Each quarter you’ll receive a shipment of the finest oil straight from your tree! Euonymus fortunei ‘Silver Queen’ is a versatile, fresh-looking and evergreen shrub that has white- or pink-edged leaves, while ‘Harlequin’ has attractive variegation. Along with lots of sun, creeping thyme generally prefers poor soil … It forms a dense carpet of leaves that are red-edged in winter and complemented by red berries in winter. Yellow alyssum (Aurinia saxatilis) is a hardy perennial. Grow on neutral or acid soil in a sunny spot. Dwarf plumbago. Our plants also come with free planting instructions. H x s: at least 30cm x 50cm, depending on variety. Shrubby or perennial ground cover plants are the easiest to maintain although there are a few annual ground cover plants which will grow in sunny areas of the garden. Delightful, delicate foliage and double lilac flowers team together for an ethereal addition to your garden. Tee Hee) Wild ginger. The fuzzy silver-grey leaves grow to between 2” and 4” (5 – 10 cm) long. Practical considerations. Grow ground cover plants on steep banks or hard-to-access areas, under trees and shrubs, or at the front of a border. Ground cover plants are useful in the garden for covering bare patches of soil beneath trees or shrubs or for covering steep banks where access is difficult. These ground cover plants act as insulators that offer a layer of protective coverings for the soil in extremely dry or wet environments. If you have a sunny area that remains moist it will do well, but it’s probably best suited for part-shade gardens. You didn't say if you wanted perennials, shrubs, vines or trees? From the team at Gardeners' World Magazine. Unlike some plants that need at least partial shade to survive, plenty of ground cover plants enjoy full sun. Remove all perennial weeds and add well-rotted manure or garden compost where possible. Wooly yarrow. We’re passionate about plants, and love seeing our home-grown species thrive in green spaces across the UK. This is a free event to test a new host platform for our online Masterclasses. With Vinca minor, we come to a plant that is somewhat problematic. Grow in groups as ground cover. Whatever ground-covering plants are used, some weed control will be necessary until the young plants have established and formed a cover (good soil fertility is therefore very important). Get 40% off when you adopt an Italian olive tree. You likely will grow tired of pulling it out of places where it does not belong in your landscaping, frankly. You will need to consider how to contain Chinese lanterns so that they work for your garden. No, it is all about the flowers with candytuft. In this case, however, the blossoms take a backseat to the foliage. 9. Remove any non-variegated leaves that appear. This type of shade-loving perennial ground cover plant produces small flowers in the spring. In turn, your dry, sunny site will be the picture of health. Ground-cover plants are generally short and spread to fill an area, often reducing the amount of maintenance required in the site. And they do not turn that toughness on and off to please us. David Beaulieu is a garden writer with nearly 20 years experience writing about landscaping and over 10 years experience working in nurseries. Plants may need protection harsh winters. Angelina sedum or "stonecrop" is a flowering ground cover. Bugleweed (Ajuga) is another invasive plant. Buy three 3L potted plants of this tall and slender perennial for £21.98 - please add all three to your basket. Another example that is tempting to plant but definitely invasive is lily-of-the-valley, famous for its great-smelling blooms that resemble little bells. Many ground cover plants spread but often thin out, or are short lived and only provide a temporary solution. There are dozens of varieties from which to choose, and this flowering perennial is available with white, yellow, orange, red, pink or blue … Acaena affinis. £4.70. £4.70. The plant forms a low, dense carpet and has an indefinite spread, sometimes spreading too vigorously in warmer gardens. In Stock. Get inspiration from our recommended plants. The most common use of this perennial plant is to edge pathways or flowerbeds. Excellent drought tolerant ground cover for sunny, dry areas with good air circulation; numerous cultivars; Liriope spicata. Something that m… Depending on the variety, plants are smothered with pink, red, white, or lavender flowers. Helianthemums (rock rose) are clump forming, evergreen shrubs that bear pretty, papery flowers in a range of colours in early and midsummer. Member $6.95 Non-Member $8.95. Unlike the other plants featured here, though, it does not bear attractive leaves. Covering your ground was never this easy! Learn tips