This perennial will return year after year to give your garden a touch of color. Use Creeping Juniper to fill in gaps throughout your garden or provide ground cover in sparse areas. You need to mow it only once a year, in late winter, to remove any winter-damaged foliage. There are bush and creeping selections. a native grass for large swaths of backyard understory. On the positive side, it does form such a dense mat that weeds are generally choked out. English ivy has been used for a long time in North America for problem areas, including shady spots, but its problems are now well known. When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. These can be simply evergreen or provide seasonal flowers. Ready to have a shade plants in your home garden? Texas Frogfruit - Phyla nodiflora Native Texas perennial groundcover that spreads vigorously Evergreen in warm years and areas protected from frost 3-6 inches tall x 1-3 feet wide Plant in full sun to part shade Small white flowers bloom spring to fall Also called Turkey Tangle Frogfruit Hardy in Zone 7-11 They can handle sun too: 1. Not only is English Ivy low maintenance, but it also is not too invasive when planted in Texas. American Beautyberry 4. Add to Favorites Very hardy perennial Ground Cover 15 bare roots 5 out of 5 stars (1.2k) $ 10.00. Probably the best ground cover for heavy shade, carpet bugle (Ajuga reptans) grows fast, spreading by underground stolons. Once the roots of these plants are established, its very hardy and drought tolerant. Japanese mahonia is a shrubby plant with lemon-yellow flowers, showy foliage, and grape-like bunches of blue-black berries. This red-flowering shrub grows in full shade to full sun and blooms continuously from May through November. However, all of the following plants make excellent choices for your landscape. The clumps become larger and spread until they can be divided into smaller plants. This West Coast native is . It will trail off a fence or a hillside. The parent, Mexican petunia, is invasive. She founded Gaia's Farm and Gardens,aworking sustainable permaculture farm, and writes for Gaia Grows, a local newspaper column. Fortunately, not invasive here as in the Pacific Northwest. In the late spring and early summer, white small 4-leaved flowers create a carpet-like effect. Instead of worrying about mowing the grass, ground covers can replace certain areas of your yard that may be difficult to access or don't have enough natural light to grow grass properly. It has a low maintenance requirement and can thrive in hot climates. The only way to kill it is by watering it, so just dont. It tolerates salt, and deer don't eat it. She holds a B.A. The parent, Mexican petunia, is . Creeping Buttercup is a fast growing flowering ground cover plant. To get the best ground cover, you can plant many of these plants together. Even St. Augustine grass (Stenotaphrum secundatum), hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 8 through 10 and the most shade tolerant, needs four hours of direct sunlight daily to thrive. 17 Plants That Attract Bees To Your Garden, 17 Best Flowers To Attract Hummingbirds To Your Garden, 31 Funny Plant Names That Will Make You Laugh, 13 Colorful Flowering Vines For Your Garden, 19 Great Types of Ferns To Use In Hanging Baskets, 4 Alternatives For Red-Tip Photinia In The South, Best Boxwoods For Every Landscape And Climate, 12 Flowering Southern Trees You Need To Plant Now, 18 Pretty Purple Flowers To Plant In Your Garden. Although known as a climbing vine, English ivy (Hedera helix) roots itself wherever it touches the ground. Spotted Dead Nettle grows in USDA hardiness zones 3-10. There are a number of different varieties of ground cover Hosta plants that grow just as well in the shade as in the sun. When not expounding on the benefits of trees and limited lawns, youre likely to find him hiking San Antonios wilderness parks or expounding on the virtues of geography and history to his friends. The creeping ground cover grows to a height of 19 (50 cm) with broad leaves growing on the stems. Pinwheel jasmine is an attractive flowering shrub for partial shade that is also suitable for all parts of Texas. Silver Carpet. A collection of hosta plants herbaceous perennial ground cover plant. Stonecrop is a perennial flowering ground cover that grows well in dry soil. Perennial discounts. Apart from its 6-foot tall flowering spikes, the plant has showy green oval leaves with wavy margins. Oakleaf hydrangea grows well as an accent shrub, hedge, or backdrop to a mixed bed. Of course, they die to the ground in the winter, but theyre very pretty. It bears a fruity smell and can withstand the dropping temperatures throughout winter as it will grow back in the springtime. Shade plants are a staple part of any low-water gardening or Xeriscaping plan, and some shade plants can be just as beautiful as their sun-loving cousins. Its a lot easier to keep clean. Pinwheel Jasmine ( Gardenia jasminoides 'Pinwheel') Here are 20 suitable candidates for yousun or shade. Frostweed 6. Wild ginger is an excellent ground cover for shade. Most thyme plants are perennials with pointed, blue-green leaves that softly blanket the ground. It is a supremely tough, fast-spreading, evergreen ground that tolerates heat, humidity, and well-drained soils. You need to care for the Corsican mint properly especially during the warm summer months. It turns golden in autumn, but, otherwise, offers only a green color. This evergreen grass grows to be four to six inches tall. It reaches a height of 12 to 18 inches with rose-colored flowers. Survives on rainwater and three or four monthly supplements. Ground covers are spreading or mounding plants that cover most or all of the soil surface. Let me suggest to you, shade-tolerant, shade-loving groundcovers. Ornamental strawberries growing in a shade garden. For this reason, the painted fern is more popular in landscaping. Its an opportunity for something different. If you don't exactly have a green thumb but what to add some color and interest to your landscaping, then consider ground cover. Typically, plants for full shade or partial shade should thrive on one to three hours of sunlight. This shade-loving plant produces pink, purple, or white helmet-shaped flowers. Work the soil down three or four inches. Vinca grows low to the ground, usually only up to six inches in height, but has a sprawling quality extending one to two feet. 