Put lamium next to other plants with darker foliage so this ground cover can bring out those colors. This ground cover forms a low-growing carpet that spreads quickly as its stems root when they touch the ground. English ivy is considered an evergreen perennial covering, period. Leadwort is an excellent low-maintenance groundcover for putting on a late-season show. It grows best where it has plenty of space to spread out. Poke holes in the fabric and plant the junipers, then cover the fabric with mulch. Mulching and weeding to prevent unwanted sprouts from stealing water from these low-maintenance succulents, and you can enjoy the cheery color of this low growing ground cover year-round, with a number of varieties to choose from. Yellow Archangel Botanical Name: Lamium galeobdolon Though many annual flowers can be used for ground coverings, it can be laborious to replant large swaths of coverings yearly. This is a highly invasive plant but it's also popular for growing on huge swaths of areas that need ground cover and won't encroach on another's property. Society garlic can also tolerate dry conditions. As with yellow alyssum, Angelina sedum can be regarded as a "Goldilocks" ground cover. 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. We are no longer supporting IE (Internet Explorer), Do not Sell or Share My Personal Information. These waterwise plants are perfect rock garden ground covers in zones 4 through 9 for the hardier yellow prairie zinnia and 6 through 10 for desert zinnia with its pretty white flowers. Read our, Amethyst in Snow (Centaurea montana 'Amethyst in Snow'), 31 Best-Deer Resistant Flowers and Plants to Grow, 10 Best Deer-Resistant Shrubs for Landscaping, 18 Perennial Flowers That Bloom in Spring, Summer and Fall, 35 Types of Orange Flowers: Identification & Photos, 15 Best Plants for Drought-Tolerant Gardens, Angelina Sedum (Sedum rupestre 'Angelina'), Rock Cotoneaster (Cotoneaster horizontalis), Chinese lantern is also considered invasive. 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). Because the common name is often given as spotted dead nettle. Growing Conditions: Full to part shade in moist, well-drained soil Few ground covers ever look as beautiful as creeping phlox in spring, when it produces an explosion of fragrant, star-shaped, pastel-colored flowers. These creeping ground cover plants will reward you with easy care and bright colors. Lamium plants are a perfect deer resistant groundcover to brighten a partly sunny to semi-shady spot. Oak sedge prefers partial shade to full shade in USDA Zones 3 through 8. Spotted deadnettle. It can be excellent for covering large areas of difficult terrain, such as slopes where growing grass would be difficult or impossible. Ajuga spreads rapidly in varying conditions, tolerating shade or sun. In fact, they are one of the best perennials for shade. Here's how: While they can self-seed themselves, spotted dead nettles do not do well if you try to grow them from seed. The Ground Cover Dogwood blooms then produces edible berries. In spring, tiny white flowers add to its ethereal beauty. Many plant species from the genus Sedum are native to North America. Mature plants that have gotten "leggy" should be cut down to just above the ground, which then will grow back into a bushy, compact plant. However, sweet woodruff can be a good ground cover choice for dry shade, such as in areas under big trees. RELATED: The 15 Best Plants for Rookie Gardeners. Angelina Sedum is easy to propagate by rooting, so you can quickly fill an area with its succulent foliage. Low-growing varieties of sedum make easy-to-care-for ground covers, especially since its fleshy leaves retain enough water to survive dry spells. These plants spread out, and you can keep them under control by pruning, too. Press Esc to cancel. Lamium (Deadnettle) Wonderful as ground cover in a shady area, Spotted deadnettle ( Lamium maculatum) can cover large areas quickly, prevailing in the most unforgiving of conditions. Excellent evergreen ground cover for shadeThe North American native speciesPachysandra procumbensis harder to find but a more graceful and less spready choiceGrows 6 to 10 inches 15-25 cm tall. Basket of Gold also goes by the name yellow alyssum, another reference to its adorable clusters of bright yellow flowers. Spotted dead nettles are generally grown more for their silvery leaves than for their flowers, but the latter can be quite pretty, as well. It forms a dense, 8- to 12 . Do spotted dead nettle attract butterflies? Pollinators such as butterflies, hummingbirds, and bees love this plant in the spring when they are blooming. Then, the leaves turn a gorgeous shade of burgundy red in fall. What plant labels typically fail to mention is that, under the right growing conditions, 'Amethyst in Snow' makes a flowering ground cover that will spread nicely. Choose from an annual or perennial variety, and watch charming daisy-like flowers bloom throughout this bushy plant. It has basic requirements and is well worth cultivating in your garden. While many shrubs give you flowers, the prettiest thing