Press Esc to cancel. Keep it in a shady spot, especially under trees and shrubs. #9. Lamium is evergreen from Zone 6 south. Rock cotoneaster is considered a full-shun shrub but benefits from some afternoon shade. Spotted deadnettle ground cover is an easy-to-grow plant with a wide range of soil and condition tolerance.. In either case, cut back shabby foliage after the first frost to make way for new growth in the spring. Though Chinese lantern is also considered invasive, it is a novel and colorful perennial ground cover with autumn interest because of its bright orange-red shaped seed pods that turn into papery husks. Common pests for spotted dead nettles are slugs and snails, which seem to be the main pests for this plant, although aphids can also attach themselves to the stems and leaves. Lamium is one of the choices for ground-cover especially if you are looking for ground-cover that is tough yet showy. When you buy Centaurea montana 'Amethyst in Snow', you may be thinking of it as an uprightperennial plant with attractive flowers. Her goal is to inspire and educate people about how to garden every day. The low-lying ground cover is a popular option as a filler for rock gardens or as an accent above retaining walls. . Glechoma hederacea is not the same as henbit (Lamium amplexicaule) or Purple Deadnettle (Lamium purpureum L.), AKA red deadnettle, red henbit. If you have bare acreage behind your home that does not lead to another property, Chinese lantern can be a great ground cover and filler. Ground cover plants are all-around problem-solvers: They retain moisture, control erosion, and provide.css-1me6ynq{-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;text-decoration-thickness:0.0625rem;text-decoration-color:#125C68;text-underline-offset:0.25rem;color:#125C68;-webkit-transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;}.css-1me6ynq:hover{color:#595959;text-decoration-color:#595959;} habitat for pollinators like bees and butterflies. 7. RELATED: 25 Plants That Survive With or Without You. Good Housekeeping participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites. It has a stripe down the middle that can be white, yellow, red, or silver. This plant is fast growing, and one plant can spread up to two feet or more within a year. 5. Bunchberry is a shade-loving deciduous shrub native to northern portions of North America. It spreadsby reseeding, but it never will spread enough to become a problem. high and can spread out 2 feet (61 cm.) It is evergreen, but some of the leaves may turn brown during winter. Are ticket costs pricing Houston Astros fans out of Opening Day? Here's how: While they can self-seed themselves, spotted dead nettles do not do well if you try to grow them from seed. Creeping lamium averages 10 inches tall, with small flower groups appearing in the summer. Its off the menu for deer and rabbits, but a feast for pollinating bees, butterflies and hummingbirds. It has basic requirements and is well worth cultivating in your garden. Getting Started Dead nettle, also known as Lamium, is a low-growing perennial with silver-splashed leaves and bursts of purple, pink, or white flowers that pop up in spring and early summer. A variety of cultivars are available, including Juniperus horizontalis'Blue Rug.'. Ground cover plants are the perfect solution for a variety of landscaping issues. The creeping juniper is a sprawling, creeping needled evergreen shrub that grows to a maximum height of about 18 inches and with a spread that can go as much as 8 feet. 'Album', has white flowers, shown here blooming before the leaves on September 28, 2011, and spreads to form a ground cover that stays green through the winter . Note: This plant is considered invasive across much of the northeast, some areas of the northern Midwest, and parts of the Pacific Northwest. They have silver foliage and produce showy pink, purple or white flowers in late spring. Ground covers are used to provide edgings to pathways, control erosion, and add interest to landscape design. If you are looking for something unusual, consider wall germander, a broadleaf woody-stemmed evergreen that is often massed or used as a low hedge along retaining walls or in knot gardens. However, it will grow out of its boundaries so trimming it back can help if you want to keep the yard neat. It spreads via rhizomes, a trait that can be a double-edged sword. This easy-to-grow plant spreads and produces numerous offspring from seed. It can even thrive in the acidic conditions under large pine trees. Locate where the runners have rooted themselves into the ground. Though pruning is not necessary, hostas will yellow and die back so trimming dead foliage can look better, especially in a small area. Yarrow can grow in full sun in nearly any soil and can tolerate drought once established. While it is not a spreader, it is large enough to take up space as the