for creating your most beautiful (and bountiful) garden ever. Angelina sedum or "stonecrop" is a flowering ground cover. Easily handle curbside planting nightmares, create beautiful foundation plantings around your house or cover a barren hillside to control erosion. Chinese lantern is another invasive. The key is to choose your plants well. As a bonus, this perennial drought-tolerant ground cover spreads quickly, effectively filling in your problem area, with a little help from you (in the form of laying down Ground covers have come to be unfairly typified by a few lackluster varieties, such as pachy­sandra (Pachysandra terminalis, USDA Hardiness Zones 4–8) and green lilyturf (Liriope spicata, Zones 6–10). Acaena saccaticupula 'Blue … It’s a good choice for slopes and wildlife gardens. This is why it is important to know about perennial drought-tolerant ground covers. That's right: Far from suffering damage, this ground cover does not mind a reasonable amount of foot traffic. Its proponents point to its spiky flowers and (in the case of some cultivars) attractive leaves as selling points, although anyone who has had to battle this aggressive plant for years would be unlikely to be among those "sold" on bugleweed. Ground cover plants cover the ground quickly, covering bare soil and suppressing weeds. New Zealand bur. I though the question asked for an easy GC for sunny dry area??? You might know this plant as moss pink or creeping phlox. Erica x darleyensis ‘Furzey’ is a pretty heather that bears lilac flowers from December to May. Still, its flowers are gorgeous, so why not give it a try? Candytuft may be the favorite perennial, hands down, especially among those who love intensely white flowers. Growing Tips. A preferred turfgrass often does not grow very well in dry soil, but most types of weeds do not have this problem. Rosa ‘Flower Carpet Red Velvet’ (Noare) is part of the ‘Flower Carpet’ series of ground cover roses. The Spruce uses cookies to provide you with a great user experience. Select from cherry, apple, pear and plum bare-root trees. Best planted in full sun, in free draining soil rich in organic matter. To help stabilise the soil and give speedy coverage, strong-growing climbers or ground-cover plants are required. One of the best ground covers for sunny areas is Lamb’s Ear (Stachys byzantina). It has glossy, green, evergreen leaves and star-shaped flowers that are white or mauve, depending on the variety, from spring to autumn. If you are looking for a low-water ground cover that can withstand full, here are 10 options to consider. Their roots also help to stabilise soil on steep slopes. Lamb’s Ear also flowers every year and has purple-pink … They will not need deadheading and the pruning regime (if they need one) can be carried out with shears in early spring. At ground level, this can result in large areas with dry, impoverished soil, reason enough to wring our hands and gnash our teeth. In Stock. Hebe pinguifolia ‘Sutherlandii’ forms low, carpeting mounds of attractive, grey-green foliage. Like Angelina sedum, this plant is a hardy perennial. The fact that some drought-tolerant ground covers are at least mildly invasive should not surprise us very much. Its unusual foliage (the look of which gives it its common plant name) is moderately attractive, as well. A South African native that prefers well-drained soils, it produces fine daisy-like flowers in a variety of colours. They will also need to be kept watered during dry spells in the first season or two, especially if positioned under trees. Thorough preparation and careful planting are particularly important, as soils on banks and steeper slopes are often poor and sandy. S. heterolepis grows to 15 inches tall and slightly wider, with pinkish, popcorn-scented summer flower plumes. After all, plants such as Vinca minor and Japanese pachysandra need to be tough to survive in dry soils. Enjoy double the fruits on one tree, with a selection of grated duo fruit trees, ideal for smaller gardens. (there is a joke here somewhere? For that reason, ice plant can be challenging for someone experimenting with it for the first time. Did I miss something? Hopes Grove Nurseries are amongst the UK’s leading hedge plants and ground cover specialists. It’s tolerant of pollution and salty air. Creeping Phlox (Phlox subulata) (leodekol/123rf.com) This low-lying ground cover plant produces flower blossoms in an array of outstanding colors. 