What Groundcover?

I would like to experiment with planting several different bulbs in the same space and have them bloom at different times. I'm thinking combinations like daffodils for spring, naked ladies for summer, and autumn flowering crocus for fall. I would like to cover the soil with a plant that the bulbs can come through, yet still see them. I think it would have to be short for the fall crocuses. I really don't like the idea of pulling weeds all summer or staring at plain mulch either.

Has anyone here done this before? Any suggestions you could give? Thanks so much!

what about the ground sedum varieties?

Blue Star Creeper (Laurentia fluvilatilis) can be planted in most areas. Low growing and has beautiful flowers from spring to fall.

Lysimachia nummularia-Moneywort or Creeping Jenny Gold is a little taller. Spreads fast with charteuse foliage.

Iceplant (Delosperma Basutoland) is an evergreen for me in zone 6, low growing fast spreader.

This may be a bit tall for the crocus and won't last through the summer but I did pansies like that last year and it looked really good. I think Sedum is a great idea too though - a permanent solution! I have actually been looking for some myself.

R D T, you ideas are all great. I'll try to find some of the Blue Star Creeper tomorrow. I have bits of the Golden Creeping Jenny and Ice Plant. I just need them to grow more.

I have planted a start of the Sedum Odum to see how it spreads.

I thought about pansies there, but decided they gets too leggy in the spring. The tulips I have are species, so they're short. My daffodils won't be coming until next month :-( so I'll just plant them where ever I find room.

Other groundcover choices could be creeping thyme, new zealand bur (Acaena), or Oxalis oregana. I have my daffs and autumn crocus growing up through creeping juniper. Unfortunately, 'naked ladies' are not hardy in my area (that includes the bulb as well!)

Bulbs come up through our old (25 years+) English ivy and Wisteria bed, though I periodically thin it and have pulled lots of dead vines out.

.PINS. saw your post... wanted to say HELLO.

Phlox sublata has worked well for me (at my previous residence--coincidentally in Decatur, GA). It blooms early in the spring with very delicate little flowers that are entirely compatible with crocusses, daffodils, muscari hyacinths, anemones, ipheion uniflorum--pretty much any spring-blooming bulb. The phlox spread (over a couple years) to form an evergreen carpet that is short and has the virtue of not needing to be mowed in the summer. If you drive around near the Agnes Scott/Winnona Park area in the early spring, you'll see it tumbling over walls and walkways, where it has been allowed to grow probably for decades. It comes in a wide variety of colors, I like the lilac best. When I lived in Decatur, I bought it at Classic Gardens on College Ave. We moved to North Cobb Co, near Woodstock and I'm having a tough time finding a nearby vendor who sells it in the fall/winter. Pike sells it in March. If anyone knows a good on-line or mail order source, please let me know, too. So far I've only located it at Green Plant Market, and will probably order from them, but would prefer to compare offerings and prices with another source first.

I just thought I would give this a timely bump!

sedum Ogon does extremely well and spreads relatively fast. mine is planted in light AM shade and a few hours of afternoon sun and it is growing happily and unfazed.


there are some different groundcovers produced by www.stepables.com that might suit your need. I have bought 3-4 which I presently have in my holding area until I plant bulbs.

This message was edited Sep 3, 2005 1:55 PM