Groundcover (evergreen) Suggestions

Hi All,

I have a new area in the garden for which I plan to start an evergreen groundcover (see pic). Conditions
full to partial sun
drought tolerant
evergreen
low growing

DON"T want:
Vinca
Ivy

I have Lysimachia nummularia (creeping jenny) in another area which is beautiful and has done very well. I might go with that as I have tons and I could divide it and save $$. I also have some Rubus (creeping raspberry) which as done great in another area. Suggestions for things you love?

I didn't know that was the name for creeping jenny. I have a plant that my sis named babies tears. I really like it. I went to plant files and I think it is really called GoldMoss. I could not be possitive. It is very pretty and so far not invasive. You can just stick a piece in the ground and it will root.

Smokey

what zone are you???? If you're warm enough then I highly suggest Asiatic jasmine

oops. sorry. zone 7b.

Asiatic jasmine and gold moss are on the candidate list!

Confederate jasmine works as a good ground cover. Once it gets going it's a plant forget plant (vine), grows fast but easy to control with pruning.

thanks for the info. we'll see what hubby likes...

Verbena 'Homestead purple"
Creeping Jenny for sure
Phlox - the creeping kind
junipers the creeping kind
Red Hot Pokers - keep every green I think
Skimmia - low growing round small bushes
Miniture Garden bushes - lovely perfume like smell

Here's my creeping jenny... early spring this year

I interplant my jenny with irises makes a wonderful combo, carpet and spikes i call it

full grown jenny

here a pic blooming pin phlox next to the juniper next to the already bloomed jenny

thanks rebecca30! nice pics. i got my first red hot pokers just a couple of weeks ago. being cheap, i only bought one plant and will wait for naturalizing.

believe it or not (BION) i don't have any of the small phlox. it looks great. i really need ot get some. and also under the category of BION I've managed to kill the Verbena 'Homestead purple" in the past. I mean really. No one kills that I think.

I don't know the Skimmia or Miniture Garden bushes of which you speak. I'll check those out.

You going to Rita's Garden Open House on Sat? http://www.ritasgarden.net/pages/home/index.php

Cathy

Oh Wow, never knew of Rita's garden. Unfortunatley, I won't be able to go but thanks for passing on the info. Her garden is simply beutiful. :o) Now that's what I want to do someday with my own house. hehe

r30

Rebecca:

What you posted in your pics as Creeping Jenny is different from Lysimachia nummularia, which is what I know as Creeping Jenny. The plant in your photo looks to be Veronica Umbrosa? I have both of them by the way. The former (lysimachia n.) does very well in very moist spots and the latter (veronica u.) in more dry areas. Both seem to grow well in sun or shade, but both bloom better with sun. That's here in zone 8a.

Deb

DebinSC - oops you are right. Sorry about that everyone. :o)))

r30

Rebecca: You know how it is with plant names. There are different names for plants from state to state, even from county to county sometimes! So maybe they're both known as Cr. Jenny - :-) Anyway, I love them both!
Deb

Hey, Sparky
I wouldn't say that Knifophias (red hot pokers ) are evergreen in 7B. They don't die back completely, but they look pretty scruffy in the winter. They sure do put on a fine show in the summer !! Pachysandra is great for a shady area. They love the shade or those big old oak trees.

ppinnc

Sparkie -
I have Saint Johns Wort that won't bloom for me (its in the shade but does great in that dry dry area.) You are welcome to get some of it if you fancy a trip to Hillsborough.

I posted this in another area but maybe it will help you - someone was inquiring about planting an area around a path.

Anacyclus depressus -Mt. Atlas Mat Daisy -very pretty.
Leptinella squalida (New Zealand Brass Buttons) - good fall color too. Sedum spurium 'John Creech' - sedum (most anyway) eaten by deer.

[HYPERLINK@gardening.about.com]

[HYPERLINK@www.perennialfarm.com]

Once you are at the about.com site --follow the link to Garden Design and then to Plants to Walk On. At the perennial farm link - follow it to Tread Well Perennials.

I tossed a bunch of red hot poker seeds. Got at HomeDepot for 1.99 or 2.99 I think. It will be a wait but lots else to do while I'm waiting.

missingrosie - wowie. thanks for the info and i could get up to hillsborough sometime to get a freebie. mmm - maybe a fall trip is in order? i'll check out the other links you sent.

ppinc - :( on the red hot pokers. but that is ok if they bloom all summer. i think the area might be too sunny for Pachysandra but maybe I should try that in some spots that get more shade.

rebecca30 - it was darned HOT as you know but I got to Rita's early. It was nice. Would like to see it at its peak.

Thanks all! sparkielyle

cottoneaster repens