What groundcover can I use to replicate the scene in this image?

12 years ago

Hello you all!

I live in Dallas TX, and I am planning to build a Japanese garden in the back yard. I already planted my Bambusa Multiplex "Alphonse Karr" by the back fence, and now I am planning on completing the garden with lots of rocks, big mounds of dirt, and gravel. Plus a little artificial river that will end into a koi pond.

This is the problem, however. I would like to recreate the effect of these dirt mounds covered with those ground covers as it is showed in this picture I found on the internet. I would like to recreate this here in TEXAS, and I know it is going to be a challenge.

Can you suggest a plant that would thrive in full sun (because this ground cover will be facing the South of the garden), that will also withstand the "exceptional drought" that Texas has been going through lately? I will obviously water the garden with a sprinkler system.

Other plants that are going to be part of the garden (that I already ordered) are the following:

3 plants of Sequoiadendron giganteum ' Pendulum '

1 plant of Weeping Cherry Snow Fountain Prunus x 'Snofozam'

3 plants of Weeping Cherry Tree Prunus subhirtella 'Pendula'

1 plant of Thuja occidentalis 'Woodwardii'

1 plant of Ann Magnolia Tree

1 plant of Cinnamon Fern

1 plant of Chinese Lantern Plant

1 plant of Hydrangea, Glowing Embers

1 plant of Hydrangea, Freedom

I need a groundcover!

Rino.

Featured Answer

botann

12 years ago

The 'Groundcover' in the picture is probably Azaleas. In Japanese gardens they are usually clipped like Boxwood for shape.
The Crocagator was started from cuttings three inches long.
I grew them in a bed until about a foot tall. I then dug a ditch in a lizard shape and planted the Japanese Holly. No frame. About thirty plants and I trim it three times a year in the summer with an electric trimmer.
I should have made it longer. It grows wider, but not longer, so it appears it's getting fatter and fatter all the time. It's about 25 years old.
Did you read the caption?
Mike

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Comments (9)

mosswitch
12 years ago
That looks like some kind of clipped evergreen, maybe boxwood. High maintainence!

You might be able to get some kind of similar effect with thyme, or some kind of sedum, tho they wouldn't be evergreen. I've seen thyme used in several public Japanese gardens, tho not to that effect.

You could try a groundcover juniper of some sort, that would grow in the sun and not need clipped. Moss would work, if you get the sun-loving kind.
paulah_gardener
12 years ago
That is so lovely. I would check with a texas extension service,they might be able to help. Or go on line to search heat tolerant mosses or other ground covers. Paula
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botann
12 years ago
Will Japanese Holly, Illex crenata, 'Convexa' grow where you live? It needs summer water to do well. I takes to shearing better than Boxwood in my experience.
Here's some in my Zone 8 garden near Seattle.
Mike
{{gwi:355826}}
mosswitch
12 years ago
Oh pooh. Show off! LOL! I love it! Did you use a form for shape or is it all free hand? How long did it take to get to that size and how often do you clip it? Truly a work of art!

Sandy
paulah_gardener
12 years ago
Maby post this on the moss forum If anyone could help it would be them. Also a ground cover forum. Good luck. Paula
jolj
12 years ago
It is great!! You are way ahead of any thing I have done in forming a plant/plants into a animal shape.
rinomanfroni
Original Author
12 years ago
I have found this groundcover online that might work really well! It is called "Delosperma nubiginum" and it looks like little cute grass that even blooms in late Spring! I just need to find somebody who sells these babies by the flat and in large quantities!
MrMiagi48386
12 years ago
rinomanfroni ..... for excellent advise on J.Gardens in Texas, go to http://japanesegardening.org/talk/index.php
The mod/owner of the site, Don is from Texas and would give you excellent advice.
The ground cover that your pic shows i'm sure are azaleas
as stated by another member. I may be wrong, but they won't survive in your area and drought a sure death nell.