Native Plants

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Ask Mr. Smarty Plants
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Friday - August 02, 2013
From: Birmingham, AL
Region: Southeast
Topic: Groundcovers
Title: Evergreen groundcover for full sun in Alabama
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
Mr. Smartyplants, can you suggest a native, evergreen, full-sun groundcover that might thrive in zone 8a? We hope to find a mass planting that would look good beside Heuchera villosa 'autumn bride,' in nearby shade. This is for a memorial site. Thank you so much!ANSWER:
There are not too many possibilities but here are a few. All are listed as evergreen or semi-evergreen, will grow in the sun and all grow in Alabama:
Antennaria plantaginifolia (Plantain-leaf pussytoes) Here is more information from Missouri Botanical Garden, Kansas Native Plants and Illinois Wildflowers.
Coreopsis lanceolata (Lanceleaf coreopsis) Here is more information from Ohio State University and Illinois Wildflowers.
Dryopteris cristata (Crested woodfern) Here is more information from North Carolina State University.
Packera aurea (Golden ragwort) Here is more information from Missouri Botanical Garden.
Salvia lyrata (Lyreleaf sage) Here is more information from Floridata.
Be sure to read the requirements for each plant under GROWING CONDITIONS on its species page and compare them to your site to check for compatibility.
From the Image Gallery
More Groundcovers Questions
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I live in Panama City Florida and am having great difficulty growing a lawn. I would prefer no lawn as grass, it seems a pointless use of resources but my husband requires gr...
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Non-native invasive chickweed in Collegeville PA
December 31, 2011 - My problem is chickweed. I have found considerable information on how to eliminate the chickweed. My question is after following a suggested elimination process: How and when do I reseed with grass?...
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Specifications for a property in Corning CA
March 29, 2012 - Drought resistant, deer resistant, low growing (ground cover), and shade tolerant request:
I am looking for a variety of species that not only fit the above preferences, but also a few other things. ...
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Shade Tolerant Grasses and Groundcovers for Waco TX
March 15, 2013 - What is the best shade-tolerant grass?
What is the best shade-tolerant ground cover?
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