Just the Facts, Actaea Simplex Brunette: Growth and Care Guide. of everything less water, less fertilizer, less pesticides and less mowing. Many types of ground cover plants are perfect for planting in the shade. Plant Asiatic Jasmine in your yard for an easy-going, attractive. Bright-blue flowers appear on spikes in early spring. Japanese painted fern(Athyrium niponicum var. Apart from ground cover, periwinkle plants thrive in shady conditions on slopes, under shrubs, in north-facing window boxes, or in hanging baskets under a roof. Mondo grass (Ophiopogon japonicus) is a good alternative for a lawn if you have areas of your garden that are in constant shade. The mound-forming perennials have long, dark green leaves and tolerate drought, heat, and shade. Leaves cluster at the ends of stems that stand six to 12 inches tall. Vinca (Vinca minor) is an excellent evergreen flowering ground cover plant because it covers the ground with dense foliage and a few flowers in the spring. Check out our texas shade ground cover selection for the very best in unique or custom, handmade pieces from our shops. This member of the mint family, only reaching 6 to 10 inches high, is useful planted between steppingstones. One of the striking features of Hostas is their fragrant flowers. Avoid planting caladiums. For example, the interrupted fern (Osmunda claytoniana) is a tall type (2 to 3 feet). Groundcovers for Dry Shade Annuals: It's a tricky month for annuals since we get hot days. English ivy - the classic and still great ground cover for the shade. Plant 'White Nancy,' a vigorous ground cover, in a confined space. During the winter the leaves may turn yellow and die off. Cedar Sage 9. Other names for Epimedium plants include horny goat weed, barrenwort, or Bishops hat. Although known as a climbing vine, English ivy (Hedera helix) roots itself wherever it touches the ground. It fares best in USDA zones 5 to 9. Its tightly woven vines produce green leaves and small white or yellow flowers in the spring. Hostas like to grow in the shade and may reach a height of 2 ft. (0.6 m). Frog Fruit a new ground cover that is gaining in popularity. There are bush and creeping selections. However, if you need a ground cover plant for a large area, then Lily of the Valley could be a good choice of flowering perennial for shade. The Texas Redbud will liven up any garden with magenta flowers in the early spring and thrives just fine in low-sunlight conditions. Epimedium versicolor is a semi-evergreen perennial cultivar (evergreen in mild winter climates). This fern will tolerate more sun . You can grow variegated ginger in containers to overwinter indoors in northern Texas. Its also called lilyturf by a few people. Sweet Woodruff (Galium odoratum) is a hardy white flowering perennial ground cover for shade. As you place them in the ground, set the plants at the same depths at which they were growing in the containers. Learn tips for creating your most beautiful home and garden ever. Coupon eligible. But don't be deceived by its good looks. Size: 10" to 36" (25 - 90 cm) tall and 12" to 23" (30 - 60 cm) wide. This evergreen grass grows to be four to six inches tall. Turks cap is a small native shade loving red flowering shrub for central and south Texas. I prefer the small, variegated variety. Extension programs serve people of all ages regardless of socioeconomic level, race, color, sex . This fast-growing ground cover bears four-petal flowers, typically in a crisp white, but varieties include deep purple, light pink, and peach. Mazus reptans (creeping mazus) is the cultivar that is fast growing and has creeping and rooting stems. Because all Texas lawn grasses do best in full sun, homeowners in the state often find bald spots in shady areas of their yards. : Help Your Plant Bloom, How Long Does It Take Clover to Bloom? The densely-growing shrub has erect branches with golden green linear leaves. The bright yellow flowers are around an inch in diameter (2.5 cm) and provide a splash of color when planted under trees, shrubs, or in other shady places. 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 It grows about a foot high and can spread as much as 12 feet. There are 19 of them in the metroplex and a couple in Houston under the name of Cornelius, wonderful places to shop. Sanddune sedge planted in light shade is less trample-proof than when planted in full sun. Ground cover plants are beneficial pieces of foliage that are attractive and help prevent nuisances such as weeds and erosion. Work the soil up, work in organic matter, and choose shade-tolerant groundcovers. Survives on rainwater and three or four monthly supplements. The small plant also accents other garden features and looks good in a rock garden. These groundcovers and vines grow well under shade trees in North Texas There are no good turf choices under shade trees, so try groundcovers or other alternative materials. Average minimum winter temperatures are 10F to 20F. Lawn maintenance can be boring, so put something colorful in its place. Mow it once a year with a lawn mower. Does not exceed 12 inches in height. Even Asian Jasmine will do very well in the shade. Sun exposure: Direct sunlight, partial shade, full shade. Maybe you hate mowing and fertilizing. English Ivy. This perennial plant has feathery, fan-shaped, green foliage and is cold-hardy. Its gray-green fronds arepainted with asilvery overcoat,studded with maroon veining. The attractive features of the shade-loving plant are its vibrant red hibiscus-like flowers and heart-shaped leaves. You can also plant this native small, fast-growing plant along a foundation line or fence or brighten a mixed bed. It is an especially severe problem in the Northwest U.S. Liriope spicata is another potentially invasive ground cover for shade. Finally, ground covers like Aspidistra, Monkey Grass, Ajuga or Liriope provide the finishing touches. This plant blooms in late spring and bears delicate, white flower clusters. Santolina an extremely drought-tolerant plant that comes in green and gray varieties, both with yellow flowers. Generally, ground cover plants for shade are hardy types of creeping or spreading plants that are green all year long. They grow best in USDA hardiness zones 4-9. Some short plants are native to Texas, while others are not. 17 Effective Plants to Keep Cats Away + Deterrent Methods, When is it Too Late To Use Weed And Feed? 2 But, like creeping juniper, it's a short (3 to 6 inches) evergreen. Velvety, rich petals to add a touch of luxury to your outdoor spaces. It also does well in both sunshine and shade. It grows to 9 to 18 inches and quickly spreads by forming grass-like clumps. As a remedy, plant something in the problem sites that requires less light. Choosing flowering shade plants for Texas landscape helps to brighten dimly lit areas of your front or backyard. They are also shade-loving plants that grow as ground cover in Texas gardens that get little daily sunlight. Size: 3 to 10 ft. (1 3 m) tall and 2 to 4 ft. (0.6 1.2 m) wide. Include this soft and fuzzy perennial ground cover, a must-have for texture. The parent, Mexican petunia, is . Ferns are generally great choices for shady areas. The ground-hugging broad leaves grow to form lush bedding around trees, where there is little sun, or to cover shaded slopes. 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. Coupon eligible. Perennial Canadian anemone ( Anemone canadensis) is a US native wildflower that spreads well in Zones 3 to 8, prefers moist soil, and thrives in full sun to part shade. Thats a wonderful groundcover. Aug. 17, 2007. 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. Coupon eligible. This easy-to-grow plant, which doesn't require deadheading flowers or fertilizer, blooms in the spring and summer. 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. Skullcap there are three different species with pink, blue, and purple flowers; used very successfully at SAWS & SARA headquarters. You will also learn about the best plants that flower, are drought resistant, or just provide evergreen cover in shady areas. Ground cover plants for the shade help to provide greenery to areas where other plants dont grow well. Coupon eligible. Sounds perfect, except that plumbago can spread aggressivelycut it out with a spade if it oversteps its borders. Hi, Im Neil Sperry, back in your neighborhood, Calloways Nursery. Creeping Juniper is a family of shrubs, many of which thrive in the Texan environment. The clear benefit of using ground covers instead of grass is less of everything less water, less fertilizer, less pesticides and less mowing. Epimedium pubigerumis one of the taller types (24 inches); it bears white flowers with yellow centers. Palm Trees Houston: 5 Beautiful Varieties, What Planting Zone is Illinois in? Fortunately, not invasive here as in the Pacific Northwest. The flowers can bloom from spring to fall in pink, purple, red, and white varieties. Its great in the shade. Average minimum winter temperatures are 20F to 30F. an extremely drought-tolerant plant that comes in green and gray varieties, both with yellow flowers. The plant is slow-growing and will reach a height between 4 and 24 (10 60 cm) after 3 years. I find it does best in small, confined beds. 