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What Groud Cover for Full Shade
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Posted by glenn_gardener 7 (My Page) on Sun, Aug 19, 07 at 22:00
Hello I live in north Delaware zone 7, and need a ground cover on a slope that is in full shade in the summer with a southern exposure, the soil is well drained and does get sun in the winter and early spring. The area is mostly shades with very mature Beech trees. I desire planting a ground cover that does not get too high so that I can use a leaf blower in the fall to clean up.
Any help is appreciated,
Glennn |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: What Groud Cover for Full Shade
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| Hi Glenn, The two that come to mind for me are Ajuga or Vinca. This is a tough area to plant in. Both are quick growers, evergreen, look nice and dont require much maintenance. I have Chocolate Chip Ajuga, fills in pretty thick. If you go with Vinca, choose the small leaf variety. Jen |
RE: What Groud Cover for Full Shade
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| Hi Glenn I am only about a 1/2 hour from you so our zones are similar. I have periwinkle(vinca) planted in our woods, and it does well. Pachysandra does well too. Longwood Gardens has massive areas planted with pachysandra in shade. I have it in along the north side of my house, and it does all right, though better around the corner wherer it gets a little more light. High shade from your trees would give it more light than the north side of my house.
Leaves seem to disappear into both the periwinkle and pachysandra. I don't even blow it. They seem to work their way down into it and become mulch for the next year. |
RE: What Groud Cover for Full Shade
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| Sweet woodruff (Galium odoratum) might be another option. I've never grown it, but our local herb farm has a couple of beds of it. Very pretty plant. |
RE: What Groud Cover for Full Shade
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| How about our native allegheny spurge, Pachysandra procumbens? DO NOT use a leaf blower to remove leaves from whatever gc you use. They will form a mulch and help the gc cover root and spread. |
RE: What Groud Cover for Full Shade
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I use our native ginger, Asarum canadense, as a ground cover for difficult areas. Large heart-shaped leaves, about 6" tall, slowly spreading, it's a great plant for a shade ground cover. I find Vinca much too invasive, difficult to control. The native Pachysandra is also a good alternative, although it does take some time to get established.
Louise |
RE: What Groud Cover for Full Shade
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Hi, glenn gardener,
I second the notion of sweet woodruff. It loves shade, has a really cool textury shape to its foliage, and has sweet white blossoms in the spring. I can't say enough about this ground cover b/c it's so pleasant looking. |
RE: What Groud Cover for Full Shade
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| Sweet woodruff (Galium) is an aggressive spreader and you will find it invading the root system of other plants in the area. Not necessarily a problem if the other plants are large enough so the galium doesn't overwhelm them. It is also a herbaceous groundcover, dying back to the roots in winter. That could make the leaf blowing easier :-) |
RE: What Groud Cover for Full Shade
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| There are sedum that do well in the shade and do not strangle other plants. As noted above, ajuga can do well along with verbena. Suggestion, try planting hakone -- it's not evergreen but is a great contrast to other plants and can provide some structure to your shade garden in the warm months. Good luck. |
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