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. Dry (5) Moist (15) Moist but Well-drained (145) Well-drained (42) Scented. As with other aggressive plants, if you feel you truly must grow it, there are ways to contain it. Thyme presents a delicious smell whenb rubbed between your fingers, is perfect for dry pots, covering sparse areas of the garden or in hanging walls. For a fragrant, full-sun ground cover, choose creeping thyme. It’s great for growing as part of a shrubbery or mixed border, on a slope or as part of a rock garden. This prickle-free bidibid is best in a sunny moist spot. They form an attractive mat and can also be encouraged to climb. Don't give up on that ugly patch of poor soil in the garden yet. It forms a dense cover about 30cm high, but if you want something lower, denser and tighter, look for Asiatic star jasmine (Trachelospermum asiaticum), especially the cultivar 'Flat Mat'. Isotoma fluviatilis. Choose ground covers for your yard with consideration as to whether they grow best in … Shear it all over after flowering finishes. It’s a North American plant that grows well in eastern and central U.S. Gardeners can use this decorative ground cover in USDA hardiness zones 3-9. You will have to make up your own mind as to whether you wish to grow plants such as Vinca minor. As a bonus, this perennial drought-tolerant ground cover spreads quickly, effectively filling in your problem area, with a little help from you (in the form of laying down mulch). As with other plants, ground covers often do best in specific soil types. Regrettably, weeds will quickly invade a bare patch and take it over. It’s smaller than some ground cover roses, forming more of a mound than a carpet – an unusual addition to the front of a border. Q&A with Gardening Editor, Emma Crawforth. Introducing "One Thing": A New Video Series, The Spruce Gardening & Plant Care Review Board, The Spruce Renovations and Repair Review Board. They form dense clumps – plant in swathes to create ground cover. If you’ve got a dry, sunny, rocky or sandy area to fill, this is the ground cover for you. Other dry situations include planting areas with insufficient soil volumes to accommodate the plant's root system, compacted soils, and sites that are commonly windy and experience regular high temperatures (e.g., near parking lots, southern and western exposures). It’s evergreen, which makes it very useful for providing interest at the front of a border all year round, and is relatively drought tolerant when established. They are of great use in extremely dry or wet locations. With blue, pink or mauve flowers, they are perfect for the front of a border and popular with bees. Grow in a sheltered site. They are often low-maintenance and usually evergreen. It’s a bit taller than some other ground covers, reaching an average of 6-inches in height. It is more difficult to control than Vinca minor, so this article is certainly not urging you to grow it. Gardeners value Angelina as a low-growing plant with chartreuse foliage. That is because this viny plant, which features glossy leaves and blue flowers, and which is often grown in shade-covered areas, has made many a list of invasive plants for North America. Subscribers are invited to a 30-minute Q&A session with our Gardening Editor, Emma. Dianthus – Extremely hardy, this low-growing, clumping plant makes a good ground cover between pavers for both sunny and partially sunny locations. Preferred conditions are … Ground cover plants brighten up otherwise dull areas and will suppress weeds, making them ideal for a low-maintenance garden. The event is at 12 noon on Friday 11 December. But oh, what flowers! Nonetheless, some folks might consider growing this drought-tolerant ground cover under certain conditions. Vinca minor is a tough, low-maintenance perennial that will cope with many conditions in the garden. These perennials offer an alternative to bare ground or weeds. Dry Shade: Moist Shade: Under Trees & Shrubs: Woodland Areas: Sole Mates® Garden Soleutions® ... All Terrain Ground Covers will help you succeed with your larger landscaping problems. In this case, however, the blossoms take a backseat to the foliage. Ground cover roses make excellent low-growing shrubs and the Flower Carpet and County Series of Roses will all manage well on slopes as long as the gradient is not too steep. The suggested plants and tips for growing them will help you get started with drought-tolerant ground covers. Gaultheria procumbens is an evergreen shrub from North America. Stachys byzantina ‘Silver Carpet’ is also known as lamb’s ears – its woolly grey leaves are incredibly tactile. It makes excellent ground cover on banks or under shrubs and trees. But unlike Angelina, Aurinia saxatilis is grown more for the display created by its flowers. It bears white flowers from late spring to early summer, which are adored by bees. Put the emphasis on shiny leaves and white or pale-coloured blooms to lift the garden out of gloom. They look great at the front of a sunny border or in a rock or gravel garden. The appropriately named ornamental plant has thick silvery foliage that covers ground extremely well. It looks especially nice tumbling over stone walls.