These tough little ground covers can withstand the occasional trampling
mulch the 3 acres of presentation and trial garden at myperennialnursery was becoming expensive and time - consuming , so I decide to explore primer coat concealment that would finally eliminate the motive for mulch . As I trialed numerousground coversthat complemented my perennial andshrubs , I became smitten with those plants that proved to be strong enough to tolerate both foundation traffic from people touring my gardens and trampling by dearie . It became obvious which ones were tough enough to hold out the heat and humidness we get each summer , remain evergreen , and display delicacy flower for months . Here are my rank favourite .
For heavy-traffic areas
Green carpet rupturewort:The toughest of the tough
Herniaria glabraand cvs.
USDA Hardiness Zones:5–9
Size:1 to 2 in marvellous and 10 to 18 in wide
Conditions : Full sunlight to bright shadiness ; moist , well - drained , fair to poor , rough soil ; drought large-minded once institute ; fend off redundant wet
I often bring up to light-green carpet rupturewort as my “ tractor - lagger ” industrial plant because while contrary vehicles sometimes make bass impression in my garden , the rupturewort does n’t even turn yellow . The creeping stem of tiny , vivid green leave form an exceedingly impenetrable dark-green carpet . The summer - flower flush are inconspicuous , but the plant life does self - sow . So even though the seedlings are easy to remove , the flora is best situated in an expanse where its self - sowing is an asset . It prefers not to be covered with leaves for long periods of time . A major reward of rupturewort is that it does not “ disappear out ” in our humid summertime conditions the way that many crawl thymes ( Thymusspp . and cvs . , Zones 4–9 ) often do .
Dwarf creeping wire vine:A dense mat that changes with the seasons
Muehlenbeckia axillaris‘Nana’
Zones:6–10
Size:1 to 2 inches improbable and 8 to 12 inches wide
Conditions : Full sun to partial shade ; well - drain soil ; drought kind once established ; can hold heavy remains
I wish to use creep wirevineto provide a contrasting color between my stepping - Isidor Feinstein Stone . It has wiry stems and petite , dark , glistening green leaf that turn bronze with heat or cold . This dwarf variety forms a denser mat than the species . Tiny green blossom in outpouring are followed in crepuscle by small guileless white fruit with dim seeds . Because it runs underground as well as along the airfoil , this plant life works well for a dry , well - traveled path , but it will adjust to a garden setting . It can stand firm a plenty of foot dealings and is good for wearing control even though it is deciduous . dehydrated winter foliage may be cut to earth degree , or you could simply allow new foliage to originate over it in springiness .
White star creeper:A dusting of delicate flowers
Pratia angulata
Conditions : Full sun to fond shade ; prefers moist , well - debilitate , average soil but tolerates besotted or poor soil ; drought large-minded once ground
White star crawler has a multibranching habit , both above the land and below , and its dense foliage quickly covers an area . It is blanket with starry , pure white flowers that light up up the garden for most of leap , followed by round , blood-red violet berries thatattract birdsin downslope . It eliminates weeds among larger plants , and it cascades beautifully over stones . The rabbit in my garden love to nibble on the foliage , which is fine with me because they help oneself keep the foliage even low-toned , making the white stars glow more vividly . Deer do n’t seem to trouble it , and it springs right back after the great unwashed walk on it , even if that happens several time a day .
For moderate-traffic areas
test these flora for country that get traffic once a day or so .
Dwarf mondo grass:Thrives in deep shade
Ophiopogon japonicus‘Nana’
Zones:7–10
Size:2 in marvelous and 4 to 6 in wide
Conditions : fond to full shade ; evenly moist to dry , average dirt
When I have a heavy shaded situation and require a short , dark gullible ground covering , I become to midget mondo grass . My dwarf weep maple , for instance , create a dry , colored expanse during the grow time of year that becomes uninteresting during winter ; I have tried many flat coat covers , but dwarf mondo grass seems to be the only industrial plant that does n’t beware the lack of light while it waits to be exposed in winter . It is a turn slow to propagate , which makes it terrific between pavers because its slow growth keeps it from covering the stone . It is , however , well-heeled to transplant the rooted runners to fill in as desired , and it stand out as alawn substitutein small field .
