We'll help you find the best plants from proven classics to the very latest in what's new for you hardiness zone. Spread: 1 to 1.5 feet This ground cover plant is tolerant of partial shade or sun, Ophiopogon planiscapus Nigrescens is grown for the black color of the carpet glass. https://www.greatgardenplants.com/category/shade-groundcover-drought-proof But in this entry, we are talking about a different kind of alyssum. 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). It is important to choose the right ground cover to fit your needs and the site requirements. Like many succulents, it will root where its leaves come into contact with the soil, permitting it to multiply. Hosta – One of the most popular shade ground covers are the hostas. Over 40 of the best shade-loving groundcovers for your garden - native, exotic, frost and drought tolerant. The most important factor when designing a drought-tolerant yard is choosing plants that are able to endure SoCal summer temperatures and little water for half of the year once they are planted. Shade Tolerant Trees, Shrubs, and Groundcovers. A very hardy plant, it is frost and drought resistant and can be used to help prevent soil erosion. Candytuft. Anything that grows in rocks gets by with little water! Low ground covers are useful in small spots, borders, or to lower the edges of larger ground covers. See more ideas about plants, ground cover plants, xeriscape. Since the cost of maintaining a lawn has risen and time or effort needed to keep it in good shape, some homeowners are reducing size by replacing some areas with ground cover. Mondo grass is a strappy leafed evergreen clump-forming perennial that is tolerant of sun and shade, as well as drought. No, it is all about the flowers with candytuft. An ideal choice for cottage style gardens, Creeping boobialla is a dense spreading ground cover that features clusters of white, star-shaped scented flowers. Not only is this a drought-tolerant ground cover, but it positively does not like for its roots to be sitting in moisture. Suits sandy to heavy clay soils. Ivy. Pictured here is purple ice plant (Delosperma cooperi). Groundcovers might not be as sexy or exciting to plant as some ornamentals, but the low-growing plants are useful and can really add to a xeric garden’s look and function. You should also consider the amount of work you are willing to dedicate to the garden. Add color, beauty and staying power to your landscape with our Jumbo Pots Sizes. You will have to make up your own mind as to whether you wish to grow plants such as Vinca minor. But unlike Angelina, Aurinia saxatilis is grown more for the display created by its flowers. The latter leaves feature a gold color. Care: Water as required for 8-13 weeks until established. As with other succulents, they are attractive, drought-tolerant and low-maintenance. Tolerates frost and drought. It forms a carpet of blue and white starflowers during spring and summer but needs a little attention and care in dry spells. Both this and the sun-loving cultivars prefer well-draining soil and can tolerate drought conditions. Succulents for Shade: Drought Tolerant Garden Succulent Guide, 7 Drought-Tolerant Herbs for Southern California Gardens + Tips, 8 Drought-Tolerant Plants to Line Your Driveway, 10 Great Plants for Drought that Are not Succulents, 10 Tips for Gardening in Drought Conditions, 10 Easy Succulents for Your Drought-Tolerant Garden, Paver Patterns and Design Ideas for Your Patio, Artificial Grass Installation Services in San Diego and Orange County, Artificial Grass Cost – Installation Price Guide. Not only are they breathtaking when massed together, but each individual bloom will merit close study if you enjoy intricate patterns. 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. Author Teresa Odle. There are some great ground covers for shade. Although they prefer moist soil, ostrich ferns are surprisingly drought-tolerant groundcovers. It is like the deer resistant shrubs and is great for planting around stepping stones, or along borders. The low-growing Southwestern favorites below attract native pollinators, such as birds and bees, and keep weeds to a minimum underneath their outreaching stems. As with other succulents, they are attractive, drought-tolerant and low-maintenance. Dead Nettle Lirope sp. A delightful little ground cover for a small spot of moist shade. As an added bonus, this is a long-blooming vine, which can have flowers from spring through fall. This member of the mint family, only reaching 6 to 10 inches high, is useful planted between steppingstones. You may need to rake leaves out of your bark every once in a while or replenish it every couple of years to keep it looking new and fresh, but that is just about all it takes to keep this option looking great. This species is fairly drought-tolerant, but thrives best when it receives regular