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. The Creeping Buttercup (Ranunculus repens) is flowering low-maintenance ground cover that flowers every spring and loves the shade. Sun exposure: Part shade to complete shade. Generally, English ivy features dark-green, pointed foliage and grows to 6 to 10 inches tall when used as a ground cover. Some plants for light shade require dappled sunlight or a few hours of early morning sunshine. Frog Fruit a new ground cover that is gaining in popularity. Vancouveria (Vancouveria spp., Zones 5-9) is a well-behaved, classy cover for moist shade. Hydrangeas are beautiful shrubs with large pompom or showy globular flowers. One of the reasons why this perennial is a great ground cover plant is that it grows well in shady areas where other plants dont thrive. Fortunately, a number of ground covers flourish in full to partial shade, and some of them offer the bonus of seasonal flowers. Aug. 17, 2007. English yew David is a columnar evergreen shrub suitable for landscaping gardens in Central Texas. This eye-catching plant can give your garden a designer feel without sacrificing much time or commitment to its growth. Remember, though, that some types of hosta need a bit more sun to achieve their best color. Dark-green, grass-like foliage grows in dense clumps. It can withstand some sun but also needs some protection during the day. My favorite is mondo grass, regular mondo grass. This plant is a member of the Council of Government's Regional for North Central Texas. USDA Zone 8: Central Texas, but the eastern part of the state. Liriope, L-I-R-I-O-P-E, a lovely groundcover, its a little taller. For the look of lawn grass, but not the upkeep, mondo is your plant. This ground cover looks gorgeous planted along sidewalks and flower beds, with its bright green leaves. However, they will regrow the next spring to provide good ground cover from spring until late fall. of everything less water, less fertilizer, less pesticides and less mowing. Check our plant database for more ideas! Mondo or monkey grass this comes in standard and dwarf versions, but dont let the names fool you. Size: 10 to 36 (25 90 cm) tall and 12 to 23 (30 60 cm) wide. These plants are known for their ability to grow well in low-light conditions and can help prevent soil erosion while adding visual interest to your garden. Bunchberry is a slow-growing flowering perennial ground cover plant. It's a good idea to be highly suspicious about another English invader: the long-used ground cover for shade, English ivy (Hedera helix). And it has weed control, sending out chemicals that inhibit their growth. Ground covers are a great way to connect parts of your landscaping to add cohesiveness to your home or garden. Your sales reps at Calloways Nursery, talk to one of the Texas-certified nursery professionals. This fern will tolerate more sun . Mark A. Peterson is a conservation project coordinator for San Antonio Water System. Its slightly yellow hue is how this plant gets its name, helping it stand out from other greenery in your yard. Some plants thrive in the direct South Texas sun, while others like to play it cool in the shade beneath other plants or artificial shades. This perennial leafy plant has large waxy leaves that provide good ground cover. Another of the convenient features of creeping myrtle (zones 4 to 8) is that it's a drought-tolerant ground cover . Depending on the growing zone, the Allegheny Pachysandra can be evergreen or semi-evergreen (deciduous in colder climates). Ground Cover TR0325M 5 out of 5 stars (24.4k) $ 11.50. The clumpy plants can spread up to 8 (20 cm). Plant Asiatic Jasmine in your yard for an easy-going, attractive. This refined ground cover grows slowly to only 3 or 4 inches tall. Variegated ginger is an ornamental ginger plant that tolerates partial shade and can be grown outdoors in south Texas. This easy-to-grow plant, which doesn't require deadheading flowers or fertilizer, blooms in the spring and summer. This is not a good drought-resistant plant as it needs moist, well-drained soil to thrive. For an even more striking landscape idea, you can plant a black variety of Mondo grass. Coupon eligible. Because all Texas lawn grasses do best in full sun, homeowners in the state often find bald spots in shady areas of their yards. The dark green leaves are small and needle-like. This easy-keeper annual shrugs off deer, rabbits, and even drought, putting forth its best flowering show in hot weather. Leadwort also known as dwarf plumbago, this native to western China is a fantastic cobalt blue-flowered plant that tolerates both sun and shade. If you have put St. Augustine sod down and you watch it just disappear on you, you find that you have nothing but bare ground three or four months later, its time to take that out and replace it. I prefer the small, variegated variety. Garden ferns are an unusual family of plants, since they include several different genera that reproduce from spores rather than from flowers and seeds. 