Re: Ground Cover for shade?
- To: s*@MAELSTROM.STJOHNS.EDU
- Subject: Re: [SG] Ground Cover for shade?
- From: M* T*
- Date: Thu, 9 Mar 2000 00:00:44 -0500
I thought about Houttuynia, Karen, but it is so hard to eradicate if
you decide you don't want it since it spreads via underground roots.
Mine gets closer to 18" to 24" tall. Lovely plant which, I
understand, will grow in standing water. My only complaint about it
(other than its aggression) is the scent, which is supposed to be
like Saville oranges, but which I find rather nauseating. Luckily,
it only gives it off when the leaves are brushed or bruised, but I
practically need a gas mask when I need to go in a and whack it back.
Perhaps, like Bishop's Weed (Aegopodium podagraria), it will be
better behaved in very dry soil. I've got a small bit of Bishop's
Weed competing with ivy, ferns and other things at the base of a
group of trees that has never spread and I think it's because of the
dry soil and stiff competition...whereas I have read countless posts
by those who have spent years trying to eradicate it from assorted
beds and borders of better soil. IMO, one has to watch plants who
spread underground. It's so much easier to pull or cut back
above-ground spreaders than have to dig over soil and sift out bits
of root!
My Houttuynia behaved itself for about three years...long enough for
me to wonder at posts about its rampant ways. Then, whammo, it took
off and now comes up through, into and around everything in the bed -
is even trying its luck in the cracks of adjoining flagstone
walk....if aggressive is wanted, this child will do it!
Hmmmm....wonder what the outcome of a turf war between Houttuynia and
Lamiastrum galeobdolon (yellow archangel) would be.....maybe a
three-way conflict; add Bishop's Weed? Would be a colorful battle,
to be sure.
Ajuga, for me, grows best in very light shade. When I put the durn
stuff in a place it considers too shady, it seems to just walk out to
the sun, leaving the place I wanted it to grow bare. Great plants
for covering ground where they are happy and lovely when in bloom,
creating a haze of soft purple-blue. It does not, in my experience,
like to get too dry. 'Burgundy Glow', isn't as robust and aggressive
as the species. In fact, I have to rather guard my lot from its
aggressive cousin and go through a couple times a year and remove the
intruders....lovely plant, tho' IMO. Ajuga also seeds around, esp.
in my gravel drive, the seedbed of the world.
Reached, for Pete's Sake, 85F here today - MUCH too warm for this
time of year; I fear late frost damage to Azaleas, Rhododendrons and
others tricked into coming out of dormancy too soon...do not trust
old Ma Nature here as I just know she's gonna throw some nasty
weather at us before March is done.
Marge Talt, zone 7 Maryland
mtalt@clark.net
Editor: Gardening in Shade
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> From: Karen Butner <abtrlife@EARTHLINK.NET>
> Date: Wednesday, March 08, 2000 11:03 PM
>
> Hi Jennifer,
>
> If you want color, how about Houttuynia - H. cordata 'Chameleon'.
aka the
> Chameleon Plant( this is the only name listed in some catalogs).
It's yellow,
> green, bronze and red. 6-9" tall. Spreads well. Looks great with
the previously
> mentioned Bishop's Weed (aka Snow on the Mountain?) - green w/white
edges and
> 8-10" tall. Take your pick on zones - each source is different -
5-8, 3-9.... !
> You should be able to find it in just about any perennial catalog.
Out of the
> catalogs that are close at hand, the lowest price is from Richard
Owen Nursery -
> 8 for $10.95. Both are deciduous.
>
> Another choice would be Ajuga. Very low growing, about 2-3" with
about 8" blue
> flower spikes in spring. The variety I have is dark green and
spreads like crazy
> !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Spreads by above ground runners, so is easy to
remove if it
> encroaches into unwanted places. I cut off some of the encroachers
and had
> instant new plants to place elsewhere. It is also evergreen. I also
have some of
> the Burgundy Glow variety, but I don't think it got enough water
(?) - has not
> gone crazy like the other one. In fact, hasn't done much of
anything.
>
> Karen
> enjoying the last day of unseasonably warm weather - 76 today !!!
:-) :-) :-)
> z5a
>
> Jennifer Sheppard wrote:
>
> > Hello all,
> > Does anybody have suggestions for aggressive ground cover for a
large shady
> > area?
> > Also the more colorful the better:) One more thing... suggestions
as to where
> > to buy
> > the plants would be great!!!
> >
> > Thanks,
> > Jennifer Sheppard
> > N. Louisiana
> > zone 8
