Prairie dropseed (Sporobolus heterolepis): Bring the graceful texture of grasses to your garden in a plant size that won’t overwhelm it. Wild ginger needs well-drained, rich soil; planting it in heavy clay may shorten its life. Native groundcover plants. Because it has proven itself for decades for its adaptability and reliability. Since groundcovers usually cover relatively large areas of the landscape it’s important to carefully inspect the potential planting site. These are some common reasons why we choose ground covers: √  aesthetics√  erosion control√  lower maintenance√  weed suppression√  wildlife habitat. NGIA PLANT OF … by Heather McCargo. Be the first to learn of limited-time sales, It climbs by tendrils with adhesive tips so it doesn’t need support and as another attribute, Virginia creeper does not damage walls. Take note that if deer are hungry enough no plant is safe from browsing. These creeping perennial species show off colorful flowers in tinges of blue, pink or lavender in early Spring. Groundcovers solve a number of garden problems, from covering bare spots to preventing erosion to covering an area that is too steep to mow. Potted Plants. Brachyscome diversifolia. Australian Native Ground Cover Range by Plant Native! It will rapidly clamber up and over everything including trees, shrubs and idle husbands. The sight of white daisies brightens anyone’s day, and those on this native ground cover certainly don’t disappoint. Mesic to dry upland forests, woodlands, shaded outcrops, well-drained floodplain forests, seepage swamps, and fens. In this category you'll find natives at their shortest of 4 inches, all the way to 3 feet. You’ll find that the following native plants can satisfy most, if not all, of your ground-covering gardening objectives. It grows 1-3 feet, creeps by rhizomes and is considered aggressive by some growers. New York fern (Thelypteris noveboracensis), Sensitive fern (Onoclea sensibilis), Wild geranium (Geranium maculatum), Blue mistflower (Conoclinium coelestinum), American alumroot (Heuchera americana), Dwarf crested iris (Iris cristata), Creeping phlox (Phlox stolonifera), Golden alexanders (Zizia aurea), Starry solomon’s plume (Maianthemum stellatum), Carolina elephant’s-foot (Elephantopus carolinianus) … the list is long. Grevillea (G.baueri xG.Alpina) x G.Rosmar.Lutea. While most are grown for their foliage, many have colorful blooms during part of the year. It spreads via rhizomes, a trait that can be a double-edged sword. Work the soil eight to 10 inches deep and inc… Consider not growing it on the edge of a pristine lawn if you aren’t willing to hand pull the volunteers. Read more in the following articles. Yes, it’s a little weedy and ordinary, but why not enjoy its wildlife value, lovely foliage, pretty springtime violet flowers and its willingness to reseed rampantly? The tiny white flowers bloom in spring and the fruit develops a short time later. Most of these plants spread easily, which is why they're called "groundcovers." Seed. A note about erosion control:Are you searching for stabilization on a slope? Have the soil tested and properly prepare the soil in terms of pH, nutrient levels, drainage, and aeration. The large basal leaves are tinged with purple. Although small, the fruit is deliciously edible and is enjoyed by many of our wild creatures. Virgina Creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia) Most other native groundcovers spread more slowly. Native Groundcovers of NC. Excessively planted because of their uniformity, state of perpetual greenness, and alleged low maintenance, English ivy and its cronies have wreaked havoc across North America. Native Groundcovers for Full Sun. Happy wildlife gardening! Groundcovers are low-growing plants that fill in quickly to make a dense carpet of foliage. It spreads by rhizomes in ideal conditions. They are better adapted to local conditions requiring less care once established. Introduced plants may become invasive, outcompeting the natives and not providing the food and cover our native wildlife depends on. Westringia variety are another highly versatile Australian native that suits a wide variety of uses ranging from expansive groundcover, to colourful formal hedges, box gardens, retaining walls or as an ornamental shrub. It will creep into lawn. Golden Ragwort has spectacular yellow flowers. It’s perfect for wildlife cover.Host Plant Info: Host to three Lepidoptera (butterfly and moth) species.More Information: Master Gardeners of Northern Virginia; Connecticut Botanical Society, Light Requirement: Part Shade, ShadeSoil Moisture: Moist, DryNatural Habitat: “Mesic to dry upland forests, woodlands, shaded outcrops, well-drained floodplain forests, seepage swamps, and fens.”*Comments: White wood aster is the tallest growing of all the flowering plants listed here and it’s one of my favorites because of how resilient and handsome it is. Don’t forget to choose plant species native to your region—and purchase local ecotypes whenever possible. Low ground covers are useful in small spots, borders, or to lower the edges of larger ground covers. Doug Tallamy’s research indicates it is not.More Information: Virginia Native Plant Society’s 2010 Wildflower of the Year; USDA Forest Service Wildflower Plant of the Week, Light Requirement: Part ShadeSoil Moisture: Moist, DryNatural Habitat: “Mesic to dry upland forests and woodlands; usually in moderately to strongly base-rich soils.”