spring and summer months advance. Leadwort begins blooming in late summer with beautiful, electric-blue flowers and continues until the first frost. It is also ideal for rock gardens, border edges, and even containers besides being an excellent choice for an ornamental ground cover. See this plant in the following landscapes: Wild Side- A Shady Garden Cultivars / Varieties: 'Album' Hardy and deer resistant in USDA Zones 4 through 8, this colonizing fern prefers humus-rich, moist but well-drained soils. Some hybrids offer striking, flat flower clusters that bees and butterflies can use as a landing pad. Curious reddish brown flowers bloom in spring at ground level under the foliage. In summer months, little spikes of blue, purple, pink or white flowers will appear. To make sure your ground covers get the job done (ya know, dressing up your landscape), follow the instructions on their plant care tag to give them the right conditions. This deer-resistant succulent ground cover has needle-shaped leaves and small but bright daisy-like flowers that carpet the plants from late spring through early fall. Good For: Plant Hardiness Zones 3-10 SHOP DEAD NETTLE SEEDS skymoon13 // Getty Images Advertisement - Continue Reading Below 10 Creeping Phlox Swallowtail butterflies, hummingbird moths and hummingbirds are all fans. And, of course, you can snip off the leaves for cooking. Blooms late Spring to mid Summer. Liverleaf (Anemone americana, formerly classified as Hepatica americana) is a perennial wildflower native to North America. Although rich, moist, acidic soils are ideal, this plant will also grow in alkaline, sandy and clay soils. If you prefer a similar but less aggressive variety, consider C. montana 'Amethyst Dream'. Lawns also are considered ground covers, but may require more moisture, sunlight, fertilizer and maintenance than other ground cover choices. Growing Conditions: Full to part shade in moist, well-drained soil With society garlic, you can have your ground cover and eat it too! The small leaves are speckled with spots, which earns the plant its name. It's also a beautiful ground cover to consider for moon gardens, but just beware the flowers are less than fragrant. Pachysandra are aggressive and fast-spreading coverings that grow underground with runners. From creeping phlox to creeping thyme these perennial ground cover plants are loaded with flowers to attract pollinators to the garden. She did graduate work through the University of Georgia system. Though Lenten rose is not a rose (it's part of the buttercup family), its little buds are early season bloomers when it flowers at ground level in the late winter. Want to lure hummingbirds, butterflies, and other wildlife to your garden? Need an easy evergreen carpet to plant where no grass dare grow? Choose native common yarrow. Lamium needs shade and a fertile, moist but well-draining soil. Simply put some potting soil mix in a container or hanging basket that has drainage holes, and plant the spotted dead nettle, then water. Growing only about 3 inches tall, this plant spreads over time, crowding out weeds and thus reducing maintenance further. One difference, though, is that it is more aggressive. It doesnt like wet feet, so make sure the soil is well-drained. RELATED: How to Grow Zinnias in Your Home Garden. See more ideas about plants, shade plants, shade garden. With a long bloom period and colorful foliage, most varieties are eye-catching plants throughout the year. `Katie' produces petunialike, purple blooms for months. They have silver foliage and produce showy pink, purple or white flowers in late spring. Spotted deadnettle (Lamium maculatum) grows as a spreading mat of herbaceous stems and leaves. It is, therefore, a sterile plant that will not come true from seeds. Hardy in zones 7 through 10, these low maintenance ground cover plants love full sun and heat. . Though its lush leaves dont scream drought tolerant, sedum boasts an ability to root and thrive in even the driest, rockiest settingsthus earning it the familiar name stonecrop. The secret? Its variegated leaves and colorful spring flowers make Lamium a reliable choice for brightening shady garden spots where few other perennials will grow. Lamium is evergreen from Zone 6 south. While this glossy, strappy green is popular in the southern states, it can survive anywhere. This low-maintenance plant thrives year-round! You could first try it in a small area container to see how it does in your garden. On top of all that, with proper care the plant can last 5 to 6 years, during which time you can harvest your own fresh thyme. Cutting the stems or pinching back to a joint will stimulate new growth for the plant. Lamium is an excellent ground cover for shade. This type of evergreen comes in an array of shapes and sizes. Eventually, they will form a mat. This clumping perennial is less than a foot tall, with