Re: [SG] Favorite Shade Ground covers
- To: s*@MAELSTROM.STJOHNS.EDU
- Subject: Re: [SG] Favorite Shade Ground covers
- From: M* T* <m*@CLARK.NET>
- Date: Sat, 2 Jan 1999 23:40:55 -0500
I'll second Gene's list - all my favorites - and throw in a few more...
For tough, dry spots where nothing else will do well - Lamiastrum
galeobdolan, the Yellow Archangel - rampant, but does the job and the
variegated leaves stay nice all season (even all winter if it's mild). The
spikes of yellow flowers in spring are fleeting but nice.
For deep, dark shade in acid soil, the tried and true Pachysandra
terminalis - will grow in the dark and tolerates much less than perfect
conditions; tolerates dry soil when established and gives a spike of white
flowers in spring...overused, so they say, but a workhorse for shade
nonetheless. The variegated leaf one is quite nice, but not as aggressive
- at least in my garden.
For light shade in decent soil, Fragaria 'Pink Panda - lovely leaves and
beautiful red runners, pink single flowers mostly in spring, but popping up
all season and edible (so I hear) berries.
And what about Symphytum grandiflorum? A neat carpeting plant for shade or
part sun, prefers decent soil, but will grow in less than perfection.
Tolerates dry shade; fairly long flowering season, with repeat bloom if you
give it a haircut.
Marge Talt, zone 7 Maryland
mtalt@clark.net
Editor: Gardening in Shade
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