Read our. Her goal is to inspire and educate people about how to garden every day. . Check your plants regularly and if slugs or snails are present, handpick and dispose of them as they appear. Are ticket costs pricing Houston Astros fans out of Opening Day? Theywill not require much waterwhen grown in full shade, a fact that (along with their resistance to deer pests) recommends them to homeowners seeking low-maintenance landscaping. Its off the menu for deer and rabbits, but a feast for pollinating bees, butterflies and hummingbirds. Lamb's ear creates a soft and silvery dense ground covering mat in a sunny area of your property. In mid-summer, however, they're dotted with beautiful purple-pink flowers. It needs full sun to flourish. But in regions where spotted dead nettle is not invasive, it acts as an effective ground cover for deeply shaded areas. It quickly forms a thick mound and blooms all summer long, producing a sweet honey scent that attracts pollinators throughout the season. And Beacon Silver has pink flowers and silvery leaves. Virtually disease and pest free, Spotted Dead Nettle is also deer and rabbit resistant. This aromatic herb can be an invasive plant when grown in moist soil, where it sometimes spreads out of control. Note that Lenten rose is toxic to animals. Cut them to the height you prefer them to be and thin them out if they're getting too thick by cutting some of the branches throughout the plant back to the ground. It prefers shade, but . Mulching and weeding to prevent unwanted sprouts from stealing water from these low-maintenance succulents, and you can enjoy the cheery color of this low growing ground cover year-round, with a number of varieties to choose from. Water the seedlings and apply a mulch layer on top of the soil. Our wide range of perennial groundcovers are ideal for those spots in the garden where grass isn't wantedon banks, under trees or across large areas of the border. . It doesnt like wet feet, so make sure the soil is well-drained. It spreads rapidly by above-ground runners and is hardy to Zone 4. Spectacular as a ground cover in the shade garden, Lamium maculatum (Spotted Dead Nettle) is a perennial plant whose appearance is unlike other perennial ground covers. Here are four options that we've grown in various areas around the . It prefers well-drained soil but will do fine in the dry shade if you provide it with regular watering. Its cheerful bright lilac pink flowers add whimsy to the garden from early summer through midsummer. Are insane ticket costs pricing Astros fans out of Opening Day? Mature plants that have gotten "leggy" should be cut down to just above the ground, which then will grow back into a bushy, compact plant. Yellow archangel, also known as yellow Lamium, is very competitive and fast-growing in the forest habitats of western Washington and western British Columbia. And while deer might not like itspink flowers, they do attract butterflies and honeybeesits even believed that it enhances the flavor of the honey. If those conditions describe your landscape, then you may want to check out this wonderful little relative of the dogwood trees. This woodland sedge can tolerate drier soils than many species. `Katie' ruellia is a good ground cover for sun or shade. (I prefer to call it lamium), Lamium . plant hardiness zones 4 through 8. Q. The unusual common name of "dead nettles" alludes to the fact that, while it resembles stinging nettles, the stingers are dead on L. maculatum, rendering it harmless. Glechoma hederacea is not the same as henbit (Lamium amplexicaule) or Purple Deadnettle (Lamium purpureum L.), AKA red deadnettle, red henbit. It does best in cooler summer weather and prefers full sun to part shade. But beware: This hardy opportunist, if left unchecked, can become unsightly and sometimes invasive. Here's how: While they can self-seed themselves, spotted dead nettles do not do well if you try to grow them from seed. Early mornings and evenings and after periods of damp weather are the best times to hunt for these pests. This type of evergreen comes in an array of shapes and sizes. It's also used for ground cover to stop erosion because its tough roots hold soil in place. Then, the leaves turn a gorgeous shade of burgundy red in fall. 1. Lamium (Deadnettle) Wonderful as ground cover in a shady area, Spotted deadnettle ( Lamium maculatum) can cover large areas quickly, prevailing in the most unforgiving of conditions. True blue flowers are rare, especially late in the season. Lamium needs shade and a fertile, moist but well-draining soil. Once it settles in to its new home, this fern will speed up its spread and transplant easily if you find new shady places for it in your landscape. Some leaves may revert back to an all-green color (instead of being variegated); be sure to prune these out, so that the green color does not eventually take over the plant. manure tea is a good alternative. Basket of Gold also goes by the name yellow alyssum, another reference to its adorable clusters of bright yellow flowers. Groundcover plants are helpful for weed suppression, while also adding texture and color to your garden with low maintenance needs. Spotted dead nettles will naturalize in some areas. Shown: 'Spotted deadnettle' (Lamium maculatum) Tall-Growing 3. Note: This plant is considered invasive across much of the northeast, some areas of the northern Midwest, and parts of the Pacific Northwest. A popular climbing