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plants for shaded patio - between stones
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Posted by surf_grrl (My Page) on Sun, Mar 20, 05 at 22:19
| I would like to plant something between the stones of a little-used patio which is in the middle of a little wooded area - kind of a cool little patio I found by mistake when I was clearing brush. It is in the midst of maples, fir, yew, arbutus, ocean spray, oregon grape. Daffodils and dogtooth violet also grow there. It gets a couple of hours of dappled shade in the afternoons. I'm in the Pacific Northwest (zone 8-ish, or Sunset zone 4); in summer, it is very dry, and in winter, it is very wet.
Is there something that would suit these conditions? I thought it might be a bit shady for creeping thyme...? Anything native? |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: plants for shaded patio - between stones
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| Yes, creeping thyme won't care for the shade. Try Corsican sandwort (Arneria balerica), Corsican mint (Mentha requenii), Hernaria glabra or baby tears (this need a moist situation). All will have the same very low, spreading appearance of the thyme and will take foot traffic but have no flowering to speak of. I've also had pretty good luck with blue star creeper (Pratia or Laurentia) in light shade. Most of our native groundcovers are not well suited for growth between pavers - except moss :-)) |
RE: plants for shaded patio - between stones
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| Thanks gardengal. I was reading an garden article yesterday, and a plant used in shade between pavers in shade was sweet woodruff. Does that sound viable too? |
RE: plants for shaded patio - between stones
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| Yuu can certainly grow sweet woodruff between stones but whether it will provide the effect you want is another matter. It is a much looser and rangier GC and does not hold up to foot traffic very well - leaves and stems will squash and be damaged very easily by feet. It also gets taller than you might like - usually creating a carpet of 4-6" (or as much as 8") rather than the very low creeping mat-like habit of the others I suggested. It can also be prone to a fungal dieback and can be a very aggressive spreader. Don't get me wrong - I like Gallium (sweet woodruff) but it is a consideration of right plant, right place and I don't think this is the one. I think a better use for it is under a shady shrub planting where its height, delicacy and ability to spread rapidly will be more appreciated. |
RE: plants
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| Hmm, I think you're right - not what I was looking for at all, and aggressive spreading in my little woods would be a bad thing. |
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