*Comments: Against bright green foliage, pretty yellow flowers bloom in the spring and sporadically until summer. Evergreen foliage provides visual interest all year round. Another shade-loving native is the inside-out flower (Vancouveria hexandra). The foliage is browsed by white-tailed deer with little detriment to this vigorous plant. ng a native plant as a good ground cover often means it is rhizomatous in nature; it spreads easily and forms colonies, in turn holding soil in place. of Forest Resources & Environmental Conservation. The very definition of ground cover from a landscaping perspective is a low-growing, low-maintenance, perennial, spreading plant that keeps the ground from being bare. My plants are growing in fairly deep shade under a redbud tree and are doing just fine. There are oodles of other benefits that trees provide. Pay special attention to existing weeds, especially perennial types. Think big. And, as with all natives, you'll get the added benefit of helping pollinators. Less than a foot high ground cover plants that are native to California. Ground cover plants certainly need not be limited to grass. I fantasize about less lawn, too. It keeps a wonderful tight habit. 4 Goodenia ovata ‘€˜Gold Cover’. I especially like that golden ragwort supports so many of our insects.Host Plant Info: Supports Mid-Atlantic pollen specialist bee Andrena gardineri; host to 17 Lepidoptera species.More Information: Master Gardeners of Northern Virginia, Light Requirement: Sun, Part Shade, ShadeSoil Moisture: Wet, Moist, DryNatural Habitat: “Ubiquitous in an extraordinary range of wet to very dry, forested to open habitats; tolerant of a range of soil types, tolerant of deep flooding, capable of rooting in deep outcrop crevices and boulder-field interstices that exclude other plants; scarce at the highest elevations.”*Comments: Virginia creeper is not for everyone or for everyone’s garden. When I think about making America green again, I dream of filling in all those stark areas of unnaturally dyed mulch. Moss rose is an ideal groundcover for those who want an attractive alternative to grass in hot, sunny areas. These introduced plants are also designated as invasive in the Mid-Atlantic and in other parts of our country. Anigozanthos 'Landscape Scarlet' - Kangaroo Paw. Seeds. The northwest native kinnikinnick can sometimes be found at a native plant nursery. You don’t have to settle on these narcissistic garden center plants because there are many better, more benevolent options: native alternatives that help instead of harm our planet. They are not beneficial to wildlife—unless their propensity to harbor rats and help breed mosquitoes counts as critter friendly. That means they have absolutely no respect for us and our great American land. Consider planting North American native plants as ground covers. Insects are attracted to the flowers. Its natural habitats include swamp hummocks, floodplain forests, and varied mesic to dry upland forests. • Acaena microphylla. Its dainty yellow flowers bloom from spring through early summer and attract our native bees and other insects. Virginia Native Plant Society’s 2010 Wildflower of the Year; USDA Forest Service Wildflower Plant of the Week, Virginia Native Plant Society-Jefferson Chapter, Maryland Native Plant Society’s Wildflower in Focus, Virginia Tech Dept. Browse the following ground cover articles for more ideas and information. Dislikes: It doesn’t like too much moisture. An evergreen ground cover plant is beneficial to your garden in two ways, each of which has significant value even when found separately on plants!. Classifying a native plant as a good ground cover often means it is rhizomatous in nature; it spreads easily and forms colonies, in turn holding soil in place. Trees, with their amazing root systems, are considered by ecologists as the best choice for erosion control. Take a peek for a lovely surprise.Host Plant Info: There is debate as to whether or not Asarum canadense is host to the pretty pipevine swallowtail butterfly. This species is undeniably more special: it was hybridized with a South American variety to produce the cultivated grocery store fruit we know and enjoy.Host Plant Info: Supports Mid-Atlantic native bee pollen specialist Andrena melanochroa; also host to at least 75 Lepidoptera caterpillars including the gray hairstreak butterfly and the grizzled skipper.More Information: Lake Forest College, Light Requirement: Part Shade, ShadeSoil Moisture: MoistNatural Habitat: “Floodplain forests, mesic to occasionally dry-mesic upland forests, seepage swamps, fens, seeps, stream banks, tidal swamps, and moist meadows; most frequent and numerous in moderately to strongly base-rich soils.”*Comments: This is the native plant that is most commonly recommended as an alternative to English ivy in shady locations. It isn’t a plant that our white-tailed deer normally find delicious.Host Plant Info: None known.More Information: Master Gardeners of Northern Virginia; Virginia Native Plant Society-Jefferson Chapter, Light Requirement: Part Shade, ShadeSoil Moisture: Moist, DryNatural Habitat: “Mesic to dry forests and woodlands, rock outcrops, pastures, clearings, and road banks.”*Comments: Although I haven’t personally grown hay-scented fern, I know how beautiful it is from my visits to Shenandoah National Park.