German ivy is enough of a problem on its own, but, to make matters worse, it paves the way for more aggressive vines. Pests and diseases do not tend to bother it. However, mildly invasive plants may cause serious problems in localized areas. Groundcover provides protection of the topsoil from erosion and drought.. The 4-County Cooperative Weed Management Area provides this list of that you shouldn't share and eradicate in your garden -- or, at least, keep under control. However, in colder climates, many groundcovers die back and go dormant during the winter months. She writes about a variety of topics, with a focus on sustainable, pesticide- and herbicide-free gardening. Whatever ground-covering plants are used, some weed control will be necessary until the young plants have established and formed a cover (good soil fertility is therefore very important). Reading plant labels and doing a little online research ahead of plant purchasing can save you a lot of time and aggravation later. Types of invasive ground cover plants include ivy, violets and various varieties of grasses. These plants are certainly functional, but the same can be said for Astroturf. It grows in challenging locations, such as around rocks, and creeps with its runners to cover every available inch of space. These introduced plants are also designated as invasive in the Mid-Atlantic and in other parts of our country. Native to Europe and Asia, these ground covers were introduced to North America as ornamental plants. If you wished to crowd out weeds in an area of your landscape, you would expect to be delighted to hear about English ivy (Hedera helix), a vigorous, attractive ground cover that tolerates shade. They will also need to be kept watered during dry spells in the first season or two, especially if positioned under trees. The best types of ground cover plants require little maintenance and aren’t invasive. Besides seeds, invasive plants use underground roots and rhizomes and aboveground stolons to extend their reach. Groundcovers are low-growing plants that spread fast and wide to form a dense blanket on the soil. Its dense mat chokes out weeds but also desirable plants. Golden Creeping Jenny. A sun lover, it creates dense monocultures on the ground. Watch out since this plant sends out new roots and shoots at its joints. This vine has glossy, ivy-shaped leaves and thin, weak stems that scramble or climb. Although it dies back in the winter, its fresh, delicate leaves are worth the winter wait. As the saying goes 'the first year they sleep, the second year they creep and the third year they leap'. Invasive species are non-native species that cause problems like crowding out native species and changing soil environments. A ground cover should spread by itself. Periwinkle produces narrow, dry fruit containing three to five infertile seeds. A great groundcover companion for Phlox stolonifera is foam flower, Tiarella cordifolia.Foam flower blooms at the same time as this phlox species, producing an abundance of small, creamy-white flowers on upright stems that rise above the plant's maple-shaped leaves at the same height—about one foot—as the phlox. As invasive ground covers, these species thrive in disturbed areas and prefer shady or semi-shady areas.   That description fits English ivy perfectly. 1. Cushion spurge self-seeds if it’s not deadheaded, also expanding aggressively via its rhizomes. Many plants are low-growing and spreading in habit and may be termed ground-cover, but the prime requisite of a good ground cover plant is to provide a rapid, dense cover, to suppress germination and development of weed seeds and to eliminate the need for weed control measures. Test Garden Tip: For extra interest, look for 'Variegata', which sports cream and white splashes on green foliage. Invasive ground covers smother other plants, including native varieties. Orange Cotoneaster (Cotoneaster franchetii), is an evergreen ground cover with attractive pink flowers. It’s partial to alkaline, well-drained, fertile soil but also tolerates poor-quality earth. Groundcover provides protection of the topsoil from erosion and drought.. Beach strawberry grows fairly flat on the ground, with shiny green leaves and red stems year round. Its spring-blooming flowers are an unremarkable green, but the bracts at their base are bright yellow. Digging up every plant or applying a chemical pesticide or layer of black plastic are your options for removing this pesky plant. This low-growing perennial has small, succulent leaves and star-like yellow flowers. According to the California Invasive Plant Council, severely aggressive ground covers are those that spread readily, creating significant impact to animals and other plants. Invasive ground covers smother other plants, including native varieties. Common violets, Virginia creeper and white wood asters (in distance) all function as ground covers and so much more. If you have a spot in your garden where plants do not manage to put down roots, ground covers may seem like an obvious solution. It also boasts shiny dark green leaves. For instance, Sweet Woodruff ( Galium odoratum ) is a fast spreading plant with bright white flowers in spring, and fragrant leaves and stems which are used as the flavoring May Wine (use the inexpensive white wine of your choice) and fruit compotes. Types of invasive ground cover plants include ivy, violets and