Bob's slope

I know that it is much maligned and very invasive in a lot of circumstances, but Vinca makes a bombproof groundcover in the foothills.

It will do fine in shaded situations, requires no water onced established (two or three years to get well established), is easily
and cheaply obtainable (if you can't find someplace around where it
has gone native, let me know and I'll dig you some clumps from across the road), will let the oak leaves drop through and will proceed to eat them, stays very green pretty much year 'round, although the stuff across the road here in Amador is looking a tad wilted by this time of the year.

I presume your friend knows that any supplemental watering done under oaks here in the foothills puts his trees at some risk?

Personally, I go for bulbs in such situations. A lot of choices, but
none of them really qualify as groundcovers. Actually, you can grow the larger bulbs like daffodils and snowflakes in with the vinca. They grow
up through it and then die down to disappear until spring.

I shall probably be taken to task for recommending the planting of Vinca
in any situation by some member of the list, but it wouldn't be the first time. Is it any more objectionable in such a situation than Photinia?



Yours most respectfully,
Michael Larmer


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