ground covers-- 
Gardening Information

Archive for the ‘ ground covers ’ Category

Chameleon Plant

Thursday, June 5th, 2008


The Houttuynia ?Chameleon Plant?, Houttuynia cordata, is one of the most popular ground covers around. Small white flowers appear from July to August, but sometimes hard to see because of its foliage. It is an extremely hardy ground cover and easy to grow but can become very invasive. Being similar in shape to English Ivy, it features boldly variegated leaves of red, pink, white, green, and yellow with a plant height of 15?. Houttuynia requires light shade and needs a consistently moist soil in a well-drained area. They have a fresh, somewhat citrus-like scent when crushed. Use Houttuynia ?Chameleons? as a ground cover, in rock gardens, with water plants or in scented gardens.

click here to learn more

Barren Strawberry

Thursday, June 5th, 2008


The Barren Strawberry’, also known as Waldsteinia ternata, is a wonderful ground cover that grows in full sun to part shade and prefers normal to sandy soils. It has dark, dense, evergreen, strawberry-like foliage that forms into nice mounds with a height of 4-6″. ‘Barren Strawberry’ bears yellow flowers in spring and then shows warm, yellow colors in Autumn. ‘Barren Strawberry’ looks great with Veronica ‘Royal Candles’, Saliva ‘Marcus’ and grasses.

click here to learn more

Virginia Creeper

Wednesday, June 4th, 2008


The Virginia Creeper, Parthenocissus quinquefolia, is a fast-growing, high-climbing vine that attaches itself with tendrils which expand, disk-like, on their tips. The deciduous leaves that radiate outward from a leaf stem, like spokes on a wheel. Each le

click here to learn more

Virginia Creeper

Wednesday, June 4th, 2008


The Virginia Creeper, Parthenocissus quinquefolia, is a fast-growing, high-climbing vine that attaches itself with tendrils which expand, disk-like, on their tips. The deciduous leaves that radiate outward from a leaf stem, like spokes on a wheel. Each le

click here to learn more

Purple Wintercreeper Euonymus

Wednesday, June 4th, 2008


Purple Wintercreeper Euonymus, Euonymus fortunei ‘Coloratus’, also known as Wintercreeper and Wintercreeper Eunonymus, is a dense, woody-stemmed, broadleaf evergreen plant which comes in a variety of forms. Euonymus fortunei ‘Coloratus’ (commonly called p

click here to learn more

Purple Wintercreeper Euonymus

Wednesday, June 4th, 2008


Purple Wintercreeper Euonymus, Euonymus fortunei ‘Coloratus’, also known as Wintercreeper and Wintercreeper Eunonymus, is a dense, woody-stemmed, broadleaf evergreen plant which comes in a variety of forms. Euonymus fortunei ‘Coloratus’ (commonly called p

click here to learn more

Periwinkle

Wednesday, June 4th, 2008


Periwinkle, Vinca minor, is also known as Trailing Myrtle, Dwarf Periwinkle and Creeping Myrtle. This species of Periwinkle is one of the most popular and widely used ground covers. Trailing stems with smooth, evergreen leaves (to 1. 5″ long) root at the

click here to learn more

Liriope

Wednesday, June 4th, 2008


Liriope, Liriope muscari, is also commonly called border grass and is not actually a grass but a member of the lily family, a fact that inspires another of its common names, Lilyturf, Blue Lillyturf and Bigblue Liriope. . The dark green, ribbon-like foliage grows in length from 12 to 18 in and then recurves toward the ground to form rounded clumps. As the clumps mature they merge into a continuous carpet that resembles a plot of shaggy lawn grass. In summer, spikes of small purple, violet or white flowers rise from the center of clumps. Flowers are followed by pea-sized black or white berries in autumn. Liriope spreads quite fast in reasonable soil, creating a substantial tuberous root mass. This plant is a true survivor and will grow almost anywhere. This perennial evergreen should be sheared back in the early spring to enjoy a flush of new growth.

click here to learn more

Japanese Spurge – Silveredge

Wednesday, June 4th, 2008


The Japanese Spurge ‘Silveredge’, Pachysandra terminalis ‘Silver Edge’, has thin silver-white margins, hence the name ‘Silveredge. ‘ This plant is a slower growing variegated form of Japanese Spurge which is an old-time ground cover plant with versatile m

click here to learn more

Japanese Spurge – Green Carpet

Wednesday, June 4th, 2008


Japanese Spurge ‘Green Carpet’, Pachysandra terminalis ‘Green Carpet’, is an old-time ground cover plant that grows to 6-8″ high with versatile uses. This evergreen is self-sustaining and always looks well. It is ideal for partly shaded or full shade areas. Once established, a Pachysandra planting will eliminate grass cutting and weeding. Your lawn work stops were this plant starts. Green Carpet is the only satisfactory plant that will grow as a ground cover under Pine trees. This plant is used extensively under large spreading trees, back of buildings or in other situations too shady for grass to grow. Pachysandra will transform otherwise bare and ugly ground areas into attractive year-round cover. It is also very effective as a border plant along paths or driveway edgings. It can be used as a lawn substitute in shaded non-traffic areas. Plant 6 inches apart to obtain quick cover.

click here to learn more