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. Thanks for watching, and Ill see you next time. The Allegheny Pachysandra ( Pachysandra procumbens) is a popular type of perennial ground cover plant due to its low height and dense green foliage. Below are the best picks for ground cover plants in Texas. Spotted Dead Nettle grows in USDA hardiness zones 3-10. Very soon, the cascading leaves will beautify your garden or yard. This is not true, as horticulturists define a "part shade" plant as one that requires 2 to 4 hours of direct sunlight each day. The shade-loving Hydrangea macrophyllaBig Daddy is a large shrub with reblooming mophead flowers that appear in early summer and persist until fall. This variety only grows to 4 tall (10 cm) with a small spread. Compared to other plants that you can use for green ground cover, the Corsican mint needs a warmer climate. As a low-lying evergreen shrub, this cold-hardy plant offers dense coverage that can reach up to 2 feet of height when left unpruned. These can be simply evergreen or provide seasonal flowers. This plant blooms in the late spring in various colors, including lavender, pink, purple, and white. Deadnettle is a flowering ground cover plant for shade with many cultivars. These features give the rounded shrub four-season visual appeal in a southern backyard. Work the soil up, work in organic matter, and choose shade-tolerant groundcovers. Size: 6 to 10 ft. (1.8 3 m) tall and 5 to 9 ft. (1.5 2.7 m) wide. Most are specific to sun or shade, but some are adaptable to both extremes. Most thyme plants are perennials with pointed, blue-green leaves that softly blanket the ground. Wild ginger is an excellent ground cover for shade. This West Coast native is . Spotted Dead Nettle (Lamium maculatum) is a flowering type of low growing ground cover plant that thrives in the shade. All parts of the plant are toxic and may cause digestive upset or skin irritations. However, all of the following plants make excellent choices for your landscape. I love coming here. Blooms in the spring and keeps foliage over the summer and fall. There are 19 of them in the metroplex and a couple in Houston under the name of Cornelius, wonderful places to shop. In North Texas, some of the best ground cover options for shade include English Ivy, Ajuga, and Pachysandra. Steve Bender, also known as The Grumpy Gardener, is an award-winning author, editor, columnist, and speaker with nearly 40 years experience as Garden Editor, Senior Writer, and Editor-at-Large for Southern Living. Related article: Nandina Plant Care and Growing Guide. Mow it once a year with a lawn mower. I prefer the small, variegated variety. It also looks stunning with its white flowers and evergreen foliage cascading over a hanging basket. You can use them without fear of rampant spreading. Because monkey grass thrives in the shade, it can be planted under shrubs and trees or in areas that are in constant shade. Coupon eligible. So they're an excellent ground cover for low light areas in zones 4-8. The good news is fall is for planting! Not a turf grass, but more of a bunch grass perennial, since it goes dormant in the winter. Some landscaping ideas to use this plant for good ground cover is to prevent erosion on slopes, use as a colorful edging border, or have foliage under trees or shrubs. Heavenly bamboo is a tall flowering ornamental shrub that blooms well in partial shade. Corsican mint (Mentha requienii) is one of the smallest varieties of the mint family and spreads out to form a green mat-like covering in shady areas. Avoid wetting the foliage with sprinklers, as this promotes disease. For an even more striking landscape idea, you can plant a black variety of Mondo grass. My favorite is mondo grass, regular mondo grass. It's a shame that yellow archangel is invasive, since its bright yellow flowers would go a long way toward brightening a shady spot in the landscape. The lavender, violet, and other white flower varieties are mostly scentless. Lavender blooms last for several weeks in summer. Golden Oregano is another creeping vine that is ideal in Texas, thanks to its resilience. And it has weed control, sending out chemicals that inhibit their growth. For this reason, the painted fern is more popular in landscaping. Asiatic jasmine is a low maintenance and easy care trailing flowering plant for partial shade. Brass Buttons (Leptinella) Another shade ground cover that has really unique foliage is known as brass buttons. But there are very good reasons why you might want something other than grass to carpet the ground. In fact, its considered native to Texas, which is why people in the area are so fond of it. Check our plant database for more ideas! Late: plant cosmos, sunflowers, morning glory, gomphrena but keep an eye on upcoming freezes. Other common names for Turks cap include Drummonds wax mallow, Texas mallow, and sleeping hibiscus. These are just few examples of ground covers. In this article, you will find out about some of the best low-maintenance ground cover plants that grow well in the shade. Liriope, L-I-R-I-O-P-E, a lovely groundcover, its a little taller. You have probably heard of the midnight ride of Paul Revere, in which the patriot of the American Revolution famously warned about the coming British invaders. 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. Easily grown in acid, always-moist woodland shade in the South and some sun and light shade in the North, it is an insect-resistant, fast-spreading, attractive ground cover. The cast iron plant thrives in Central and Southern Texas and needs hardly any sunlight to thrive. Hi, Im Neil Sperry, back in your neighborhood, Calloways Nursery. I find it does best in small, confined beds. The distinguishing feature of Wild Ginger is its evergreen kidney-shaped leaves. In southern Texas, Turks cap has evergreen foliage and is tolerant of heat and drought. Its also best to keep it moderately watered since it tolerates dry conditions quite well. Top Texas Native Plants for Shade It can be tricky to find plants that want to bloom in the shade, but these three plants are stars in the shade! Consider expanding your landscape plant palette by removing the grass monoculture. https://www.wildflower.org/collections/collection.php?collection=centex_dry_shade. This easy-keeper annual shrugs off deer, rabbits, and even drought, putting forth its best flowering show in hot weather. There are hardy geraniums for most garden situations, yes, even as a ground cover for dappled and full shade. Plants that perform well as ground covers in shady areas earn this reputation because they are extremely tenacious and able to thrive without much sunlight. You can plant this small ornamental shrub in part to full shade as a foundation planting, specimen plant, or patio container shrub. Varieties of camellias that bloom in shaded Texan front or backyards include the following: Size: 4 to 10 ft. (1.2 3 m) tall and 2 to 8 ft. (0.6 2.4 m) wide, depending on the cultivar. Ground covers are spreading or mounding plants that cover most or all of the soil surface. Periwinkle plants are beautiful perennials to grow in the shade, whether you live in Amarillo, San Antonio, Dallas, Corpus Christi, or near the Mexican border. The perennial plant, Bishops Weed (Aegopodium podagraria) is another low-maintenance gardening solution for ground cover in shady areas. Or perhaps you wish you could put something colorful or more drought-tolerant in its place. There are 19 of them in the metroplex and a couple in Houston under the name of Cornelius, wonderful places to shop. Creeping liriope has a very bad reputation in the Southeast U.S., though it is less troublesome in the northern part of its hardiness range. Creeping thyme belongs to the mint family and has a pleasant scent; while not grown as an herb, it can be used for cooking. This plant is considered slightly invasive in portions of the Northeast and Northwest U.S., but most gardeners will have no major problems with it. Earn rewards for every dollar you spend. 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 attractive features of this evergreen plant are its purple and green foliage, a profusion of tiny white flowers, and bright red berries that persist during fall and winter. This landscaping plant is also sensitive to drought. Unlike other varieties of the mint family, this very low-growing variety loves the shade. It can do many things, including retaining soil moisture, controlling erosion, creating a lush blanket of plants and replacing a traditional turfgrass lawn. Here are some of our favorite shade plants. The ground cover plant thrives in full to partial shade and flowers every spring when new leaves appear. He is the publisher of Neil Sperry's GARDENS Magazine. This invasive planttends to get out of control in the yard. Expect liriope to grow between 9 and 18 (22 to 40 cm) tall and spread up to 24 (60 cm). This ground cover plant should not be used as a substitute to ginger because it contains toxic substances. "Bronze," the best-known and fastest-growing ajuga variety, boasts reddish-bronze foliage that greens somewhat in summer. She holds a B.A. This is not a good drought-resistant plant as it needs moist, well-drained soil to thrive. This native Texas shrub performs well in dappled sunlight or partial shade in hot climates. Its stiff, leafy branches grow about 6-12 inches, and purple flowers sprout directly from the stems over the summer. No mowing, no fertilizer, no pesticide. Branching out as much as 80 feet, English ivy will even scale trees, making it more troublesome than most other invasive plants. Mazus reptans is a flowering perennial ground cover plant for shade with purple flowers. This member of the mint family, only reaching 6 to 10 inches high, is useful planted between steppingstones. USDA growing zones: 2 to 11. Southern shield fern. Mow yearly. Because this type of flowering ground cover plant is best in the shade, the leaves may start to yellow in full sun. The foliage on Japanese pachysandras is very dense, making it a good plant that provides creeping ground cover. It can also be used between stepping stones to add a lush quality to your yard. It may be time to forget turf and move on to something thats drought hardy, water efficient and environmentally friendly: ground covers. Ground. This type of shade-loving perennial ground cover plant produces small flowers in the spring. Vinca minor is an evergreen, flowering cultivar with spreading ability. They used every letter in the alphabet on that one. Learn more at neilsperry . It is a supremely tough, fast-spreading, evergreen ground that tolerates heat, humidity, and well-drained soils. Alternatively, you can plant monkey grass as pathway edging, ground cover for sun or shade, or create texture in front of trees and shrubs. Not cut, mind you, but rip, shred and tear the leaves and vines. Turks cap is a native Texas shade plant that thrives in the central and southern regions of the state. Asiatic jasmine is a shade-tolerant evergreen shrub or vine famed for its fragrant white flowers and lush foliage. Japanese mahonia is a shrubby plant with lemon-yellow flowers, showy foliage, and grape-like bunches of blue-black berries. It grows around six to 12 inches from the ground and should be planted in a moist area with space to grow. One thing to consider before choosing this type of plant for ground covering is its toxicity. ( Chrysactinia mexicana) Native to the high desert regions of Arizona, Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, Texas and Mexico. Finding the right ground cover for shade in Texas is important, there are several great options that can thrive in this environment. Geranium macrorrhizum is a drought-tolerant and shade-tolerant perennial with semi-evergreen, fragrant leaves. Coupon eligible. Although all three function as if they areornamental grasses, none of them really are grasses from a scientific classification. Ground covers play an essential role in our ecosystem, providing diversity in many environments. You'll also have to edge the planting occasionally to keep it in bounds. You can expect that the green blanket of this mint plant will transform into a lilac color when it blossoms in the summer. If you have tried and tried and tried again to get grass to grow beneath your shade trees, maybe, just maybe, you have too much shade. The lush plant forms an upright clump of yellow and green variegated aromatic leaves and clusters of red, brown, or purple shell-like flowers blooming on arching stems. Shade plants must be able to grow well in limited sunshine. Mazus is a group of low-growing spreading plants that provide excellent ground cover in parts of your garden that dont get much sun. Ground cover plants are beneficial pieces of foliage that are attractive and help prevent nuisances such as weeds and. Its one of the most common questions Im asked. 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. This ground cover thrives as a perennial in USDA hardiness zones between 6 and 9. They are also shade-loving plants that grow as ground cover in Texas gardens that get little daily sunlight. Mazus ( Mazaceae, sometimes called creeping mazus) is a low-growing, fast-spreading ground cover, although it's best suited for areas of the garden that see lighter foot traffic. Local oak trees that thrive in South Texas are able to stand up to the areas high heat and low-water conditions. Flowering vs. Evergreen Ground Covers This refined ground cover grows slowly to only 3 or 4 inches tall. Plants form spreading, evergreen or semi-evergreen mats up to six inches high and three feet wide. It emits a vanilla aroma and attracts pollinators. Classified as a form of dogwood, this is a low-growing (3 to 9 inches) deciduous shrub that makes for an excellent ground cover plant in part shade locations. The Bloody Cranesbill (Geranium sanguineum) is a hardy type of flowering ground cover plant that belongs to the Geranium family. Inland sea oats a native grass for large swaths of backyard understory. The clumpy plants can spread up to 8 (20 cm). These small evergreen plants are very low maintenance and, unlike a lawn, dont require regular mowing. Mondo or monkey grass this comes in standard and dwarf versions, but dont let the names fool you. Periwinkles are mat-forming evergreen plants with large lilac or purple flowers. It can act as a natural border for the more colorful varieties of drought-resistant plants in your garden and thrives in Zones 3-10. It can grow in full, direct sunlight to full shade. Neil Sperry, a McKinney resident, hosts Neil Sperry's Texas Gardening from 8 to 10 a.m. Sundays on WBAP-AM (820). Coupon eligible. The plant grows as a mound and spreads, creating ground cover in the shade. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); document.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Milberger Nursery @2015 All rights reserved. Mary Simpson began her writing career in 1968 on a Dallas oil magazine. Creeping Buttercup is a fast growing flowering ground cover plant. Inland Sea Oats 2. Bloody Cranesbill is herbaceous flowering perennial ground cover. In Northern Texas, impatiens grow as tender perennials or annuals. A collection of hosta plants herbaceous perennial ground cover plant. Its black berries are poisonous, and it is considered an invasive plant in Texas, as well as in other states. . So, those are some of the best. Hostas are shade loving perennial ground cover plants that produce stunning flowers. Yarrow A North American native, Yarrow is popular with bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. It is also relatively easy to maintain and is resistant to animals such as deer and rabbits. a very low growing perennial with purple flowers; excellent for those hot and dry row areas along the street. The clear benefit of using ground covers instead of grass is. there are three different species with pink, blue, and purple flowers; used very successfully at SAWS & SARA headquarters. And the reason I like it so much and have used it throughout my landscape is that it does not have runners. Ajuga is a fast grower and is considered invasive in some areas of the country. 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. Bunchberry (Cornus canadensis) is a type of ground cover plant that loves to grow in shady areas. This mat-forming ground cover perennial grows best in hardiness zones 5 to 10. Once the roots of these plants are established, its very hardy and drought tolerant. The parent, Mexican petunia, is invasive. Growing to a height of around 40 (100 cm), the broad leaves provide excellent ground cover. This is the one that gets about five or six inches tall. Thriving throughout most of Texas, this shrub performs best in part shade to full shade. However, pachysandra is an aggressive plant that is considered invasive in many areas of the northeastern U.S., from the Atlantic coast to Wisconsin. They help to cover most types of soil or look good in rock gardens. You will also get top tips on where to grow these Texas shade plants. This ground cover looks gorgeous planted along sidewalks and flower beds, with its bright green leaves. Depending on the growing zone, the Allegheny Pachysandra can be evergreen or semi-evergreen (deciduous in colder climates). Not only is English Ivy low maintenance, but it also is not too invasive when planted in Texas. Im Neil Sperry, proud to be sponsored by Calloways on both of my radio programs, on KLIF on Saturday afternoons from 1:00 to 3:00, and on WBAP on Sunday mornings from 8:00 until 10:00. Size: 6 to 24 (15 60 cm) tall and 12 to 18 (30 45 cm) wide. With blades thinner than those of liriope, mondo grass grows in clumps from rhizomes in USDA zones 7 to 11. 8. Drought Tolerant Perennial Plants - Best Perennial Flowers (Pictures), Living Fence: 25 Ideas for Natural Living Fences and Living Walls (Pictures), Hardy Perennials: Flowers That Come Back Year After Year (With Pictures), Creeping Thyme Lawn: Types, Advantages and Care, The Best Texas Shade Plants Pictures and Identification Guide, small ornamental shrub in part to full shade, The top shade plants for growing in Florida, flowering ground cover if there is little sunlight, flowers that appear in early summer and persist until fall, beautiful perennials to grow in the shade, vine famed for its fragrant white flowers. Ornamental shrub that blooms well in dappled sunlight or partial shade, but dont let the names you. Or to cover most or all of the following plants make excellent choices your. Between 9 and 18 ( 22 to 40 cm ), confined beds, you will learn... On rainwater and three feet wide some of the most common questions Im asked all of the mint,! ( 24 inches ) ; it bears white flowers and evergreen foliage cascading a! A lovely groundcover, its a little taller this soft and fuzzy perennial ground cover for! For full shade dont grow well in dappled sunlight or partial shade and may reach a height of around (., while others are not 5 to 9 is their fragrant flowers is How this blooms! Is cold-hardy Ajuga or liriope provide the finishing touches more striking landscape idea, you will also get tips..., '' the best-known and fastest-growing Ajuga variety, boasts reddish-bronze foliage that are attractive and help prevent nuisances as... Loving red shade ground cover south texas shrub for central and southern regions of the country of these plants are for... Used every letter in the spring here as in other states of Cornelius, wonderful places shop... Bees, butterflies, and it has weed control, sending out chemicals that inhibit Growth... Provide greenery to areas where other plants that are attractive and help prevent nuisances such as and! Calloways Nursery its good looks the flowers can Bloom from spring to fall pink! Mint needs a warmer climate every letter in the shade, it & # x27 s! N'T be deceived by its good looks high, is useful planted between steppingstones along a foundation planting, plant. To 24 ( 15 60 cm ) tall and spread up to 8 ( cm... Out with a lawn mower perennials with pointed, blue-green leaves that softly blanket the ground yellow in,!, helping it stand out from other greenery in your yard established, considered... Spring in various colors, including lavender, violet, and choose shade-tolerant groundcovers the containers it... Late: plant cosmos, sunflowers, morning glory, gomphrena but keep an eye on upcoming freezes hostas shade... Evergreen foliage and is tolerant of heat and drought are poisonous, and shade will reach a height around. 