‘Chocolate Chip’ ajuga:Less aggressive than other ajugas
Ajuga reptans‘Chocolate Chip’
Zones:3–9
Size:3 to 4 inch tall and 1 fundament astray
I wait forward to ‘ Chocolate Chip ’ ajuga ’s bountifulspikesof bluish over-embellished flowers to provide a welcome show in my spring garden . The pocket-size , drab , purplish - light-green leave create a land binding that is not as aggressive as larger - allow for ajuga assortment . It should be deadheaded , however — either by bridge player or by mowing with a mower on a high setting — to keep it looking tidy and to prevent ego - sowing . Deer and rabbits show no interest in feast on this weaving primer coat cover . ‘ Chocolate Chip ’ speedily fill empty spaces around big plants , providing year - cycle beauty in options that do not receive a lot of sun .
White cup flower:Months of blooms in hot, sunny areas
Nierembergia repens
Size:2 to 3 inch marvellous and 8 to 12 column inch wide
Conditions : Full sunshine to partial nuance ; moist , well - drained , average soil ; drouth tolerant once base
White cup flower ’s endearing quarter - size blooms cover mats of recondite unripe leaf for three to four month in summer when there are n’t many other ground covers bloom . Although the bloom tally is high when the works is produce in vivid sun , its white butterflower flowers brighten slightly shady areas as well . The plant could be considered belligerent because it roots at all nodes , but it provides a dependable solid ground cover . The dense underground stolon keep most gage from develop , but the plant is low enough to carpet around plants that are tall or have heavy basal growth . I love using this easy - to - grow , tough workhorse in my white - themed garden because it unites the entire expanse in one sweep .
‘Archer’s Gold’ creeping thyme:Tough and aromatic
Thymus pulegioides‘Archer’s Gold’
Zones:5–9
Size:3 to 4 inches improbable and 8 to 12 inches wide
‘ Archer ’s Gold ’ creeping thyme has it all : vivid gold evergreen foliage ; a wonderfullemon scentto enjoy as one crushed leather it underfoot ; and dainty lemon tree look for cooking . Drought resistant and deer resistant , it is first-class for herb - garden walkway , around rosaceous beds as a mulch substitute , or as a beautiful disease - free lawn alternative . I specially appreciate that it does not brown out in Virginia ’s heating and humidity , as many other thymes do . It is also suitable for use in container as a soil cover . Its lighting lavender - pinko blooming are a incentive in summertime .
Miniature golden sweet flag:Highlight shade-loving plants all year long
Acorus gramineus‘Minimus Aureus’
Size:3 to 5 inches tall and 6 to 12 inches wide
condition : Light to full shade but will tolerate full sun with excess moisture ; evenly moist to wet , boggy stain
Miniature aureate sweet iris is like sunshine in my suspect garden . As I reckon out my kitchen window on a insensate winter day , its nanus sports fan of brilliant favourable grassy foliage cheerfully accentuate the dark leave of absence of my hellebores ( Helleborusspp . and cvs . , Zones 4–9 ) and remind me that winter does not have to be black . This wet - loving solid ground cover version will grow in clay filth as well as flaxen loam with normal moisture , and it will naturalize in peat bog or at the urine ’s edge . I enjoy using it between Stone in pathways , between wooden affiliation in my footstep , and as a golden flatness . While it is a slow grower , it hold up for that by beingdeer resistant .
For light-traffic areas
An casual inadvertent whole step off a itinerary wo n’t hurt these plants .
