Native Plants
Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?
A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.
Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
rate this answer
Wednesday - July 23, 2008
From: Middletown, NJ
Region: Northeast
Topic: Groundcovers
Title: Groundcover for sunny yard in New Jersey
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
Hi. I'm looking for ground cover for a mostly sunny section of my yard. The ground we are looking to cover is next to a slight hill with in a few feet of an in ground pool. I would like something that grows short, maybe a few inches, that also has a thick root system to keep the top soil in place. ThanksANSWER:
Grasses and sedges are excellent in holding top soil in place because of their fibrous root systems. The grasses listed below are not low-growing, but they are ornamental and clumping. You could perhaps use some of them in association with other groundcover plants. The sedges are shorter than the grasses and evergreen or semi-evergreen. The Christmas fern grows up to two feet high, but the remainder of the plants are low-growing.Chasmanthium latifolium (Inland sea oats) shade, part shade
Deschampsia caespitosa (tufted hairgrass) part shade
Elymus canadensis (Canada wildrye) shade, part shade, sun
Muhlenbergia capillaris (hairawn muhly) sun
Schizachyrium scoparium (little bluestem) part shade, sun
Carex blanda (eastern woodland sedge) shade, part shade, sun and evergreen
Carex pensylvanica (Pennsylvania sedge) shade, part shade, sun and semi-evergreen
Parthenocissus quinquefolia (Virginia creeper) shade, part shade, sun
Phlox subulata (moss phlox) shade, part shade, sun and evergreen
Gaultheria procumbens (eastern teaberry) shade, part shade and evergreen
Mitchella repens (partridgeberry) shade, part shade and evergreen
Claytonia virginica (Virginia springbeauty) part shade
More Groundcovers Questions
Shade Tolerant Groundcover for Texas
July 13, 2016 - I live in Atascosa county in Pleasanton Texas, I have an abundance of Live Oak and Ash trees shading my property and need a groundcover for my backyard which is nothing but sand and where I have dogs ...
view the full question and answer
Shade ground cover under honeysuckle from Wichita KS
February 21, 2012 - Hi! I know this is a bit odd, but I am trying to find a nontoxic, good ground covering plant that can live in the shade while competing with the roots of a whole bunch of honeysuckle. I have a few ide...
view the full question and answer
Groundcover for Southern California clay slope
April 02, 2012 - I have a 30 ft. high by 96 ft. long slope with clay soil slope that I want to plant a low height ground cover. Any recommendations on what ground cover possibilities to use.
view the full question and answer
Identification of groundcover plant in north Georgia mountains
September 16, 2011 - Was trail riding in N GA mountains - saw pretty ground cover plant ? vine - small green leaves with whitish borders almost look like clover leaves and has small bright red red berries - this was Aug 2...
view the full question and answer
Phytoremediation using Paspalum vaginatum
February 06, 2015 - Do you know of any on-going research using Paspalum vaginatum as the prime plant (monoculture) for use in phytoremediation.
Utilizing this plant in Vegetated Swales, Spreader Swales, Grassy Swales,...
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |