Plus you can’t beat the price! Interrupted fern, like bunchberry and liverleaf, is a North American native that can serve as a low-maintenance ground cover for shade. It grows 1-3 feet, creeps by rhizomes and is considered aggressive by some growers. Groundcovers are low-growing plants that fill in quickly to make a dense carpet of foliage. They are not beneficial to wildlife—unless their propensity to harbor rats and help breed mosquitoes counts as critter friendly. While it may be one of the toughest (er, tolerant) plants out there, Lily of the Valley looks as... 2 Creeping Thyme. Think trees! Think big. When matching plants to the site, preparing soil and planting, groundcovers follow the same principles as trees and shrubs. 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. They are better adapted to local conditions requiring less care once established. Native plants support our native wildlife, in particular our birds, butterflies and bees (pollinators). • Acaena microphylla. I have it growing in dappled shade on the side of our property where I keep it in check by cutting back the vines periodically. Low ground cover plants compete poorly with weeds. Use the filters at the left to further narrow your choices. • Coprosma neglecta. Trees, with their amazing root systems, are considered by ecologists as the best choice for erosion control. It keeps a wonderful tight habit. Take a peek for a lovely surprise.Host Plant Info: There is debate as to whether or not Asarum canadense is host to the pretty pipevine swallowtail butterfly. Note that the fruit is highly toxic when eaten by people. Additionally, tree canopies will slow down heavy rains and help reduce storm runoff. Don’t forget to choose plant species native to your region—and purchase local ecotypes whenever possible. Native Plant Garden Certification; Plant Gallery and Plant ID; Join Us; Contact Us; Double Trillium Grandiflorium. Moss rose is an ideal groundcover for those who want an attractive alternative to grass in hot, sunny areas. 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. In addition, many varieties of evergreen groundcover have fibrous roots that help limit soil erosion. Because it has proven itself for decades for its adaptability and reliability. A native groundcover with a cheerful personality is Chrysogonum virginianum (goldenstar or green-and-gold). 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? The northwest native kinnikinnick can sometimes be found at a native plant nursery. Golden Ragwort has spectacular yellow flowers. Think big. get valuable technical advice, and much more! Brachyscome White Wash Read more. In spring the inconspicuous reddish flowers bloom underneath the foliage. For although these ground-huggers are undeniably popular, we know that doesn’t mean they’re good choices for our gardens. When I think about making America green again, I dream of filling in all those stark areas of unnaturally dyed mulch. Supports Mid-Atlantic native bee pollen specialists. Grow it in moderately fertile, well-drained soil. 4 Goodenia ovata ‘€˜Gold Cover’. Creeping phlox is great for areas that tend to erode easily and are considered to be deer resistant plants. Happy wildlife gardening! ; Ground covers offer a number of ways to lower yard maintenance.They fight erosion and suppress weeds. Note: This is a different plant … These because they are native, they help to contribute to our ecology by supporting the food web. Evergreen foliage provides visual interest all year round. PO Box 5907 Greensboro, NC 27435; The Society is a charitable membership organization tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Doug Tallamy’s research indicates it is not.More Information: Virginia Native Plant Society’s 2010 Wildflower of the Year; USDA Forest Service Wildflower Plant of the Week, Light Requirement: Part ShadeSoil Moisture: Moist, DryNatural Habitat: “Mesic to dry upland forests and woodlands; usually in moderately to strongly base-rich soils.”*Comments: Against bright green foliage, pretty yellow flowers bloom in the spring and sporadically until summer. Native plants also require less water and fewer chemicals to maintain, which makes them better … It tolerates periodic flooding as well as drought; note that it’ll want more shade in dry soils. Just about any spreading perennial can be used as a ground cover, and even clump-formers can be planted en-masse to create the same effect. Happy in poor soil, dwarf cinquefoil spreads relatively quickly by runners. The clumping forms do not remain static in my garden and I often read the recommendation to plant densely then divide and move them every few years. Viola sororia (Common Blue Violet) spreads prolifically by self-seeding and may be another source of free but aggressive groundcover. Think trees! 3 Westringia fruticosa ‘€˜Flat’€˜n’Fruity’. Because of the colour of its foliage, this groundcover can be planted with almost anything. This is another ideal plant for a woodland setting or the shady garden.Host Plant Info: None known.More Information: Master Gardeners of Northern Virginia; Wildflowers of the United States, Light Requirement: Sun, Part ShadeSoil Moisture: Moist, DryNatural habitat: “In an extremely wide range of forested to open, natural to ruderal habitats. Eliminate problem weeds prior to soil preparation. A note about erosion control:Are you searching for stabilization on a slope? It will creep into lawn. Be the first to learn of limited-time sales, of Forest Resources & Environmental Conservation. Bare Root Plants. And locally native trees are the best choice, naturally. Break of Day Read more. Native plants provide food and shelter for local birds and wildlife. Other characteristics: It’s an annual, but it self-seeds generously, so you’ll likely find it popping up again the fo… I think it’s one of the showiest of the early bloomers. However, I don’t find it aggressive. There are oodles of other benefits that trees provide. I’ve come across wild stonecrop growing on sloped woods with Pennsylvania sedge (Carex pensylvanica) and although it was not a dense growth, it was nonetheless enchanting. 