This elegant fern looks as dainty as a pearl necklace, but is tough enough to survive winter growing in the Himalayan Mountains, where it is native. Root-hardy, it will return after a freeze, but in mild winters such as this year's, little damage is done to the foliage. Elsewhere (and depending on growing conditions), they are more likely to besemi-evergreen, herbaceous plants. The nepeta genus includes roughly 250 species. They can spread across bare ground, suppressing weeds and dust, preventing erosion, decreasing water evaporation, and adding color. This type of evergreen comes in an array of shapes and sizes. Copyright 2023 Acton Media Inc. All rights reserved. It spreads rapidly by above-ground runners and is hardy to Zone 4. Noteworthy Characteristics Lamium maculatum, commonly called spotted deadnettle, is native to Europe and North Africa to West Asia. But what really makes this tough perennial a standout is its vivid foliage that ranges from chartreuse to silvery white to many shades of green. It even takes on the terribly invasive Garlic Mustard. If you want this to be a fast-growing ground cover plant, make sure it receives 4-6 hours of sun each day. When several are planted together, they form a dense hedge that thrives in almost any type of soil and full sun. Height is a foot or so. In fact, beware of this potentially invasive ground cover, especially if you live near a forest. Miniature hostas will grow less than 9 inches tall, small hostas grow to a foot or more, and giant hostas can grow over 30 inches tall. This selection forms a spreading patch of small silver leaves with a stunning blue-green edge. high and can spread out 2 feet (61 cm.) She's been a frequent speaker at various garden events. We recommend our users to update the browser. It prefers well-drained soil but will do fine in the dry shade if you provide it with regular watering. Honeysuckle grows best with full sun and moist soil, and its resistant to heat. Manure tea is a good substitute when it is too difficult to work more compost into the soil. Please keep reading to learn about this plant with a cautionary tale. Evergreen ground covers, such as creeping juniper, require little care. Plants that are under 12 inches tall are good for tight spaces and as edging but can require some weeding to look their best. Copyright 2013-2023. When planted in groups, heuchera works well as a ground cover or along garden edging. It's deer-resistant and can tolerate drought, heat, and cold. Lamium, or dead nettle, is a perennial ground cover, often with variegation. To encourage new growth in the springtime cut spotted dead nettles back after the first frost or in the late autumn, depending on where you live. Once established, its drought tolerant. Bishop's Goutweed While it works great for ground cover in a shaded area, you will never, ever get rid of it. Lamium covers up that soil and adds colorful flowers, foliage and texture. Spotted dead nettles are valued as perennial ground covers for the shade that will spread and fill in a patch of ground that might otherwise remain bare (except for weeds). Note: This plant is considered invasive across much of the northeast, some areas of the northern Midwest, and parts of the Pacific Northwest. Check with your local county extension for any warnings that they may issue for your own region. All Rights Reserved. And while deer might not like itspink flowers, they do attract butterflies and honeybeesits even believed that it enhances the flavor of the honey. They dont add much ornamental value, but they do help out the pollinators. You may not have thought of using an onion as a ground cover, but doing so has some important advantages. Nepeta x faassenia, commonly called nepeta, nepeta catmint, or Faassen's catmint, is one of several perennial catmint plants. It likes full sun, and requires regular trimmings to keep it from taking over the yard. In early spring, flowers that look like fairy wings appear on this perennial. The opposite leaves are silvery green with large silver blotches on the upper surface, lightening up a dark shady area. 'Album', has white flowers, shown here blooming before the leaves on September 28, 2011, and spreads to form a ground cover that stays green through the winter . I think I'll try some . Plus, each is interesting enough to enhance your surroundings more than an ordinary carpet of grass. In shade, its OK if the soil dries out now and then. For example, choose Delosperma brunnthaleri, a hardy ground cover that grows around 2 inches tall and 2 feet wide with yellow flowers and ideal for zones 4 to 9. Lamium is an excellent ground cover for shade. The unusual common name of "dead nettles" alludes to the fact that, while it resembles stinging nettles, the stingers are dead on L. maculatum, rendering it harmless. Name: Ceratostigma plumbaginoides. Those fleshy, bluish-green leaves help retain what little water it receives. manure tea is a good alternative. But purple deadnettle (Lamium purpureum) takes advantage of the open expanses of soil and lack of competition. It needs full sun to survive. If you have bare acreage behind your home that does not lead to another property, Chinese lantern can be a great ground cover and filler. Native to Europe and western Asia, Lamium is frequently found naturalized along woodland trails and paths and colonized along the banks of streams. The plant prefers partial shade or full sun and well-draining moist soil. Both their flowers and their foliage make an impact on the landscape. . See more ideas about plants, shade plants, shade garden. This plant is deciduous in areas where there is colder weather but stays semi-evergreen in other regions. spotted deadnettle (Lamium maculatum L.) is a perennial flowering ornamental commonly grown as a landscape plant for an adequate ground cover.. Species