Mini Kenilworth ivy:Bring rare color to the shade
Cymbalaria aequitriloba
sizing : Up to 1 in grandiloquent and up to 8 inches wide
Conditions : Full sun to partial shade ; moist to dry , well - drain , medium soil
This little gem did not record its ticket , which say that it is a “ tone industrial plant . ” We planted it in an aboveground box that serves as one of our fairy garden in intense , full sun . One class later we realized that it had performed stoically and was blooming out of every crevice in the wooden box . It crept into the other plants and made them appear to have lovely snapdragon - like lilac-colored flowers in April , long before they really bloomed . Because mini Kenilworth ivy is commonly only ¼ to ½ in tall , it did n’t harm any of its neighbour with its belligerent demeanor . Its tiny scalloped leaves hold tight to any stone or crevice , and it is relatively evergreen in meek winters . This little English bulldog is also groovy in the shade around my heucheras ( Heucheraspp . and cvs . , Zones 3–8 ) andhostas(Hostaspp . and cvs . , Zones 3–9 ) , but it does n’t like to be covered with Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree leaves all wintertime . Warning : Do not confuseCymbalaria aequitrilobawith its superaggressive cousinC. muralis , which is marvelous and larger leafed and quick overtakes one ’s garden .
‘Coral Carpet’ sedum:An ever-changing carpet of color
Sedum album‘Coral Carpet’
Zones:4–8
Size:2 to 4 inches tall and 1 ft wide
Conditions : Full sun to light specter ; moist to dry , well - drained , mediocre to inadequate soil
The minor , jellybean - alike leafage of ‘ Coral Carpet ’ sedum is like a chameleon when grown in dry , poorsoil . Its folio issue a pinkish-orange - coral color , mature to vivid green , then turn ruddy bronze in winter , in the heat energy of summertime , or when its nutrition is circumscribed . The crawling stem root at the node and promptly mold a impenetrable mat of foliage . diminutive clusters of white to pale pinkish bloom come out above the leafage in early summertime . I love to fit this deer- and rabbit - tolerant sedum into small crack or between stepping - stones , because each small piece that is planted or that falls onto soil will root if it receives adequate body of water . But do n’t worry ; it is soft to pull out if it appears where you do n’t need it .
Quick tips for growing ground covers successfully
lead room for planting between stepping - stones and pavers
When create a paving - stonepathway , I suggest allow a lower limit of 2 inch between the Harlan Stone for easy planting . Use a somewhat gamey , well - draining soil mix between the stones . If possible , set the stones or pavers approximately 1 to 2 column inch above the soil level so that the background cover does not apace cower over and insure the stone . When a pathway has stepping - stones , people usually do n’t walk on the flora ; thus , plants that tolerate big infantry dealings are not always demand . Most important , do n’t implant succulent where they will creep over a stepping - Harlan Stone or walk ; they can become tricky when crushed underfoot .
Water them carefully to avoid runoff
If you are establishing new plant life , specially ace produce in smallpots , it is necessary to water them several times each calendar week ( if it does not rain down ) . Once they have developed ascendant into the soil , they usually do n’t need extra water . Where H2O is not easily accessible , I like to use chicken feed cubes or frozen containers of water supply to provide moisture , essentially “ slow - expiration ” water . The plant life receive all the water from the dull thaw process , so runoff is prevented .
Mulch until plants begin to spread out
It is important to use mulch when planting tosuppress weedsand to keep an even moisture level . Once the industrial plant have fill in , mulching is generally unneeded . space on most of these plants is , to me , a topic of money and longanimity . The suggested spatial arrangement can easy be extend if you are not in a rushing to accomplish complete coverage . Most of the plants will quickly supply stock-still pieces that can be transfer into bare areas .
Sandy McDougle is the owner of Sandy ’s Plants , a grower of rare and strange perennials in Mechanicsville , Virginia .
picture : courtesy of stepables.com ; Michelle Gervais ; good manners of sandysplants.com .
illustration : Martha Garstang Hill
Sources
The next mail - order plant vender offer the widest selection of the plants feature :
Arrowhead Alpines , Fowlerville , Mich. ; 517 - 223 - 3581 ; arrowheadalpines.com
Joy Creek Nursery , Scappoose , Ore. ; 503 - 543 - 7474 ; joycreek.com
Sandy ’s Plants , Mechanicsville , Va. ; 804 - 746 - 7092 ; sandysplants.com
Stepables , Salem , Ore. ; 503 - 581 - 8915 ; stepables.com
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