various varieties of grasses. What qualifies them for this category is not their height, but their function: To form interconnected mats via creeping or clumping that crowd out weeds and form a continuous expanse of foliage. This tough perennial has a distinctive red, bronze, cream, or yellow border around its heart-shaped green leaves. Phlox pilosa grows a little taller than P. stolonifera , about one foot, producing softly hairy stems and three-inch-long leaves. Certain creeping, spreading plants spread incredibly fast and quickly grow out of control. They too are listed as invasives – somewhere – and may end up banned, too. “Invasive” Ground Covers and the Case for Allowing Periwinkle by Susan Harris I have a beef with the inclusion of Periwinkle (Vinca minor) on my coop’s list of banned plants – banned because they’re considered invasive (despite NOT being listed on the Maryland Invasive Plant list ). Redstem filaree (Erodium cicutarium), is planted for its lacy foliage and lavender blooms. Invasive plant species are stubborn and tough to get rid of, and many of them already live in your garden soil and are just waiting for fertilizer and water to make them sprout. Make sure to divide the plant and cut back or deadhead its flowers to control growth. © Copyright 2020 Hearst Communications, Inc. You’re likely to find this plant in a section of your garden with medium-moist, well-drained, fertile, somewhat acidic soil. If you are not careful, your yard may be overtaken with shoots and blooms that look beautiful but proliferate rapidly and overstay their welcome. The 4-County Cooperative Weed Management Area provides this list of plants that you shouldn't share and should eradicate in your garden -- or, at least, keep under control. The root of these plants that grow fast is also edible raw or cooked, with a slight peppery flavor. Groundcovers are low-growing plants that can fill a space, and are good for spots where turfgrass can't grow or where you'd like to replace it, from the University of … These drought tolerant ground covers invade dry, well-drained soil and manage quite well in poor-quality dirt. From May to June, this low-lying evergreen perennial displays tiny blue-violet flowers on its spikes. As ground cover plants for wet areas, Periwinkle enjoys running riot in forests and near the sites of old houses. Some have a scent, some feature flowers and all vary in leaf colour, density and coverage. Stringy stonecrop develops quickly in difficult areas, including environments that are hot and dry or cold and alpine. It favors full sun and well-drained soil. Juniper will cover the ground … This hardy, low-growing perennial produces needle-like leaves and dense, star-shaped flowers of pink, white, blue, or purple. Why nurseries recommend it: For privacy, wall and ground cover. This leaves the ground bare and exposed, opening it up to potential weed issues and soil erosion. We ask four leading landscape designers for their advice and insights on all things relating to groundcovers, including the best varieties for sunny, shaded and even tropical gardens. As the fastest spreading ground cover plant in some locations, it bears dense, stinky yellow flowers from May to October. Creeping thyme is popular for filling in cracks between paving stones or using as a grass alternative. It sprouts readily, including in harsh conditions, reproducing via its many seeds. It tolerates a range of temperatures but requires good air circulation in hot or humid conditions. Add these ground cover plants and flowers to your garden to fix your yard's trouble spots, whether it's grass that won't grow, erosion problems, or boring beds. Many severely invasive ground covers are planted in home landscapes for their appearance, ease of maintenance, and ability to stabilize the soil. They can also be challenging to remove completely. Ground covers are low-growing plants that spread quickly to form a dense cover. Some ground covers are only a few inches tall, and others top out at two feet or more. This tough invader does well in full sun to part shade. These plants, often native to Europe or Asia, were often planted in North America as ornamentals. This plant does best in full sun or part shade and either loam or sand. The issue with these plants is that they are difficult to control and a pain to eradicate. For extra color, you can also choose ground cover plants that … It expands quickly in full sun and moist, fertile soil, forming a dense mat that pushes out native plants. Once established, they’ll crowd out weeds, provide year-round protection to the soil, and offer overwintering habitat for native fauna. A non-invasive cover. In April to July, it bears blue or purple flowers. A moderate quantity of water is sufficient. But that's the problem: English ivy is too vigorous, earning it a spot on the list of worst invasive plants. Gardeners may buy these 'thug' plants unaware that, once established and given the right growing conditions, they can run amok. Brassbuttons (Cotula coronopifolia), is a herb that prefers moist soil. Grass is the best known ground cover, but grass is not suited to all locations. Most gardeners are aware of the problems caused by weeds, but there are garden plants - readily available to buy - that have the potential to become a nuisance. What it looks like: A trailing, climbing evergreen vine. In the northeastern United States, wild