slender, long, arching leaves. The name "Dead Nettle" refers to the fact that Lamium does not have the stinging hair characteristic of other nettles. Though many annual flowers can be used for ground coverings, it can be laborious to replant large swaths of coverings yearly. Wherever its branches make contact with the soil, it will put down roots, creating new plants. Like sedges, many different types of asters that will grow in partial shade to full shade. For example, choose Delosperma brunnthaleri, a hardy ground cover that grows around 2 inches tall and 2 feet wide with yellow flowers and ideal for zones 4 to 9. If you've seen the lavender fields in Provence, you know this sweetly-scented perennial with purple or blue flowers looks amazing planted en masse. And remember that although these ground cover plants are extremely tolerant, they still need to be watered during dry spells for the first year or two until their root systems are well-established. It does best in sun. When selecting a ground cover for shady areas, make sure to choose shade-tolerant plants that naturally thrive with minimal sunlight. In early spring, flowers that look like fairy wings appear on this perennial. It spreads rapidly by above-ground runners and is hardy to Zone 4. This tuberous perennial has long, thin, chive-like foliage you can enjoy in the kitchen; the greenery is topped by tiny purple flowers in the summer, and its also available in a variegated type. There are so many options to choose from, including old favorites like Pachysandra and Vinca, as well as small shrubs, perennials, and annuals. This woodland sedge can tolerate drier soils than many species. In fact, brass buttons share the same Achilles heel as ferns: Both succumb easily to drought. When planted in groups, heuchera works well as a ground cover or along garden edging. This groundcover plant stays under a foot tall but slowly spreads outward. David Beaulieu is a landscaping expert and plant photographer, with 20 years of experience. Then, the leaves turn a gorgeous shade of burgundy red in fall. Turf lawn grasses are by far the most popular ground cover plant in residential landscapes, but some places aren't really suitable for grass growth (like arid desert yards) and some people simply prefer more diverse or unique "lawnscaping.". 100 Perennials for a Zone 3 Garden Send me the list! Get daily tips & tricks to help make your best home, Spotted Dead Nettles vs. Stinging Nettles. All our groundcovers are grown in biodegradable . In warm regions and/or insheltered areas of your yard, they may be evergreen. But purple deadnettle (Lamium purpureum) takes advantage of the open expanses of soil and lack of competition. If you do not want to open a nursery, and it is crowding other plants, shear in midsummer to promote more compact growth. Although taller than a typical ground cover, yarrow ranks among the most attractive ground cover flowering plants. The best quickly-spreading ground cover for shade is Periwinkle 'Bowles' Variety.' Replant them in a suitable location, and water. Well to make a long stroy short the Lamium is gone and in its place we planted a very small ground cover called Tiny Thyme. Instead, it keeps its leathery dark green leaves in nearly the same condition year round. Lamium is a fast-growing perennial ground cover that deer and rabbits avoid. Here are four options that we've grown in various areas around the . Otherwise, no pruning is needed, and if you're using it only for ground covering, watch that it does not grab hold of a tree bark or the siding of your house because its roots will dig in, making it hard to remove without damaging the surface. Scott Little. Mulching and weeding to prevent unwanted sprouts from stealing water from these low-maintenance succulents, and you can enjoy the cheery color of this low growing ground cover year-round, with a number of varieties to choose from. But beware: This hardy opportunist, if left unchecked, can become unsightly and sometimes invasive. While it may be one of the toughest (er, tolerant) plants out there, Lily of the Valley looks as sweet as can be with darling white bells dangling from strappy green leaves. It got its name from the way its red stems spread like strawberry plants do, and how its rounded, dark green leaves with white veins and maroon undersides resemble a begonia. Creeping thyme ground cover is not invasive, helps prevent weeds from growing, and is a natural deer repellent. You might be more familiar with the short, colorful asters commonly sold along with potted mums in the fall. The little silver leaves of lamium are like bits of glitter strewn about the garden floor, reflecting any dappled sunlight that finds them. This lesser-known perennial has attractive little mounds of grassy foliage, and teeny ball-shaped blooms that pop up in late spring to early summer. Native to Europe and western Asia, Lamium