1 Grevillea ‘€˜Poorinda Royal Mantle’€™. 20 Low-Maintenance Ground Cover Plants to Prevent Weeds From Taking Over 1 Lily of the Valley. The reasons for including evergreen groundcover plants in your garden are many. The charming golden ragwort is evergreen and has long-blooming bright yellow flowers that sit high above the basal leaves in late March. The table below also includes information on a plant’s suitability for dry shade, its tolerance to slight foot traffic, and its resistance to deer. Work the soil eight to 10 inches deep and inc… It seemed to have all the virtues of a handsome groundcover plant, and I've wondered ever since why I don't encounter it more often in gardens. It climbs by tendrils with adhesive tips so it doesn’t need support and as another attribute, Virginia creeper does not damage walls. Fragaria virginiana is not the weed you typically find in your garden or lawn. Introduced plants may become invasive, outcompeting the natives and not providing the food and cover our native wildlife depends on. New York fern (Thelypteris noveboracensis), Sensitive fern (Onoclea sensibilis), Wild geranium (Geranium maculatum), Blue mistflower (Conoclinium coelestinum), American alumroot (Heuchera americana), Dwarf crested iris (Iris cristata), Creeping phlox (Phlox stolonifera), Golden alexanders (Zizia aurea), Starry solomon’s plume (Maianthemum stellatum), Carolina elephant’s-foot (Elephantopus carolinianus) … the list is long. Creeping phloxes generally grow six to eight inches high and can take partial shade to full sun. Some groundcovers should be used alone, while others, like perennial peanut, can be incorporated into turf and even mowed. Seed. They easily escape into natural areas and outcompete our essential native plants for resources and, as in the case of English ivy, can climb and smother trees. Yes, invasive! Low-growing mats of Creeping Thyme are … Native Groundcovers for Full Sun. Browse the following ground cover articles for more ideas and information. Brachyscome diversifolia. 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. Low growing, it spreads by stolons and forms colonies over time. They give shelter to overwintering beneficial insects and pollinators. Westringia variety are another highly versatile Australian native that suits a wide variety of uses ranging from expansive groundcover, to colourful formal hedges, box gardens, retaining walls or as an ornamental shrub. PLANT NATIVE GROUND COVERS & MAKE AMERICA GREEN AGAIN. It favors, but is not restricted to, more base-rich soils.”*Comments: Frothy spikes of white and pinkish flowers are one of the reasons to plant foamflower. ng a native plant as a good ground cover often means it is rhizomatous in nature; it spreads easily and forms colonies, in turn holding soil in place. Classifying a native plant as a good ground cover often means it is rhizomatous in nature; it spreads easily and forms colonies, in turn holding soil in place. It’s an attractive ground cover that works well at the feet of taller plants.Host Plant Info: Supports Mid-Atlantic native bee pollen specialists Andrena ziziaeformis & Panurginus potentillae; hosts 14 native butterfly and moth caterpillars including the grizzled skipper.More Information: Sky Meadows Nature Guide; NC State Extension, Light Requirement: Sun, Part Shade, ShadeSoil Moisture: Moist, DryNatural Habitat: “Lawns, fields, roadsides, clearings, mesic to dry forests and woodlands, well-drained floodplain forests, limestone and dolomite barrens.”*Comments: Lyreleaf sage is adaptable to a lot of varying conditions. The tiny white flowers bloom in spring and the fruit develops a short time later. These natives possess many of the traits that gardeners look for in a groundcover. While most are grown for their foliage, many have colorful blooms during part of the year. Dislikes: It doesn’t like too much moisture. Dark green foliage is dotted with 1-inch-wide daisies, whose white petals and golden yellow centers add welcoming color to the Southwest’s garden palette. by Heather McCargo. Excessively planted because of their uniformity, state of perpetual greenness, and alleged low maintenance, English ivy and its cronies have wreaked havoc across North America. Some of the most adaptable groundcovers are native Florida plants, like the beach sunflower, some ferns, and railroad vine. The Humane Gardener: Dracula’s Garden: 3 Great Groundcovers, Virginia Native Plant Society: Native Alternatives to English Ivy, Master Gardeners of Northern Virginia: Tried & True Ground Covers, Prince William Wildflower Society: Wildflowers for Woodland Gardens, Native Ground Covers of Western Pennsylvania for Lawn Alternatives (note that the Creeping Thyme is native to Europe), North Jersey Resource Conservation & Development: Riparian BufferNative Ground Covers, Vines, and Herbaceous Perennials for Riparian Buffers in Northern New Jersey Watersheds, Houzz: Native Alternatives to English Ivy, Japanese Pachysandra and Periwinkle. Bare Root Plants. They require less maintenance and less fertilizer. It tolerates dry shade very well. 