Re: Groundcovers for shade?

Hello James,
    No shortage of good plant material to play with as groundcovers. You do
not say how large an area you are going to cover, so will give you a
couple-three of my favorites for shade.
Our native Asarum canadense is easy, takes quite a few years before it will
need to be watched and have the overflow pulled out from where you do not
want it. Great no maintenance plant with hear-shaped leaves. Blooms can not
be seen, though, unless one looks under the leaves.
Foamflower, or Tiarella, is a must. So many to choose from. there are both
clumpers and spreaders, so watch the descriptions. Just read some
descriptions for one that sounds good to you. There are so many leaf forms
and colorations of foliage. Blooms are white with a pink cast, early spring.
Quite nice.
Pachysandra, but our native, please. Procumbens. A bit slower that some of
the oriental species and cultivars, but the best in my opinion. Once it
settles in, slowly spreads. Be sure and stick some ferns in to pop up out of
the large veined leaves. It also blooms nicely in early spring. Very odd
whitish-pink-tan blooms on spikes coming up through openings in the foliage.
Lastly, one that no one ever mentions. Meehania cordata, or creeping mint.
Wonderful small, corrugated veined leaves on trailing vines. Deep green with
a bit of white hairs. Blooms are lavender-blue in May. the more moisture and
the richer the soil the more assertative. Average soil and moisture slows it
down. I like it here with my ladyslipper popping up through it.
    Gene E. Bush
Munchkin Nursery & Gardens, llc
www.munchkinnursery.com
genebush@munchkinnursery.com
Zone 6/5  Southern Indiana

----- Original Message -----
Wow, I thought for sure this group was either dead or I'd lost my
subscription for some reason.  :)

I have a few fairly shady areas that I need to plant.  I'm thinking some
groundcovers to help hold soil in place would be a good way to go.  We're in
zone 6a, SW Ohio.  The area is fairly well shaded in -- sunlight gets in
there indirectly but not much direct sun at all.  Something that flowers
would be nice as well -- give the bugs something to eat.  :P

Suggestions?

James
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