is frequently found naturalized along woodland trails and paths and colonized along the banks of streams. The plant's multicolored leaves and tiny pastel flowers look attractive by themselves along a walkway or mingled. Reaches 3 to 9 inches tall with a spread of 6 to 12 inches. Because the common name is often given as "spotted dead nettle". Although it is most attractive, I have found it less vigorous in our garden, but perhaps you will have better luck. Keep weeds at bay with spreading plants in your garden. It spreads well, but is easy to manage. They dont add much ornamental value, but they do help out the pollinators. This plant works as a ground cover, a border plant or even a houseplant in a hanging basket. Overview: Spotted Dead Nettle - Lamium maculatum is a herbaceous perennial growing to 0.2 -0.9m at a fast . This fast-growing annual looks gorgeous tumbling over rock walls or along the edges of walkways. Lamium will grow under tree canopies and fill in around taller perennials, tolerating some dryness from the roots of other plants, but it grows better with irrigation. Doesn't need much water. (I prefer to call it lamium), Lamium . Going to google creeping jenny. If you set out a little nursery-grown pot of Lamium in spring. It often grows vertically along trellises, but the plant can also serve as a ground cover. RELATED: 10 Grass-Free Alternatives to a Traditional Lawn. This ground cover forms a low-growing carpet that spreads quickly as its stems root when they touch the ground. But this plant with prettyfoliageand funny namerarely becomes a problem for those who grow it in areas where it is already native. It tucks into shaded rock gardens and naturalized borders. Few ground covers ever look as beautiful as creeping phlox in spring, when it produces an explosion of fragrant, star-shaped, pastel-colored flowers. It's cold hardy and prefers part shade. If it grows outside its pounds, trim it off or transplant a branch. This perennial creeper is a great ground cover that will quickly carpet your landscape with pretty and small flowers. Once dense, it can be quite attractive, but you will need to corral it or you'll have a sea of ruellia. However, the more sunshine that you give these plants, the more water they will need, since they perform best in evenly moist soil. There are almost endless varieties of hostas that will fit your needs, many with variegated leaves and spikey short-lived and unremarkable flowers. The kaleidoscope of red, blue and green all at once lights up the shade like ground level fireworks. This elegant fern looks as dainty as a pearl necklace, but is tough enough to survive winter growing in the Himalayan Mountains, where it is native. By Sarah Littleton and Teresa Odle Published Jan 10, 2023 4:50 PM. Q. Spotted dead nettles are valued as perennial ground covers for the shade that will spread and fill in a patch of ground that might otherwise remain bare (except for weeds). manure tea is a good alternative. Lamium (Dead Nettle) is a trailing, groundcover perennial. Its a well-behaved spreader, and is not invasive. Yellow archangel (Lamium galeobdolon 'Hermann's Pride', Zones 4-8) is one of the fastest-growing ground covers. Because the common name is often given as spotted dead nettle. With very attractive foliage and either white or pink flowers, Lamium maculatum makes an excellent ground cover plant for a shaded position. Hedera helix. Apr 11, 2019 - Explore Karen Hine's board "Lamium", followed by 1,409 people on Pinterest. 1. In mid-summer, however, they're dotted with beautiful purple-pink flowers. Just beware: Its rapid growth makes this an invasive plant throughout the Eastern United States, as well as parts of Texas and the Southwest. Arricca Elin SanSone has written about health and lifestyle topics for Prevention, Country Living, Woman's Day, and more. Infinitely touchable, the velvety, fuzzy foliage of this plant is aptly named (c'mon, just look at it). It likes full sun, and requires regular trimmings to keep it from taking over the yard. Spotted deadnettle ground cover grows about 6 to 12 inches (15-31 cm.) NC State University Cooperative Extension. Low-growing varieties of sedum make easy-to-care-for ground covers, especially since its fleshy leaves retain enough water to survive dry spells. Hardy in USDA Zones 3 through 8, it will be deciduous in all but the mildest climates. It grows low to the ground, making it a good alternative to grass in just about any climate. Snip some for cooking, or keep it trimmed back to manage its height. Another bonus is that it is common and considered one of the cheapest ground covering plants. In spring, tiny white flowers add to its ethereal beauty. It has a stripe down the middle that can be white, yellow, red, or silver. This shrub flowers from May to July with white flowers, and grows to a maximum height of about 9 inches. Fast growing