vine, English ivy will creep along to cover the ground if you let it, and thrives in the shade. Root-hardy, it will return after a freeze, but in mild winters such as this year's, little damage is done to the foliage. This shrub also offers some fall-foliage value. Although taller than a typical ground cover, yarrow ranks among the most attractive ground cover flowering plants. For a sun-loving, pollinator-friendly herb, creeping thyme ( Thymus praecox) will fill your lawn with a fine-leaved mat of dainty pink, white, or purple flowers. Subscribe now and be up to date with our latest news and updates. While many shrubs give you flowers, the prettiest thing aboutCotoneaster horizontalis is its colorful, red berries. Both have tiny needle-like foliage that spreads along the ground or down rock walls. On the other hand, keeping it in check requires occasionally cutting back the stems, which can actually self-root if they fall off naturally. The erect flower clusters are long-blooming. This is a highly invasive plant but it's also popular for growing on huge swaths of areas that need ground cover and won't encroach on another's property. Spotted Dead Nettle is an excellent ground cover plant because of its flowers and its spreading growth habit. Fun bonus: The flowers, either fresh or dried, can be used in salads or steeped in teas. Press Esc to cancel. In addition to making your garden look good, lithodora is a useful ally: The plant works as a natural deer repellent (the animals dislike the taste of the flowers) and helps control erosion. When several are planted together, they form a dense hedge that thrives in almost any type of soil and full sun. Well to make a long stroy short the Lamium is gone and in its place we planted a very small ground cover called Tiny Thyme. New delosperma varieties boast yellow, orange, apricot, and bicolor flowers. It gets its name because light reflects off its hairy growths and sparkles on the landscape. Lamium? The spotted dead nettle plant is listed as invasive in the Invasive Plant Atlas of the United States and is located mainly in the upper eastern states. Pollinating bees and butterflies delight in its bright golden yellow, daisy-like flowers that appear from late spring into early summer. A member of the mint family, Lamium spreads quickly, is self-seeding, and will rapidly create a ground cover wherever it is planted. If you're planting a shrub or perennial that you want to last from one year to the next, make sure it's suited according to your USDA Hardiness Zone (find yours here). Lamium (Dead Nettle) is a trailing, groundcover perennial. Curious reddish brown flowers bloom in spring at ground level under the foliage. Liverleaf (Anemone americana, formerly classified as Hepatica americana) is a perennial wildflower native to North America. In its native environment, it spreads slowly to cover the forest floor, where deer and rabbits typically leave it alone. Its a relative of mint, so its guaranteed to spread, and its hardy in the cold of Zone 3 but can take heat up to Zone 8. Because the common name is often given as "spotted dead nettle". Farther north, it can take increasing sunlight. Here are a few varieties to consider. It prefers moderate climates but is able to withstand full sun and drought-like conditions. Bunchberry is a shade-loving deciduous shrub native to northern portions of North America. However, slugs and snails may be occasional visitors. The creeping juniper is a sprawling, creeping needled evergreen shrub that grows to a maximum height of about 18 inches and with a spread that can go as much as 8 feet. In addition to white flowers, you can find colors like moonshine yellow, paprika, or vintage violet. 14. Care requirements for creeping phlox are few. It got its name from the way its red stems spread like strawberry plants do, and how its rounded, dark green leaves with white veins and maroon undersides resemble a begonia. She writes a weekly garden Q&A and feature stories. Good news. The success of many invasive plants is due to this means of spreading. 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Ice plants need plenty of sun to thrive. . Spotted dead nettles are valued as perennial ground covers for the shade that will spread and fill in a patch of ground that might otherwise remain bare (except for weeds). Interrupted fern, like bunchberry and liverleaf, is a North American native that can serve as a low-maintenance ground cover for shade. Liverleaf's spring floral display makes this small perennial special. The leaves, bulblets and bulbs of the nodding onion plant are edible with a strong onion flavor, but its more common to grow Allium cernuum for its easily identifiable flowers. This deer-resistant succulent ground cover has needle-shaped leaves and small but bright daisy-like flowers that carpet the plants from late spring through early fall. If you prefer a small hosta, opt for 'Blue Mouse Ears' that grows 6 to 12 inches high with round, heart-shaped blue-green leaves. For example, choose Delosperma brunnthaleri, a hardy ground cover that grows around 2 inches tall and 2 feet wide with yellow flowers and ideal for zones 4 to 9. With a long bloom period and colorful foliage, most varieties are eye-catching plants throughout the year. Susan has received visitors from around the world in her home garden which has been featured in numerous gardening publications. which is great for using as a ground cover in large