watering. This is the only non-living ground cover that gives you the look and feel of lush, green grass without the required irrigation that makes natural grass lawns a poor choice during times of drought. Red creeping thyme (Thymus serpyllum coccineus ) is a heat-tolerant, drought-tolerant ground cover that grows in zones 3 to 9. Low ground covers are useful in small spots, borders, or to lower the edges of larger ground covers. Top 3 Low-Growing Ground Covers for Water Restrictions? DROUGHT TOLERANT GROUND COVERS FOR SHADE Botanical Name Common Name Asarum canadense Wild Ginger Asarum europeanum Wild Ginger Epimedium spp. Photo Credits (in order of appearance): Wikimedia Commons/Borealis55; Wikimedia Commons/Mason Brock; Wikimedia Commons/Peter coxhead; Wikimedia Commons/EnLorax, 7310 Miramar Rd #300, San Diego, CA 92126. From backyards, to public walkways, to difficult to work with “tough spots”, Kurapia thrives and blankets the earth in lush greenery. Shuttleworth’s wild ginger (Asarum s huttleworthii, Zones 6–9) is a champion, no-care ground cover. California's many native sages are also drought-tolerant. If you are in search of drought-tolerant ground covers for shade that will beautify your yard without increasing your water bill, here is a list of nine living and non-living options to help you find the right choice for your landscaping needs. These unthirsty trees, succulents, flowers, ground covers and grasses will thrive with little water and care in Texas’ worst heat and drought. Most sages grow taller than the typical 6-inch to 12-inch high groundcovers, but sages will rapidly cover a plot of land. After all, plants such as Vinca minor and Japanese pachysandra need to be tough to survive in dry soils. It will spread well on its own, and you can easily take cuttings and plant them to encourage faster growth over a larger area. Introducing "One Thing": A New Video Series. As with other aggressive plants, if you feel you truly must grow it, there are ways to contain it. Our groundcover sections are organized according to requirements such as evergreen, paths and drought tolerant to make your selection process easier. See more ideas about plants, shade plants, drought tolerant. Use the taller ground covers for larger areas or where you want more drought tolerance. Gardeners value Angelina as a low-growing plant with chartreuse foliage. Spring brings purple flower stalks to this drought-tolerant ground cover option that does just fine in full or part sun but also thrives in partial shade. This is also a great way to have the look of a living ground cover in areas where nothing will grow or in areas of deep shade. Ground covers add beauty to the garden at ground level and keep the surrounding area cool, as they help prevent the ground from heating up during hot summers. Creeping juniper (Juniperus sp. ) For best results, plant sweet alyssum in full sun or partial shade. Drought Tolerant Shade Plants Are Great for Most Gardens. To speed up the process, break up clumps every couple of years. Most plants grow best in full sunlight and all plants need some light to survive. Choose your ground cover Suggestions for Ground Cover for Shade. Other ground covers, like cast iron plant, prefer shade and will often show foliar scorching when planted in full sun. 10 of 15. Wall germander is a drought-tolerant, evergreen ground cover. What shade ground covers are deer resistant? We have been trialing drought tolerant plants for over 30 years and offer an excellent range for all Australian gardens. While no plant is 100% deer proof, deer generally avoid certain shade perennials. below. Care: Water as required for 8-13 weeks until established. This European and North African native is an evergreen ground cover with flowers in shades of pink and purple. When cold weather hits, its needlelike leaves turn orange and red but remain standing through winter. Fast spreading means you will get a quick ground cover, but slower spreading types will need less pruning on the edges. Like Angelina sedum, it (Delosperma cooperi). Ostrich fern is prized for its feathery, finely cut fronds that … Regrettably, weeds will quickly invade a bare patch and take it over. It is a great alternative to turf for heavily shaded areas, often only needing one … Less than a foot high ground cover plants that are native to California. Proper selection can help minimize the need for lawn irrigation, fertilization, and mowing after ground covers are established. Ostrich fern is prized for its feathery, finely cut fronds that unfurl gracefully in the early spring. There is ground cover for sun, shade ground covers, drought tolerant ground cover, flowering ground cover, you can find a type to meet any location. Plant coyote bush 2 to 3 feet apart and wild lilac 3 to 5 feet apart for good coverage. We'll help you find the best plants from proven classics to the