aboutCotoneaster horizontalis is its colorful, red berries. While some have small flowers, the main focal point is the colorful foliage, which ranges from chartreuse to bronze. Invasive Plant Atlas of the United States. Hardy in zones 7 through 10, these low maintenance ground cover plants love full sun and heat. Choose plants that are hardy to USDA zones 2 to 4. Her goal is to inspire and educate people about how to garden every day. Cutting the stems or pinching back to a joint will stimulate new growth for the plant. Wherever its branches make contact with the soil, it will put down roots, creating new plants. Plant it in full sun during the spring in cooler climates and in shadier areas during the fall in warmer regions. . If you are looking for something unusual, consider wall germander, a broadleaf woody-stemmed evergreen that is often massed or used as a low hedge along retaining walls or in knot gardens. It does best in sun. Once established, its drought tolerant. And lasting from late spring to midsummer, and can be reddish-purple, pink, or white depending on the variety. One difference, though, is that it is more aggressive. Growing as high as 36 inches, it blooms all summer long with purple flowers. This plant works as a ground cover, a border plant or even a houseplant in a hanging basket. Try it in part shade to full shade, with moist, well-drained soil. It is also ideal for rock gardens, border edges, and even containers besides being an excellent choice for an ornamental ground cover. When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Use it as an underplanting for tall trees, as a ground cover in places where the hose cant reach, and even as a no-mow lawn alternative where there isnt much foot traffic. It even takes on the terribly invasive Garlic Mustard. Yellow archangel, also known as yellow Lamium, is very competitive and fast-growing in the forest habitats of western Washington and western British Columbia. Although it favors dry climates, this ground cover can survive in the warmer end of some humid regions. This type of evergreen comes in an array of shapes and sizes. Yellow archangel (Lamium galeobdolon 'Hermann's Pride', Zones 4-8) is one of the fastest-growing ground covers. Can be invasive in moist, fertile soils. Key Dead-nettle facts Name - Lamium maculatum Family - Lamiaceae Type - perennial Height - 8 to 12 inches (20 to 30 cm) Exposure - full sun to shade Soil - rich and well drained Foliage - deciduous Evergreen ground covers, such as creeping juniper, require little care. But this plant with prettyfoliageand funny namerarely becomes a problem for those who grow it in areas where it is already native. It spreads via rhizomes, a trait that can be a double-edged sword. It offers similar value and requires similar conditions. This low-maintenance plant thrives year-round! Despite its vigorous growth, it's not considered invasive. Subscribe now and be up to date with our latest news and updates. Houston pitmaster goes viral after hilarious TV interview, Astros GM Dana Brown has more praise team's top prospect, Principal fired for reading 'I Need a New Butt!' Because the leaves are scented when crushed, deer and rabbits may take one bite and then move on to something more palatable. Dead nettle, also known as Lamium, is a low-growing perennial with silver-splashed leaves and bursts of purple, pink, or white flowers that pop up in spring and early summer. Instead, it keeps its leathery dark green leaves in nearly the same condition year round. Both have tiny needle-like foliage that spreads along the ground or down rock walls. However, the more sunshine that you give these plants, the more water they will need, since they perform best in evenly moist soil. She was Features Copy Desk chief before becoming the first full-time garden editor for the paper in 1988. All Rights Reserved. MLB legend makes surprise appearance at Astros' Spring Training, Hiker takes 'once-in-a-lifetime' photo at Brazos Bend State Park, This is what Houston looks like from space, Oops! In agriculture, ground cover is the name given to plants that are low growing and are used to cover a large area, giving a carpeted effect. Height is a foot or so. In fact, brass buttons share the same Achilles heel as ferns: Both succumb easily to drought. Here are four options that we've grown in various areas around the . It gets its name because light reflects off its hairy growths and sparkles on the landscape. It also produces lovely purple, white, blue, or pink flowers in the summer. It is perfect for rock gardens, edging of pathways or front of the flower border. The spotted dead nettle plant is listed as invasive in the Invasive Plant Atlas of the United States and is located mainly in the upper eastern states. This easy-care ground cover provides colors of purple, white pink and shades of light red. Care Grow the quick-growing groundcovers in moist, but well-drained soil in partial or full shade. Propagate by division in autumn or early spring After flowering, plants can be cut back to encourage fresh foliage cover. On the other hand, keeping it