Now, however, we have available a wider selection of plants that can cover large areas of ground without the benefit of a lot of sun. It was one of the only trouble-free plants available in nurseries to get the job done. For many years the quintessential American shade ground cover was ivy ( Hedera helix and cvs.). If that plant happens to be attractive and keep out weeds as well, so much the better. What we long for is one plant that will take to that spot and cover it so we don’t have to think about it again. Therefore, a partly shaded to full shade location is preferred.It is often the case that we gardeners find ourselves with a shady corner in our yard where nothing grows. Lily-of-the-Valley will tolerate full sun if it has adequate moisture otherwise, it may show signs of scorch during hot and dry summer weather. In some cases, one may want to use some sort of edging that extends about 6” below the soil line to keep it contained. It will spread out into the lawn, but mowing should keep it knocked back. Lily-of-the-Valley is an aggressive spreader once established, increasing its territory through short rhizomes, called pips, that grow beneath the soil. Flowers are usually bright white, but there is at least one cultivar with pink flowers. A flower stalk grows up through the coiled leaves early in the spring to finally bloom, usually in mid-May. Each plant usually has only two, or in some cases, three wide, strap-like leaves. Lily-of-the-Valley ( Convallaria majalis) has one of the most sweetly scented flowers of our perennial flowering plants. Lily-of-the-Valley (Convallaria majalis) Courtesy: David Graper. In the spring, simply cut back the old leaves to make room for the fresh foliage to emerge. It will persist through the winter, especially if given some mulch or snow cover. The foliage is very freeze-tolerant, so it will look good all fall. When temperatures cool and days shorten in the fall, the leaves take on a burgundy color. The genus common name of “Pig Squeak” is derived from the sound the leaves make when rubbed between your fingers. Soon, the leaves spread out to about a foot wide and develop a nice, glossy texture. The flower color of other varieties can range from white to dark pink. Lovely, magenta-pink flowers emerge in early spring at about the same time that new foliage unfurls. Heart-leaf Bergenia is not invasive, spreading slowly as new basal shoots develop on the plant. ![]() It looks great as a single specimen plant or planted in groups of five or more. Heart-Leaf Bergenia ( Bergenia cordifolia) is a great plant for many different types of sites in the garden, performing well in shady locations to full sun, if extra moisture is provided. Heart-leaf Bergenia (Bergenia cordifolia) Courtesy: David Graper. So, choose your ground cover plants carefully so that you do not end up with a mass planting that is on its way to take over your garden a few years after planting. However, that same propensity to spread can also make many of these plants aggressive competitors with other desirable plants that might also be in the landscape. These are all great characteristics for a ground cover to have, particularly in challenging locations, like a hillside that is prone to erosion and needs to stabilization. Grasses and other monocotyledonous plants may also produce rhizomes, stolons, offsets or tillers to expand the territory that they cover. Rhizomes are underground stems utilized by some plants, like lily of the valley, while stolons, spreading above ground stems, are produced by other plants, like bugle weed. Most ground cover plants will spread out over or in the soil, producing new plants as they grow. Add beauty and interest to a landscape.Occupy the soil itself with roots to compete with potentially invasive plants.Shade the soil to keep it cooler and reduce water loss from it.Shade the soil to reduce the likelihood of undesirable plants to become established.Cover the soil to protect it from erosion by wind or water.Ground cover plants generally serve the following purposes: ![]() However, ground covers, which are usually twelve inches tall or shorter, are an important component of the shade garden. Shady gardens can be filled with plants of various shapes and sizes reaching heights of several feet with eye-catching foliage or blooms.
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