fields and gardens. In summer months, little spikes of blue, purple, pink or white flowers will appear. They are tough and their easy-going adaptability to a wide variety of rocky slopes, clay, and alkaline soils keep them comfortable in the west. Susan Martin is a lifelong gardener who enjoys sharing her passion for plants, gardening and the business of horticulture with fellow plant enthusiasts across North America. Lamium is evergreen from Zone 6 south. Nepeta x faassenii is one such species that makes for a good ground cover, since it is one of the best ground coverings to stop weeds. Select Delosperma floribundum'Starburst', a mat-forming cultivar with pink flowers and white centers for zones 6 to 8. It prefers well-drained soil but will do fine in the dry shade if you provide it with regular watering. However, keep a good supply of glyphosate on hand to keep these in check! One way to cut back on the energy and resources you put into your yard is to incorporate ground covers into the landscape. While it prefers full sun, it needs regular moisture, especially during hot months. Height is a foot or so. Plant it in full sun during the spring in cooler climates and in shadier areas during the fall in warmer regions. This elegant fern looks as dainty as a pearl necklace, but is tough enough to survive winter growing in the Himalayan Mountains, where it is native. Simply put some potting soil mix in a container or hanging basket that has drainage holes, and plant the spotted dead nettle, then water. She did graduate work through the University of Georgia system. Hedera helix. Once established, its drought tolerant. Spread: Slow to medium growth rate; spreads via stolons to a height of 10 inches. RELATED: 25 Plants That Survive With or Without You. Leadwort begins blooming in late summer with beautiful, electric-blue flowers and continues until the first frost. Here are our top 15 ground covers for shaded areas. Fast growing and a good all round plant for beneath trees you get a ground cover with good foliage and the added attraction of flowers. We are no longer supporting IE (Internet Explorer) as we strive to provide site experiences for browsers that support new web standards and security practices. Are rabbits attracted to spotted dead nettle? And beware that it is considered invasive in some areas of the Northeast and Northwest. The beauty of this easy-care perennial ground cover is that it's deer-resistant which means flowers may be trampled, but not typically eaten. Evergreen ground covers, such as creeping juniper, require little care. Spotted deadnettle ground cover is an easy-to-grow plant with a wide range of soil and condition tolerance.. 1 most stressful city for U.S. workers, Texas tornados destroy homes, leave 300,000 without power, Willie Nelson's new album is a lovely tribute to a fellow country legend, Turner: TEA is giving Houston ISD two optionsclose school or be taken over, Two ocelots were photographed crossing a road in rare South Texas sighting. Pachysandra are aggressive and fast-spreading coverings that grow underground with runners. Even in Zone 5, where one lives, they persist well into the winter. A variety of cultivars are available, including Juniperus horizontalis'Blue Rug.'. If you have bare acreage behind your home that does not lead to another property, Chinese lantern can be a great ground cover and filler. They have silver foliage and produce showy pink, purple or white flowers in late spring. It is a woodland plant that requires good drainage and shade. Honeysuckle grows best with full sun and moist soil, and its resistant to heat. Though pruning is not necessary, hostas will yellow and die back so trimming dead foliage can look better, especially in a small area. These waterwise plants are perfect rock garden ground covers in zones 4 through 9 for the hardier yellow prairie zinnia and 6 through 10 for desert zinnia with its pretty white flowers. You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings, which can also be found in the footer of the site. If your garlic outgrows its space, thin it out and divide the old clumps every few years for a consistent ground cover. BUY IT ($18) Jill King/EyeEm/Getty Images. Lamium maculatum: Also called spotted deadnettle, forms a dense mat over. I've never tried that one. If you prefer a similar but less aggressive variety, consider C. montana 'Amethyst Dream'. A ground hugging creeper with silvered variegated foliage and some really pretty colored flowers Dead Nettles are an ideal choice for gardeners who want a tough plant with a variety of . Although not as attractive to cats as catnip (Nepeta cataria), catmint is a gardeners dream: an easy-to-grow, robust purple ground cover. Lamium is a fast-growing perennial ground cover that deer and rabbits avoid. It grows to a maximum height of about 12 inches with an 18-inch spread, and it flowers with white blossoms in spring. Available at Etsy; $10.99 per 1-quart plant. Try to plant it in large groupings on a hillside or along the house's foundation to prevent erosion. In fact, this short, squat plant is often seen dotting hillsides or banks. Roger Clemens makes surprise appearance at Astros' Spring Training, Hiker captures 'once-in-a-lifetime' photo of wildlife at Brazos Bend State Park, This is how astronauts see Houston, Texas Gulf from space with unaided eyes, These bites won big at the Houston rodeo's foodie awards, Here's what Lina Hidalgo carb-loads