They used every letter in the alphabet on that one. A partial list of groundcovers that grow well in partial to heavy shade is provided below. If you want to add a bit of variety to shady areas of your garden, then choose a variegated variety of Bishop’s weed. This bedding plant doesn’t just provide good ground cover but it also fills your garden with minty aromas. When Stonecrop (Sedum acre) blossoms with its bright yellow flowers, it turns into a stunning type of colorful ground cover plant. This is not a good drought-resistant plant as it needs moist, well-drained soil to thrive. Walk on it and the whole area will be filled with the aromatic smell of fresh thyme! Creeping Buttercups like to grow in damp soil and enjoy partial to full shade. Generally, ground cover plants for shade are hardy types of creeping or spreading plants that are green all year long. These small evergreen plants are very low maintenance and, unlike a lawn, don’t require regular mowing. Maybe you have a big shady area where grass won't grow. When watering the plant, use the “soak and dry” method, which means watering the plants only after the soil is completely dry. This spreading plant also grows well in full sunshine. Use the taller ground covers for larger areas … During that time, the small shade loving flowering shrubs display gorgeous petals on peach, white, pink, or light purple flowers. The leaves may lose their color during the winter, but they will start growing again in the spring. This is the only non-living ground cover that gives you the look and feel of lush, green grass without the required irrigation that makes natural grass lawns a poor choice during times of drought. Barrenwort is yet another great idea to try when seeking out an impeccable plant candidate. Once established, it spreads freely. However, in colder climates, many groundcovers die back and go dormant during the winter months. Once established, a few will even tolerate one of the toughest garden conditions, dry shade. If planting them in sunnier climates is unavoidable, make sure you give them plenty of extra water to compensate. This perennial leafy plant has large waxy leaves that provide good ground cover. Maybe you have a steep slope that's difficult or dangerous to mow. It’s a great choice for your garden because it requires little maintenance. It will do well in full sun, partial sun, or full shade. Bloom time for Madagascar Periwinkle begins in May and lasts until October. From $2.95 a plant Many types of ground cover plants are perfect for planting in the shade. This requirement is partially why shade is such a good thing for the plant and keeps the soil from drying out too fast. Water plants only after the top one or two inches of the soil dry out. So, if you want to use these hardy plants as ground covers, plant them about 11” apart (30 cm). From colorful Heuchera, bold foliage Hostas, Ajuga, blue star creeper, Mazus and more! Yellow star-shaped flowers appear on the bedding plant around the end of springtime. The same goes for plants that love cooler locations, which might benefit from more shade than usual in sunnier weather. Although this fast-spreading plant thrives best in shady areas and woodlands, many gardeners consider it too invasive to plant in the garden. A pH neutral soil will make it happy, as will an even amount of moisture, but it can take drier conditions and is a good choice for xeriscaped gardens. Since they do not tolerate dry soils, shade allows them to latch onto moisture lingering within the soil. One way to curb that possibility is by only watering the plant during a prolonged period of drought. Epimedium versicolor is a semi-evergreen perennial cultivar (evergreen in mild winter climates). The most widely planted ground cover in the world is – surprise – lawn. Maybe you hate mowing and fertilizing grass. While this may limit some of the choices, there are still plenty of options for the cold zone gardener. Periwinkle: For example, in the space of a year, one plant can spread to over 40 ft. (12 m). Growing conditions: Moist soil with a pH of 5.5 to 7 The sweet woodruff (Galium odoratum) is a vigorous, shade-loving ground cover plant with a dainty look. Hostas like to grow in the shade and may reach a height of 2 ft. (0.6 m). Woodruffs also produce sweet-scented small white flowers that add fragrant smells to your … This dense evergreen takes on an appearance similar to grass and produces beautiful blossoms in July or August. When it comes to low growing ground cover for shade, there are so many options to choose from. Garden Front Yard Landscaping Plants Lawn Alternatives No Grass Backyard Garden Shrubs Lawn Lawn And Garden Ground Cover Plants. From periwinkle, dragons blood and creeping phlox to bearberry and geraniums. The creeping ground cover grows to a height of 19” (50 cm) with broad leaves growing on the stems. Although sweetly scented blooms are short-lived, evergreen foliage remains attractive year-round. One thing to consider before choosing this type of plant for ground covering is its toxicity. Corsican Mint is very low-growing ground cover plant for shade which spreads easily. Once established, a few will even tolerate one of the toughest garden conditions, dry shade. There are many varieties of ground cover plants for any type of garden. For extra color, you can also choose ground cover plants that flower in the spring, summer, or fall. I was hoping someone could help tell me what this may be. Ferns are great ground cover plants for shady areas in your garden – learn about the many types of ferns and how to care for them. Rhizomes of the choices, there are still plenty of options for the cold zone gardener of... Lawns will not grow exposed, opening it up to 12 ” 100! 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