can be annuals or perennials, with many valued for their ground cover abilities, pollinator-friendly flowers and preference of shady areas. For a sun-loving, pollinator-friendly herb, creeping thyme ( Thymus praecox) will fill your lawn with a fine-leaved mat of dainty pink, white, or purple flowers. Subscribe now and be up to date with our latest news and updates. There is also a pink flowering form. See this plant in the following landscapes: Wild Side- A Shady Garden Cultivars / Varieties: 'Album' This plant can be invasive, depending on where you live. (Lamium maculatum) . This easy-care mat-forming ground cover provides pops of purple blooms from mid-spring to early summer. General description Fast-growing perennial ground cover that may be either trailing or upright depending on conditions. She is married to photographer John Everett and they have one son. Catmint can handle several types of soil as well as both humidity and drought, and its also deer and rabbit resistant. Groundcover plants are helpful for weed suppression, while also adding texture and color to your garden with low maintenance needs. But in regions where spotted dead nettle is not invasive, it acts as an effective ground cover for deeply shaded areas. It's tough-as-nails once established, tolerating poor soil and drought conditions. Invasive Plant Atlas of the United States. I still like the stuff It is really a pretty ground cover. 16 inches apart for coverage in two seasons. And beware that it is considered invasive in some areas of the Northeast and Northwest. You will have to experiment to arrive at the right balance between giving it enough water to keep it alive and giving it so much that it becomes invasive. Another method of control some gardeners use is placing saucers of stale beer among their plants, with the lip of the container at ground level. Lamium is grown for both its pretty foliage and beautiful flowers. Perfect for plantings under perennials or shrubs and as a groundcover or edging plant. Yellow Archangel Botanical Name: Lamium galeobdolon plant hardiness zones 4 through 8. Pachysandra are aggressive and fast-spreading coverings that grow underground with runners. To propagate from the stem, cut the 10cm long portion of the stem and leave it to scab for some time. One way to cut back on the energy and resources you put into your yard is to incorporate ground covers into the landscape. Alyssum is an annual ground cover that grows very well from direct sow seeding once temperatures have reached 65 to 70 degrees. Plant them with an assortment of other flowering plants in a container garden to have sitting on your porch and lanai, or they trail beautifully from a hanging basket. In midsummer, after the blooming period is over, prune plants back by one-third to help prevent them from becoming too invasive. Photo: Stan Shebs, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons, 25 Plants That Survive With or Without You, 14 of the Best Plants for Your Drought-Tolerant Garden, 10 Grass-Free Alternatives to a Traditional Lawn, Bad Neighbors: 11 Plant Pairs Never to Grow Side by Side. It often grows vertically along trellises, but the plant can also serve as a ground cover. Growing Conditions: Full to part shade in moist, well-drained soil Keep weeds at bay with spreading plants in your garden. Yellow archangel has colorful leaves and flowers. The little silver leaves of lamium are like bits of glitter strewn about the garden floor, reflecting any dappled sunlight that finds them. Then, the leaves turn a gorgeous shade of burgundy red in fall. Arricca Elin SanSone has written about health and lifestyle topics for Prevention, Country Living, Woman's Day, and more. Lamium covers well and adds colorful flowers, foliage and texture. Care Grow the quick-growing groundcovers in moist, but well-drained soil in partial or full shade. RELATED: 14 of the Best Plants for Your Drought-Tolerant Garden. Reaches 3 to 9 inches tall with a spread of 6 to 12 inches. While it prefers full sun, it needs regular moisture, especially during hot months. Lamium is undemanding and easy to grow in partial to fully shaded locations. A popular climbing vine, English ivy will creep along to cover the ground if you let it, and thrives in the shade. Bloom time begins sooner, of course, after a mild winter, since plants do not have to regrow. Whether you do it yourself or pay a landscaper, maintaining a vibrant garden and lush lawn requires time, effort, and money. Press Esc to cancel. The versatile strawberry begonia (Saxifraga stolonifera) is neither a strawberry nor a begonia. Lamium is rarely troubled by disease and is generally pest-free. Angelina Sedum is easy to propagate by rooting, so you can quickly fill an area with its succulent foliage. Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made. In spring, tiny white flowers add to its ethereal beauty. Note that Lenten rose is toxic to animals. However, slugs and snails may be occasional visitors. In the right climate, brass buttons remain an evergreen ground cover year round. Can be invasive in moist, fertile soils. .css-lwn4i5{display:block;font-family:Neutra,Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif;font-weight:bold;letter-spacing:-0.01rem;margin-bottom:0;margin-top:0;text-align:center;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}@media (any-hover: hover){.css-lwn4i5:hover{color:link-hover;}}@media(max-width: 48rem){.css-lwn4i5{font-size:1.375rem;line-height:1.1;}}@media(min-width: 40.625rem){.css-lwn4i5{font-size:1.375rem;line-height:1.1;}}@media(min-width: 48rem){.css-lwn4i5{font-size:1.375rem;line-height:1.1;}}@media(min-width: 64rem){.css-lwn4i5{font-size:1.375rem;line-height:1.1;}}9 Best Gardening Subscription Boxes 2023, 20 Best Tall Indoor Plants to Shop Online, 85 Surprising Flower Meanings With Pictures.