*Comments: Wild strawberry is a wonderful, underused perennial plant that spreads quickly by runners in shade or sun. Groundcovers are low-growing plants that fill in quickly to make a dense carpet of foliage. COMMON WILD GINGER, CANADIAN WILD GINGER. Additionally, tree canopies will slow down heavy rains and help reduce storm runoff. Native species are those that occur naturally in an area. Use the taller ground covers for larger areas … Viola sororia (Common Blue Violet) spreads prolifically by self-seeding and may be another source of free but aggressive groundcover. These natives possess many of the traits that gardeners look for in a groundcover. Browse the following ground cover articles for more ideas and information. 2 Scaevola albida ‘€™Mauve Carpet’. NGIA PLANT OF … 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. • Acaena microphylla. Mulch is an option but for a longer term solution why not try one of these tried and tested native groundcover plants. 3 Westringia fruticosa ‘€˜Flat’€˜n’Fruity’. However, I don’t find it aggressive. Deer and rabbits browse the foliage—but there never seems to be a shortage of leaves.Host Plant Info: Host to at least 32 different species of butterfly and moth caterpillars including our delightful hummingbird moths.More Information: Maryland Native Plant Society’s Wildflower in Focus; Virginia Tech Dept. This vigorous plant spreads at a moderate pace and is unattractive to deer. 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.