very latest in what's new for you hardiness zone. Ground covers add beauty to the garden at ground level and keep the surrounding area cool, as they help prevent the ground from heating up during hot summers. Ajuga reptans is native to Europe and has historically been used for medicinal purposes, particularly in the treatment of respiratory ailments. Plant in a well mulched garden (chunky mulch is recommended). This option has larger flowers than most of the other choices on this list and it stays in bloom throughout the summer. This flowering vine is native to the Mediterranean region and can thrive in part or full shade in Southern California. Not only does this allow the plants to thrive, but it also saves you a fortune on water bills compared to a traditional green, grassy lawn. The evergreen fronds of Christmas ferns look beautiful when dusted with winter snow and provide a lot of winter interest to shady sites. This petite groundcover plant is the smallest of ground covers, and they form vase covers over full-sun locations. These unthirsty trees, succulents, flowers, ground covers and grasses will thrive with little water and care in Texas’ worst heat and drought. We have perennial varieties that thrive in those dry areas of your yard. Also known as epimedium, this deciduous perennial flowers in spring and has leaves that turn red in the fall. There are usually some shady areas in a garden or a lawn. It is on this list because it is a drought-tolerant option that does just fine in shade, but it also offers a lovely fragrance and is a great creeper. While choosing s… Some ground covers, like the horizontal junipers, must have sun. You may want to use a little water to spray the dust off of your synthetic turf every once in a while, but that is all the water you will need with this low-maintenance ground cover option. Here are 9 Drought-Tolerant Ground Covers for Shade: Gravel comes in many colors and sizes, which makes it a versatile landscaping option with many uses. Often seen in driveways, walkways or patio areas, this no-water ground cover is an ideal option for homeowners who have very little time for yard maintenance or who need to cover a large area quickly. A chartreuse selection of the rugged S. rupestre, this bright and popular plant is hard to miss, even from a distance. You likely will grow tired of pulling it out of places where it does not belong in your landscaping, frankly. The glowing golden foliage is as useful in the kitchen as it is as a ground cover or edging plant. The Texas ash is a handsome shade tree that is very drought tolerant once established. Position: Full sun to part shade. Daisies brighten up any landscape, and this drought-tolerant ground cover is no exception. Ground cover 20cm high by 1m across Bright gold ball-like flowers in winter and spring Full sun Limestone; coastal, sea-side, all sands Drought tolerant Origin: WA . Hosta plants are a great ground cover for shade that can handle shade so long as the soil is well drained. Kurapia is a delightful groundcover. Anna Yu/Getty Images. Member $6.95 Non-Member $8.95 . While this may limit some of the choices, there are still plenty of options for the cold zone gardener. Wood chips or bark can also help inhibit weed growth, can help the soil retain moisture and is an attractive way to cover bare earth inexpensively. You can enjoy the colorful foliage and fantastic aroma the entire year and are treated to pink or purple flowers in the summer. In this case, however, the blossoms take a backseat to the foliage. Covering your ground was never this easy! Sap may cause irritation, so cover your skin when handling. Bark and wood chips are also no-water ground covers that require very little care. Prairie zinnia covers ground and rocks. You are probably familiar with sweet alyssum, which is treated as an annual plant in the North. Gardeners value Angelina as a low-growing plant with chartreuse foliage. It is more difficult to control than Vinca minor, so this article is certainly not urging you to grow it. For many years the quintessential American shade ground cover was ivy ... Wild ginger can handle drought. This drought-tolerant ground cover for sun can be used for culinary purposes and usually grows to about six inches in height. If you want a continuous blanket of foliage and flowers that goes from a sunny area of your yard into a shady area, periwinkle is a good choice, since it can thrive in either environment. Plant in a well mulched garden (chunky mulch is recommended). Like Angelina sedum, it sports attractive leaves -- in this case, leaves of a blue-gray or gray-green color. So if you need a low-water ground cover in between stepping stones or bordering a walkway, creeping thyme might be the right choice for you. With Vinca minor, we come to a plant that is somewhat problematic. 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