GARDENER'S READING ROOM
The Art of Gardening
Perennials

Gardening From the Ground Up

Groundcovers are the workhorses of the landscape. They can reduce maintenance time in the yard by covering open ground that otherwise might be subject to pesky weeds. They can help to prevent hillside erosion, or simply cover a steep slope that is difficult to mow. In shady spots, where grass refuses to grow, they’ll substitute nicely. Aesthetically, they can help blend together different elements of the landscape by creating a transition between trees and lawn. And they can soften the look of a paved area when planted between pavers or stones.

Groundcovers come in many forms: creeping and upright, evergreen and deciduous, drought-tolerant and moisture-loving. Although almost any plant can be called a “groundcover,” in the groundcover section of our nursery, we generally stock those which are known to, in varying degrees, “spread.”
For challenging slopes in full sun, two excellent choices are Cotoneaster and kinnikinnick. Popular options of Cotoneaster include the cultivar ‘Lowfast’, which has a nifty arching habit, and the species C. dammeri, which stays nice and low. We currently have four varieties of kinnikinnick on hand: ‘Emerald Carpet’, ‘Massachusetts’, ‘Vancouver Jade’, and the native Arctostaphylos uva-ursi. All of the above groundcovers produce pretty flowers and berries, are evergreen, and they’re drought-tolerant once established. Also good in full sun, and helpful on hillsides, are Rubus pentalobus (creeping raspberry) and Fragaria (strawberry)—the white-flowering native F. chiloensis and the pink-blooming cultivar ‘Lipstick’.

For covering large areas in shady spots, three fast-growing options are Vinca (periwinkle), Pachysandra (Japanese spurge) and Hedera helix (ivy). Yes, I know, many gardeners cringe at the word “ivy”, but the varieties we carry come in a vast and attractive array of leaf shapes and variegations and are not invasive. They’re not picky about soil and can be easily maintained (yes, really!). Vinca can be found in large- and small- leafed types, in several eye-catching mottled-leaf forms, and with flowers that are single and double, in shades of blue, purple, burgundy, and white. Last but not least is the frequently employed green-leafed Pachysandra, which is also available in shiny- and variegated-leaf forms.

Low-growing stepable-type groundcovers are all the rage these days. You’ll see these creepers bordering beds, planted between perennials, plugged into rockeries, and sprinkled amongst pavers and stones. For full-sun spots, drought-tolerant thyme is the ultimate choice. New varieties of this popular pick seem to pop up every year, but the favorites continue to be the basics: red, white, woolly and ‘Elfin’ thymes. Also great in hot spots are Azorella, Herniaria, Raoulia, and Scleranthus. And for shade, try baby tears, Arenaria, and Corsican mint (wonderfully scented when trod upon!). If you need to cover a lot of ground, so to speak, many of the low-growing groundcovers can be purchased in economical solid flats. (Call for availability.)

This barely touches on the vast selection of groundcovers Sky carries (over 100 different varieties!). With so much to choose from, you can be assured that we’ll have the perfect solution for most any and all of your groundcover needs and wants.

By Judy Boersema
Skylights Fall 2010, Vol 25, No. 3

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