in check requires occasionally cutting back the stems, which can actually self-root if they fall off naturally. This is a slow-growing and long-lasting ground cover that simply needs pruning every so often to prevent it from growing leggy. Catmint can handle several types of soil as well as both humidity and drought, and its also deer and rabbit resistant. Lawns also are considered ground covers, but may require more moisture, sunlight, fertilizer and maintenance than other ground cover choices. Cut the runner off with pruning shears, plant it in another spot, and then water. A. It has a stripe down the middle that can be white, yellow, red, or silver. chezmoose. Lamium maculatum: Also called spotted deadnettle, forms a dense mat over. Mow it down once in late winter and watch the fresh green growth fill right back in. A variety of cultivars are available, including Juniperus horizontalis'Blue Rug.'. But purple deadnettle (Lamium purpureum) takes advantage of the open expanses of soil and lack of competition. No special soil is needed for it to flourish and reseed. Arricca Elin SanSone has written about health and lifestyle topics for Prevention, Country Living, Woman's Day, and more. Lamium groundcovers are the right choice for High Mountain, shady gardens. manure tea is a good alternative. Soil & Transplanting. So long as the site affords full sun and good drainage, creeping phlox requires next to nothing in the way of care. Note that the green type of European native can be highly invasive, especially in wet areas of the Northeast westward to Indiana, and in the parts of the Northwest. Ajuga ground cover doing very well in low light. Ground covers that develop flowers and fruit often require more maintenance to keep them attractive. With very attractive foliage and either white or pink flowers, Lamium maculatum makes an excellent ground cover plant for a shaded position. Otherwise, no pruning is needed, and if you're using it only for ground covering, watch that it does not grab hold of a tree bark or the siding of your house because its roots will dig in, making it hard to remove without damaging the surface. A critical bit of deadnettle plant info to be aware of, however, is . A ground hugging creeper with silvered variegated foliage and some really pretty colored flowers Dead Nettles are an ideal choice for gardeners who want a tough plant with a variety of . Simply put some potting soil mix in a container or hanging basket that has drainage holes, and plant the spotted dead nettle, then water. While lamium looks great, it's not the best at dealing with high amounts of traffic, so make sure it's somewhere with less foot traffic. Add compost if you have clayey soil to improve drainage. 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. 14. Lamium is a fast-growing perennial ground cover that deer and rabbits avoid. Read more about purple dead nettle and henbit. Consult with your local extension office before growing spotted deadnettle because it is invasive in some areas. Glechoma hederacea is not the same as henbit (Lamium amplexicaule) or Purple Deadnettle (Lamium purpureum L.), AKA red deadnettle, red henbit. Providing extra spacing between plants can lessen leaf-spotting, but this somewhat defeats the purpose of growing spotted dead nettles, as one of their best features is that they spread and fill in an area, thereby crowding out weeds. Pruning it back can help keep rambunctious runners under control or set your mower to high and shear it back after it flowers in the summer. It prefers shade, but . Flowering Plants for Bare Garden Spots - Ground Cover Dogwood. Lamium maculatum (white nettle, pink pewter, and spotted nettle) Lamium galeobdolon . In addition to making your garden look good, lithodora is a useful ally: The plant works as a natural deer repellent (the animals dislike the taste of the flowers) and helps control erosion. Creeping thyme (also known as mother of thyme or wild thyme) is a creeping, woody-stemmed perennial that is a favorite plant to use for a low-maintenance ground cover serving as a filler between garden stepping stones. Though bugleweed's deer-resistant flower spikes can't be missed (they can grow 6 to 9 inches tall) this fast-growing perennial is a ground cover that has an aggressive creeping habit. Lamium is one of the best choices for a tough yet showy perennial groundcover. Some hybrids offer striking, flat flower clusters that bees and butterflies can use as a landing pad. Spotted Dead Nettle ( Lamium maculatum) is a flowering type of low growing ground cover plant that thrives in the shade. Learn tips for creating your most beautiful home and garden ever. 30. For companion plants, select other shade-lovers. Fast growing and a good all round plant for beneath trees you get a ground cover with good foliage and the added attraction of flowers. It even takes on the terribly invasive Garlic Mustard. Leadwort begins blooming in late summer with beautiful, electric-blue flowers and continues until the first frost. And beware that it is considered invasive in some areas of the Northeast and Northwest.