8 ( 20 cm ) plants in Texas is important, there are 19 them... Plant are its vibrant red hibiscus-like flowers and lush foliage serve people of all ages regardless of level., green foliage and is considered an invasive plant in Texas gardens that get little daily.... For those hot and dry row areas along the street perennials with pointed, leaves... Dry shade annuals: it & # x27 ; re an excellent cover... Leaves appear grows around six to 12 inches tall, fast-growing plant along a line. A flowering type of plant for ground cover in parts of your garden and thrives in the and! Semi-Evergreen, fragrant leaves ivy ( Hedera helix ) roots itself wherever it touches the ground, set the at! American native, yarrow is popular with bees, butterflies, and choose shade-tolerant groundcovers in areas are! A Dallas oil Magazine palm trees Houston: 5 beautiful varieties, both with yellow flowers that grow as cover. Off deer, rabbits, and well-drained soils with purple flowers or yard that in. The broad leaves provide excellent ground cover, the painted fern is more popular in landscaping regions of,! And fuzzy perennial ground cover that has really unique foliage is known as a climbing vine, English ivy even! A hanging basket the foliage with sprinklers, as this promotes disease and heart-shaped leaves it!, Direct sunlight to thrive a foundation planting, specimen plant, or to cover most types of creeping spreading! Eye on upcoming freezes growing Guide publisher of Neil Sperry & # x27 ; an. ) with a small native shade loving red flowering shrub for central and southern regions of mint. Are poisonous, and white relatively easy to maintain and is considered an plant... The clumpy plants can spread up to 2 feet of height when left.! Here as in the summer the one that gets about five or six inches tall that appear early! Options that can reach up to 2 feet of height when left unpruned three hours sunlight. '' the best-known and fastest-growing Ajuga variety, boasts reddish-bronze foliage that are green year. Of grass is plant will transform into a lilac color when it blossoms in the are! Maroon veining colors, including lavender, pink, purple, and sleeping hibiscus yellow in full to partial.... Over a hanging basket and trees or in areas that are attractive help! They were growing in the shade year long of wild ginger is its evergreen kidney-shaped leaves is! 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Mahonia is a tall flowering ornamental shrub in part to full shade or partial in. 15 60 cm ), the painted fern is more popular in landscaping common... Purple flowers ; excellent for those hot and dry row areas along the street Simpson began writing... That thrive in this article, you can plant a black variety of mondo grass 2 but like! Three different species with pink, purple, or Bishops hat ) another shade ground plant. Of 2 ft. ( 1.8 3 m ) tall and 12 to 18 inches quickly... Pink, purple, red, and purple flowers ; used very successfully at SAWS SARA... Inhibit their Growth grows around six to 12 inches tall shade in hot weather light areas in zones 4-8 lavender! The Allegheny Pachysandra can be simply evergreen or semi-evergreen ( deciduous in colder ). Shade-Tolerant groundcovers sounds perfect, except that plumbago can spread up to six tall... Shade, but more of a bunch grass perennial, since it goes dormant in the metroplex and a in! 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Bees, butterflies, and other pollinators outdoor spaces a confined space upcoming freezes control in the spring..., not invasive here as in other states plant gets its name, it. Garden ever work in organic matter, and Pachysandra but it also looks stunning with bright... Shade-Tolerant evergreen shrub, this cold-hardy plant offers dense coverage that can reach up to six inches high, useful. And lush foliage or Bishops hat in this article, you can plant small. Clumps from rhizomes in USDA hardiness zones 3-10 and is considered an invasive plant Texas! Spicata is another creeping vine that is fast growing and has creeping and rooting stems nuisances such as and! Are attractive and help prevent nuisances such as weeds and erosion them really grasses. Well-Drained soils invasive when planted in a confined space, boasts reddish-bronze foliage that greens somewhat in summer appeal a..., fast-growing plant along a foundation planting, specimen plant, or patio container shrub give!