Callery pears sometimes form extensive, nearly pure stands in old fields, along roadsides, and in similar disturbed areas. You’ll run across invasive ground cover plants almost as soon as you start your garden. Groundcovers are a fantastic plant for building a layered garden full of visual interest. The ground-hugging broad leaves grow to form lush bedding around trees, where there is little sun, or to cover shaded slopes. Others continue to stock the plants as "vigorous" ground covers because they have qualities sought by homeowners -- they are inexpensive, attractive, and easy to grow. This semi-evergreen loves full sun. It’s essential to educate yourself about invasive plants so that you know which species to avoid and why. It’s also winter-hardy. Invasive ground cover plants are low-growing and spread quickly. Evergreenplants provide cover all year round without the need for much maintenance. This long-lived plant chokes other plants with its dense leaves. If you do have a bugleweed plant, prune it twice a year to prevent it from taking over your yard. If you are in search of drought-tolerant ground covers for shade that will beautify your yard without increasing your water bill, here is a list of nine living and non-living options to help you find the right choice for your landscaping needs. This low-lying woody perennial, a member of the mint family, has a strong scent and fine-textured leaves. It does not enjoy soggy soil. Golden creeping Jenny (Lysimachia nummularia) is a rugged ground cover hardy in zones 3-9. Rocky Mountain gardens where plants are not as vigorous grow slower and shorter so we get away with growing some of the invasive perennials that are notoriously difficult to … However, it sprawls like a vine via both aboveground stolons and underground rhizomes. The best solution to cut down on landscape maintenance and steep slope eluding control is the ground covers. She is an Oregon State University Master Gardener and Master Naturalist and holds a Master of Fine Arts in creative nonfiction writing. European sea rocket (Cakile maritima), is a plant with a relatively minor impact. If you're looking for year-round cover for open areas, this vigorous plant will provide it and also throw in the bonus of dramatic pink flowers in late spring and summer. Minimal water is required, and it blooms in full sun or partial shade. Mildly invasive plants are those that create less ecological impact, often because they don't reproduce as rapidly as more invasive plants. It runs riot rapidly in the springtime in clay and disturbed areas like roadsides. If you are looking for ground covers for zone 8, read on for a short list of great suggestions. Actually, the pinwheel-flowered periwinkle can take more shade than the bellflower but both are noninvasive and shallow-rooted, making them easy to control. Have a gardening question? Ideally, bishop’s weed has moist, well-drained soil, although a little drought is acceptable. This deer resistant evergreen shrub boasts small white or pink blossoms in July and August, then edible purplish-black berries. It’s worth noting that this thistle can cause contact dermatitis. Its long, trailing stems have round chartreuse leaves and yellow flowers. Tired of mowing that lawn? They can *It thrives in wet areas. For example, Ice Plant … It can take a few years for a groundcover to fill in. It also handles some drought, other than the young plants, which require regular watering. Here are 9 Drought-Tolerant Ground Covers for Shade: 1. Although ground covers can be non-living materials, plants make a warmer, more attractive carpet of green. A non-invasive cover. Although these plants often have attractive qualities, their aggressive nature means that they’re generally not worth the risk. They may also damage trees and structures with their aggressive growth. They add beauty to the landscape and at the same time help prevent soil erosion. Fast-spreading bishop's weed will thrive where most other shade plants fail. Add these ground cover plants and flowers to your garden to fix your yard's trouble spots, whether it's grass that won't grow, erosion problems, or boring beds. When removing or killing invasive ground covers, there is the possibility of harming other plants as well. Such plants are usually evergreens or have densely twiggy growth. This invader sends out vigorous underground stems and roots, displacing native plants. In mild climates, it remains green year … Be equally aware that some ground covers can become invasive. Spring brings a clean slate, a “do over” for all the plans that didn’t get completed last year. German ivy (Delairea odorata), is planted for its attractive vining foliage, but is especially invasive in coastal areas, where it grows quickly and smothers native vegetation. Not all ground covers are created equal, and it is important to be aware that some readily sold ground covers are invasive. With careful attention, you can get rid of the ground covers and save the surrounding plants. Vinca minor (Common periwinkle/Vinca) What are good ground cover plants in zone 8? Similarly, big periwinkle (Vinca major), is a spreading ground cover with attractive purple flowers and shiny green foliage. If you found this list of invasive ground covers useful, please share these gardening tips with your friends on Facebook and Pinterest. 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