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Re: [SG] Groundcover on hill under oaks

At 08:48 AM 4/29/98 -0400, you wrote:
>Two years ago we bought a great place in Maryland, just west of the
>Washington, D.C., suburbs. About 1.5 acres of it is a west-facing hill
>covered mainly with mature white oak trees. The previous owner, being an
>azalea fanatic, planted hundreds of azaleas and rhododendrons underneath,
>after some heroic soil emendation.
>There are some unplanted spots, though, and erosion control on the steeper
>parts of the hill is necessary. What do people suggest that is not too
>expensive (we have lots of area to cover), reasonably fast-growing, and
>compatible with oaks (acid soil, lots of leaf mulch) and azaleas?
>Jim Blue ...  Gaithersburg, MD
>blue@nist.gov
------------------------->
JIM -
        If you like wildflowers/native plants, you could try Asarum canadense
(wild ginger). It grows in light to heavy shade, spreads quickly if soil is
fairly loose, and forms a low carpet of green leaves. It is also forgiving
of being walked on occasionally, but it cannot take regular foot traffic.
While it may be expensive to buy, you could check with your local
wildflower society to see if it has plant sales or to see if you could work
out some plant trades. Those who grow the Asarum probably have some to
spare or trade.
        If you are more in favor of cultivated plants, there is always ivy - if
you buy enough from some places you might be able to obtain wholesale rates
(e.g., Van Bourgondien).
        My wildflower friends would not appreciate this, but I have used lots of
Lamiastrum galeobdolon (previously sold as Lamium galeobdolon). It is
variegated white/green and has yellow flowers in the spring. It is an
aggressive plant, so don't put it where you don't want it to spread, but I
think it is very attractive and it helps to prevent erosion. It grows in
all light conditions, sun through dense shade, and tolerates dry soil, but
prefers its soil moist. It also tolerates being walked on once in a while.
Again, if you can find someone who has it, they should have lots to share!
        Hope this helps.

Carolyn Quinnell Bryson, Indianapolis, Zone 5
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