​. Flower Plants for Shade and Ground Cover at Sarah Raven. Pictured here is purple ice plant (Delosperma cooperi). You won’t find a hardier or lower maintenance ground cover than Pig face. So unlike the other plants listed here, one would not classify this plant as easy to grow. Ground-cover plants transform a garden, carpeting the soil with colour and excluding weeds. The quality of the soil can also have a direct effect on the moisture-holding capacity. Juniperus squamata ‘Blue Star’ is a dwarf juniper that forms a neat, rounded mound of eye-catching, steely blue, evergreen foliage. Subscribe to BBC Gardeners' World Magazine and receive 12 issues for only £39.99 - saving 39%. A tough plant will, in many cases, out-compete its competition for available resources, including water. We all love the Cistus shrub genus Not only are these plants easy to maintain, they have a good, bushy habit and provide a long-lasting splash of summer colour. Our plants receive top care and TLC, ensuring that when they arrive in your garden, they’re strong and ready to be planted. By using The Spruce, you accept our, 15 Best Zone 7 Plants to Put In Your Garden, Japanese Pachysandra: Useful Ground Cover, Varieties of Sedum (Stonecrop) to Use as Ground Cover. Like Angelina sedum, this plant has succulent leaves and is suitable for xeriscaping. sort by. When planting dig a whole twice as deep as the pot it comes in. These plants are certainly functional, but the same can be said for Astroturf. You are probably familiar with sweet alyssum, which is treated as an annual plant in the North. Checking stock, please wait.. Gaura 'SUMMER BREEZE' PLANTS: PGAS. Gardeners value Angelina as a low-growing plant with chartreuse foliage. As a bonus, walking on it crushes the aromatic leaves just enough to waft some of their wonderful scent into the air. Like many succulents, it will root where its leaves come into contact with the soil, permitting it to multiply. They are naturally low-growing and form attractive mounds or carpets. 1. Japanese Pachysandra is a shade loving ground cover plant The Japanese pachysandra (Pachysandra terminalis) is a low-growing leafy evergreen plant that is good for ground cover under shrubs or in other shady parts of your garden. Use it in sun or shade to cover large areas under tall trees or across sloping banks. Cistus x hybridus. https://www.gardenersworld.com/plants/ground-cover-plants-for-sun Not only are they breathtaking when massed together, but each individual bloom will merit close study if you enjoy intricate patterns. Its single, red flowers have a red eye and are popular with bees. Home / Plants for dry areas. It likes moist, well-drained acidic soil. The best way to enjoy its refreshing smell is to walk on it. Acaena inermis 'Purpurea' Spineless acaena. Need some ground cover plants for a sunny spot in your garden? Grow in a sheltered site and mulch in winter if you live in a cold area. Native grasses are excellent ground coverings for sunny clay sites. In the dry shade beneath trees, plant shrubs such as mahonia, skimmia, sambucus, rubus, ruscus and symphoricarpos, and underplant with ground-hugging ajuga, alchemilla, epimediums, bergenia, lamium, hellebores, pulmonaria and soft shield ferns. It is very popular in the U.S. as the white element in July 4th plantings, where a red-white-and-blue color scheme is called for. Hardy geraniums, or cranesbills, are invaluable plants for ground cover in all kinds of gardens, whether cottage-style or more contemporary schemes. Not only is this a drought-tolerant ground cover, but it positively does not like for its roots to be sitting in moisture. In damp or dry places, it forms a thick mat which produces heaps of blue star-like flowers in spring and summer. Lantana: This common ground cover is easy to find at garden centers and home improvement stores. The Best Ground Covers for a Sunny Area. Spanish Shawl (Heterocentron elegans) The hot pink blooms of Spanish Shawl make it a popular ground cover in frost-free areas. 2017343 / Pixabay. This particular specimen is a hardy evergreen shrub with a dense habit. If you have ruled out turfgrass as an option or simply wish to grow perennials in a dry location because they are more attractive or more interesting than grass, a drought-tolerant ground cover is likely perfect. Dragon’s Blood is an extremely hardy ground cover plant and will tolerate dry soil and temperature variations. But in this entry, we are talking about a different kind of alyssum. 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