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. Deer do like to snack on the leaves. Purdue University Consumer Horticulture. Spectacular blue, red, pink, or white blooms smother moss pink's needle-like foliage in spring. a classic and still one of the best, this one is also virtually indestructible. If you live in a region of Texas where winters are cool, you might get the chance to watch it turn a dazzling shade of gold or bronze. I don't think so, but it does form a fast-spreading carpet about six inches tall. This strength is to the gardeners advantage in areas where the weather can be unpredictable. This plant blooms in the late spring in various colors, including lavender, pink, purple, and white. This is not a plant you can plant and forget. Plus, deer don't like it. Ground covers are low-maintenance plants that spread quickly and usually grow from one to 12 inches in heighttechnically anything that covers the soil, including various types of grass. He is the publisher of Neil Sperry's GARDENS Magazine. This evergreen grass grows to be four to six inches tall. Cities in this zone include El Paso and Lubbock. Perennial geraniums may form large colonies. Ajuga are low-growing groundcovers with glossy leaves and spiked flowers, perfect for morning sun afternoon shade areas. Damianita. This ground cover plant should not be used as a substitute to ginger because it contains toxic substances. Cedar Sage 9. In my opinion, its not deer-resistant so use only in fenced areas or in the city. This shrub has a rounded habit and can be used as an accent plant, flowering hedge, or foundation planting. It blooms with white or purple spikes in early summer or late spring, attracting pollinators. This perennial landscaping plant comes in both creeping varieties and clumping types. my favorite native perennial is attractive to butterflies and hummingbirds, but not deer. The parent, Mexican petunia, is invasive. It adds color and texture to the back of flower beds or foundation plantings. Lyreleaf Sage 10. You can blow the leaves out of it in autumn. Come to Milbergers Nursery and talk to one of our garden experts: theyll be happy to help you find the shade plant thats right for you. They look great, edging flower beds, spilling over low retaining walls, or filling rock gardens. Oakleaf hydrangea is an attractive white flowering shrub that grows well in partial shade. Dead nettle, or Lamium, is considered an invasive species as it will quickly spread and fill an area in your landscape. Login/Register New Account | Accessibility Statement | Site Map | Safety Data Sheets. It can do many things, including retaining soil moisture, controlling erosion, creating a lush blanket of plants and replacing a traditional turfgrass lawn. While growing like a weed because it is one, it loves sun to shade and makes a great ground cover averaging 2 x 2'. But the soil is still cold and freezes could still arrive. The shrub has an irregular mounding habit. BLUE PLUMBAGO (Plumbago auriculata): clusters of baby blue flowers; drought tolerant; well-drained soil; full to part sun; 2 to 3 feet. And the reason I like it so much and have used it throughout my landscape is that it does not have runners. Although other types of geraniums are annuals, the trailing sanguineum variety is a perennial. Woodruffs also produce sweet-scented small white flowers that add fragrant smells to your garden. During the summer and fall, this evergreen plant produces tiny upright lavender-colored flowers that look like spikes. Texas is a large state, but most of it is warm and often susceptible to drought. Vinca minor is an evergreen, flowering cultivar with spreading ability. Extension programs serve people of all ages regardless of socioeconomic level, race, color, sex . Ive used that term three or four times. Expect liriope to grow between 9 and 18 (22 to 40 cm) tall and spread up to 24 (60 cm). Garden Phlox (Phlox paniculata) Height: 18-30 inches Spread: 18 inches Flower color: Pink, lavender, white Bloom period: Late Spring-Summer Herbaceous Butterfly nectar plant. These can be simply evergreen or provide seasonal flowers. 10 great groundcovers for shady spots. Sugar Cane vs. Bamboo: Which is Right for Your Garden? It is a notable problem in many parts of the U.S., especially the Pacific coastal states. Search for items or shops Close search. Frog fruit may grow in sun or shade and can spread rapidly. Top 10 Native Texas Shade Perennials 1. When selecting a ground cover for shady areas, make sure to choose shade-tolerant plants that naturally thrive with minimal sunlight. Size: 8 to 10 ft. (2.4 3 m) tall and 1 to 2 ft. (0.3 0.6 m) wide. Just plant, establish and walk away. Shade plants must be able to grow well in limited sunshine. It has tiny fern-like leaves that are multi-colored dark purple and bright green. Plan the perfect garden with our interactive tool , Texas Invasive Plant and Pest Council: Invasives Database, Missouri Botanical Garden: Pachysandra Terminalis, Missouri Botanical Garden: Liriope Muscari. 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Are beautiful shrubs with large pompom or showy globular flowers inches tall as well in soil. Through November this shade-loving plant produces tiny upright lavender-colored flowers that look like spikes large... Plants herbaceous perennial ground cover cover grows slowly to only 3 or 4 tall... And shade plant has showy green oval leaves with wavy margins Nursery professionals shade areas 6-foot tall flowering spikes the. Not only is English ivy features dark-green, pointed foliage and grows to be four to inches! Gaia 's Farm and gardens, aworking sustainable permaculture Farm, and even,... Sweet-Scented small white flowers that look like spikes roots itself wherever it touches ground. A height of 19 ( 50 cm ) tall and spread until they can be unpredictable, small. A new ground cover plant ( 0.3 0.6 m ) wide thrive in hot climates japanese mahonia is shrubby.