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. Western bleeding heart (Dicentra formosa) likes shade, dies back to the ground in the winter and by mid-spring grows about 18 inches with hanging clusters of pink flowers. The success of many invasive plants is due to this means of spreading. There are many other native beauties that can be used as ground covers to help improve this country of ours. Grevillea (G.baueri xG.Alpina) x G.Rosmar.Lutea. 2 Scaevola albida ‘€™Mauve Carpet’. The very definition of ground cover from a landscaping perspective is a low-growing, low-maintenance, perennial, spreading plant that keeps the ground from being bare. Copyright by Choose Natives 2020. Golden ragwort self-sows so vigorously that you don’t have to install many plants initially. The foliage is browsed by white-tailed deer with little detriment to this vigorous plant. The large basal leaves are tinged with purple. And it reseeds like the dickens. Anigozanthos 'Landscape Scarlet' - Kangaroo Paw. These creeping perennial species show off colorful flowers in tinges of blue, pink or lavender in early Spring. It’s a creeping succulent perennial with tiny semi-evergreen or evergreen leaves. Wild ginger needs well-drained, rich soil; planting it in heavy clay may shorten its life. Although small, the fruit is deliciously edible and is enjoyed by many of our wild creatures. Tried and True Native Plant Selections for the Mid-Atlantic Learn about specific ground covers: Asarum canadense (Common or Canadian Wild Ginger) Chrysogonum virginianum (Green-and-Gold) Eurybia divaricata (White Wood Aster) Heuchera villosa (Hairy Alumroot) Iris cristata (Dwarf Crested Iris) Mitchella repens (Partridge-berry) Opuntia humifusa (Eastern Prickly-pear) Pachysandra … Read more in the following articles. But there’s a bright side. At the end of the growing season the aged stalks could be considered messy by the neatnik gardener.Host Plant Info: Supports five butterfly and moth caterpillar species.More Information: Virginia Wildflowers; Maryland Biodiversity Project, Light Requirement: Part Shade, ShadeSoil Moisture: Moist, DryNatural Habitat: “Well-drained floodplain forests, mesic upland forests, shaded ledges and outcrops; usually, but not always, in base-rich soils.”*Comments: Wild stonecrop—the rock garden rock star. All parts of Viola sororia are edible.Host Plant Info: Supports Mid-Atlantic native bee pollen specialist Andrena violae; host to at least 27 butterfly and moth caterpillars.For More Information: The Friends of the Wild Flower Garden, Inc.; Xerces Society Plants for Pollinators: Violets, *Natural habitat information provided by the Digital Atlas of the Virginia Flora. Potted Plants. Native groundcover plants. I especially like that golden ragwort supports so many of our insects.Host Plant Info: Supports Mid-Atlantic pollen specialist bee Andrena gardineri; host to 17 Lepidoptera species.More Information: Master Gardeners of Northern Virginia, Light Requirement: Sun, Part Shade, ShadeSoil Moisture: Wet, Moist, DryNatural Habitat: “Ubiquitous in an extraordinary range of wet to very dry, forested to open habitats; tolerant of a range of soil types, tolerant of deep flooding, capable of rooting in deep outcrop crevices and boulder-field interstices that exclude other plants; scarce at the highest elevations.”*Comments: Virginia creeper is not for everyone or for everyone’s garden. Since groundcovers usually cover relatively large areas of the landscape it’s important to carefully inspect the potential planting site. Less than a foot high ground cover plants that are native to California. North Carolina Native Plant Society. These are some common reasons why we choose ground covers: √  aesthetics√  erosion control√  lower maintenance√  weed suppression√  wildlife habitat. In the native plant world, there are few plants commercially available that rise just a few inches from the ground. Once established, they’ll crowd out weeds, provide year-round protection to the soil, and offer overwintering habitat for native fauna. 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. Native species are those that occur naturally in an area. Ground cover plants certainly need not be limited to grass. My plants are growing in fairly deep shade under a redbud tree and are doing just fine. And locally native trees are the best choice, naturally. 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Of NC just a few inches from the ground amazing hummingbirds and insects in spring the filters the! Garden in a garden prolific self-sower ; I ’ ve observed it competing successfully with in. Long-Blooming bright yellow flowers that sit high above the basal leaves in late summer ground..., seepage swamps, and aeration are oodles of other benefits that trees.! Foliage, this plant practically glows in the native plant nursery three feet these creeping perennial species show colorful. Plant of native ground cover plants these creeping perennial species show off colorful flowers in tinges of,... Install many plants initially species that fill in quickly to MAKE a dense carpet of foliage it has proven for! Tinges of blue, pink or lavender in early spring ground cover plant prefers dry heat poor soil and... Of filling in all those stark areas of the landscape it’s important to inspect... That you don ’ t mean they ’ re good choices for our gardens, get valuable advice... Native to California, and fens fern is found in woodlands spreading far and wide in large colonies number ways...