Re: ground cover/full sun

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• Subject: Re: ground cover/full sun
• From: Nan Sterman T*@plantsoup.com
• Date: Mon, 20 Oct 2003 18:33:28 -0700

• Dymondia - tough as nails low growing groundcover which some people are using as a lawn substitute.  I grow it between pavers in a walkway.  Mat-like habit,deep green leaves curl around the edges revealing grayish underside and give the plants the look of being variegated.  little yellow daisy like flowers.  VERY low water.  Full sun, tolerates some shade.  too much TLC seems to kill it.
• Cotula, common name is brass buttons, is another tough, low growing groundcover that takes full sun, almost no water and seems to be bullet proof.  I don't know about its deer resistance but it seems to be walkable as well.
• Thymes, especially wooly thyme might work well.
• I suggest that instead of going with a single plant for a groundcover, you mix things together.  I like Helianthemum nummularium  which is a low-growing, flowering perennial with blooms in shades of yellow, copper and rose.  I don't know about its deer resistance.  Wont take foot traffic though.

Hello,
I am in the process of tracking down a ground cover that is aggressive, deer resistant and tolerates full sun.  I am in Zone 9.  I was curious about aptenia cordifolia "Red Apple". Would this ground cover be a good fit?
Thanks,

Kent Eikanas

 
It is interesting that you are asking me about this ground cover - I've had so many inquiries about this plant this past year, both people wondering if it would be good and people complaining that it is not working well for them.  This is a commonly available ground cover which might suggest to some that it is a good choice - does not seem to be the case.  I think what we have here is a poor plant that happens to be easy to propagate for quick turn-around growing.  It has also been shown to be invasive of wildlands and so should be kept away from districts where this might be a problem.  One of the big problems I also observe with this plant is its tendency to yellow and to leave gaps for weeds to grow through.

Aggressive ground cover - sounds like you need good coverage of a poor spot in full sun.

Here are some suggestions (some are spreading shrubs that can function as tall ground covers):

Lavandula dentata 'Candicans', gray French lavender - gray, wooly foliage, spreading shrub, year-round spikes of flowers with lavender colored bracts that their tops
Osteospermum fruticosum - aggressive ground cover with green foliage and purple, rose, or white flowers with bluish undersides.
Rosmarinus officinalis, Rosemary - non-upright, trailing types (look for 'Prostratus', 'Irene', others), blue flowers in winter/spring.
Senecio vira-vira - a spreading shrub with white-gray leaves
Tropaeolum majus, Nasturtium - a winter growing annual (dries up in summer) that can help keep weeds down while other plants area establishing (easy to weed out later)

Artemisia 'Powis Castle' - gray, lacy foliage, quick growing, not real long lasting (4 yrs?) before it has to be renewed or replanted.
Lobelia laxiflora, Mexican Lobelia - narrow leaves, deep reddish stems, orange-red tubular flowers
Sphaeralcea munroana, Creeping Globemallow - grayish divided leaves, grenadine pink flowers

Regards,
Seán O.

No. Calif. Branch of the Mediterranean Garden Society
Seán A. O'Hara - Branch Head
(510) 987-0577; sean@support.net
1034A Virginia Street, Berkeley, California 94710-1853, U.S.A.
http://www.MediterraneanGardenSociety.org/branches_CANo.html

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