and a good all round plant for beneath trees you get a ground cover with good foliage and the added attraction of flowers. If the hill is big, remove the grass in stages so as not to take unnecessary chances with erosion. Being creepers and having a tendency to spread, these classic cottage-garden plants are popular flowering ground covers. Both their flowers and their foliage make an impact on the landscape. Despite its vigorous growth, it's not considered invasive. In zones 6 through 8, it remains evergreen most of the year. Its a good idea to add some mulch around the plant to help suppress weeds. Not picky, spotted Dead Nettles do just fine in average, well-drained soil. This easy-care, mat-forming ground cover provides pops of purple blooms from mid-spring to early summer. Its a relative of mint, so its guaranteed to spread, and its hardy in the cold of Zone 3 but can take heat up to Zone 8. It is mainly grown for beautiful berries that succeed the blossoms over green leaves. If you are looking for a low-maintenance ground cover, sweet woodruff (Galium odoratum) is a good pick, but only under certain conditions. As with yellow alyssum, Angelina sedum can be regarded as a "Goldilocks" ground cover. It reaches 6-inches in height and spreads to 24-inches wide. Catmint can handle several types of soil as well as both humidity and drought, and its also deer and rabbit resistant. In its native environment, it spreads slowly to cover the forest floor, where deer and rabbits typically leave it alone. It flowers best in full sun. Many plant species from the genus Sedum are native to North America. Spotted dead nettles have few problems in the north; among other good features is the fact that they are deer-resistant plants. She founded Gaia's Farm and Gardens,aworking sustainable permaculture farm, and writes for Gaia Grows, a local newspaper column. This is a slow-growing and long-lasting ground cover that simply needs pruning every so often to prevent it from growing leggy. Root-hardy, it will return after a freeze, but in mild winters such as this year's, little damage is done to the foliage. If you have a sunny to partially shaded spot in USDA Zones 3 through 9 where youd like a flowering ground cover but want something more colorful, try this ornamental onion. Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made. Are rabbits attracted to spotted dead nettle? The attractive foliage has a silvery cast and shows well . They save their energy for the surprisingly large flowers, white on desert zinnia and yellow on prairie zinnia. Vinca minor(commonly known as periwinkle) is a very popular ground cover because it's drought-tolerant, pest-free, inexpensive, and easy to grow in just about any type of soil. In ideal sunny conditions, Amethyst in Snow will spread quite quickly, but you can control it easily by pulling out stray shoots. Lamium spreads quickly, so be ready to cut it back if it begins to encroach on other shrubs and flowers. Candytuft is a ground-hugging, clumping, and flowering perennial that dies back each winter and rebounds each spring and early summer. Some leaves may revert back to an all-green color (instead of being variegated); be sure to prune these out, so that the green color does not eventually take over the plant. I put the Lamium along a side of the housewhere the soil is very thin and a lot of plants do not like to grow. Try growing it as a green carpet laid at the feet of your big leaf hydrangeas or Lenten roses. (Lamium maculatum) . (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); You have entered an incorrect email address! This sun-lover grows to a maximum height of about 12 inches with a 24-inch spread, and it blooms with lavender to pink flowers in July. Aside from good exposure to sunlight, these leafy green clusters ask little of their gardener with no need to replant every season. Species can be annuals or perennials, with many valued for their ground cover abilities, pollinator-friendly flowers and preference of shady areas. There are also several cultivars (all cold-hardy to at least zone 4, most 3 to 12 inches tall, and all wanting the sun/soil conditions of the species plant) of L.maculatum, including: While dead nettle plants areflowering perennials,stinging nettles, by contrast,arenoxious weeds(but edible when properly prepared). Many are perennials, some are annuals, and some make good ground covers, though they can be overly aggressive in favorable locations. Shes passionate about gardening, baking, reading, and spending time with the people and dogs she loves. Lamium is evergreen from Zone 6 south. It offers similar value and requires similar conditions. Aronia is a pretty low-growing native shrub that has tiny white flowers amid glossy green foliage. Its also heat tolerant through USDA Zone 9. Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved. It needs full sun to bloom best.