before a long run, Heres how you can watch 'Daisy Jones and the Six', Houston police ticket man for feeding homeless people, Texas Republican wants to ban access to abortion websites. It is an excellent choice as a perennial ground cover since it tolerates a wide range of soil conditions, although it grows most quickly in slightly moist, humus-rich soils. Consult with your local extension office before growing spotted deadnettle because it is invasive in some areas. But this plant with prettyfoliageand funny namerarely becomes a problem for those who grow it in areas where it is already native. You will have a Lamium carpet by fall, and the following year you will perhaps be able to pen your own lamium nursery with which to supply all your friends. In moist soil, however, brass buttons spread vigorously, forming 2-inch-tall mats of growth strong and thick enough to withstand even regular foot traffic. Fix your gardens trouble spots with these low-growing perennials, annuals, and shrubs. Its not often that a plant is classified as an evergreen ground cover, a trailing plant for containers and a houseplant. Its a good idea to add some mulch around the plant to help suppress weeds. We recommend our users to update the browser. She's been a frequent speaker at various garden events. Another bonus is that it is common and considered one of the cheapest ground covering plants. It is a mat-forming perennial ground cover that typically grows 5-8" tall but spreads indefinitely over time by sprawling stems which root in the ground as they go. It does spread under the right conditions, but it is fairly easy to pull it out and keep it from taking over areas where it does not belong. The Spruce uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. This item: Perennial Farm Marketplace Lamium m. 'Beacon Silver' (Dead Nettle) Groundcover, Size-#1 Container, Metallic Leaves and Pink Flowers $1495 Mixed Heart-Shaped Hosta Bare Roots - Rich Green Foliage, Low Maintenance, Heart Shaped Leaves - 6 Roots $1699 ($2.83/Count) Total price: $31.94 Add both to Cart This ground cover is a late riser, making it ideal for covering up the spent foliage of spring flowering bulbs. She has spent over two decades working in the horticulture industry on new plant development, garden design, sales, marketing and consulting. Sometimes called Pinks because the petals look like they've been trimmed with pinking shears, this pretty ground cover comes in a range of heights, anywhere from low-growing to 2 feet tall. There are also several cultivars (all cold-hardy to at least zone 4, most 3 to 12 inches tall, and all wanting the sun/soil conditions of the species plant) of L.maculatum, including: While dead nettle plants areflowering perennials,stinging nettles, by contrast,arenoxious weeds(but edible when properly prepared). Lamium is an excellent ground cover for shade. It prefers full shade, but can handle some morning sun. I simply pick the seedlings if they pop up where I don't want them. Creeping Raspberry is a part of the Rosaceae family. In regions with cold winters, Lamium is deciduous. It has a stripe down the middle that can be white, yellow, red, or silver. Water it during dry spells and give it a haircut at the end of its blossoming period. By clicking Accept All Cookies, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Just like other plants with the word "creeping" in the name, liriope can be considered aggressive and invasive in parts of the United States, from Virginia through to Mississippi. Low-growing varieties of sedum make easy-to-care-for ground covers, especially since its fleshy leaves retain enough water to survive dry spells. When shopping for this plant, be sure to ask for Aurinia saxatilis or yellow alyssum, not sweet alyssum, which is an entirely different species. Reaches 3 to 9 inches tall with a spread of 6 to 12 inches. Flowering: Yes. With society garlic, you can have your ground cover and eat it too! This ground cover forms a low-growing carpet that spreads quickly as its stems root when they touch the ground. While this perennial spreads rapidly, you can mow it to regain control. Plant them with an assortment of other flowering plants in a container garden to have sitting on your porch and lanai, or they trail beautifully from a hanging basket. Lamium. RELATED: 30 Plants for Your Easiest Garden Ever. The reality is that this hardy opportunist, if left unchecked, can become unsightly and sometimes invasive. Need an easy evergreen carpet to plant where no grass dare grow? It should be pinched back frequently to keep the plants bushy and "shrubby.". Learn tips for creating your most beautiful home and garden ever. But what really makes this tough perennial a standout is its vivid foliage that ranges from chartreuse to silvery white to many shades of green. The silvery foliage of theseshade plantsmakes them a good fit for landscape designs with creative color schemes. Check out these favorite ground covers that will require little effort on your part once you plant them. Install the plants in an acidic, well-drained, loamy soil. Put lamium next to other plants with darker foliage so this ground cover can bring out those colors. Creeping thyme ground cover is not invasive, helps prevent weeds from growing, and is a natural deer repellent. Scott Little. Its brittle, fragile stems help keep it from becoming aggressively invasive and also allow bulbs and other perennials to penetrate its foliage.