Perennial ground covers for sun
Here are some popular ground covers for sun.
Some of them are low-growing woody shrubs and others herbaceous perennials.
Bearberry Cotoneaster (C. dammeri): Pronounced Co-toe-nee-as-ter. Low-growing shrub hardy from Zone 4 to 8. Evergreen, but loses foliage in colder regions.
Glossy leaves, tiny white flowers in late spring. 'Skogholm' produces glossy red berries, 'Coral Beauty' coral berries. Grows 12 inches (30 cm) tall. Excellent ground cover for sun on banks or slopes. Spacing: 3 to 5 feet (90 cm-1.5 m) apart.
Creeping Juniper (Juniperus species): Low growing evergreen Shore Juniper (Juniperus conferta) cultivars 'Emerald Sea' and 'Blue Pacific' are hardy from Zone 5 to 9, and salt-tolerant and grow 8 to 12 inches (20-30 cm) tall. Space: 5 to 10 feet (1.5-3 m.) apart. Creeping Juniper (Juniperus horizontalis) cultivars are hardy from Zone 3 to 9. 'Bar Harbor', 'Blue Chip', 'Emerald Spreader', 'Prince of Wales', 'Turquoise Spreader', and 'Wiltonii' (also called 'Blue Rug') are all excellent. Spacing: 3 to 5 feet (90 cm-1.5 m) apart.
Cutleaf Stephanandra (Stephanandra incisa 'Crispa'): Low, wide-spreading deciduous shrub with arching branches; hardy from Zone 3 to 7. Tends to root wherever stems touch soil; while it's a good ground cover for sun, it also tolerates light shade. Does not have showy flowers. Grows 18 to 36 inches (45-90 cm) tall. Spacing: 3 to 5 feet (90 cm-1.5 m).
Planting tip:
Mulch, then plant
Applying mulch before planting is a useful landscaper's tip.
After you have prepared the soil and raked it, just spread a layer of wood chip mulch over the planting area - about 2 inches (5 cm) thick.
When planting ground covers, use your gloved hands or a rake to sweep a patch of mulch aside, plant and then smooth mulch around the plant.
Set individual plants no deeper than they were in the flat or pot. When you're finished planting, presto, so is the mulching.
Fragrant Sumac (Rhus aromatica 'Gro-low'): Low, spreading deciduous shrub hardy from Zone 3 to 9. Glossy foliage, fast-growing; excellent for banks or slopes. Red fruit in late summer. Salt- and shade tolerant, grows 2 feet (60 cm) tall, spreads 6 to 8 feet (1.8-2.5 m). Spacing: 3 to 4 feet (90-100 cm) apart.
Lilyturf (Liriope muscari): Perennial hardy from Zone 6 to 9. Evergreen in the south, where it's very popular. Blue, purple, or lilac flower spikes and strap-like leaves. Foliage solid green or variegated in yellow or white. Grows 9 to 12 inches (22-30 cm) tall. Shade-tolerant. Spacing: 8 to 12 (20-30 cm) inches apart.
Thyme (Thymus species): Herb hardy from Zone 4 to 10, depending on cultivar. Small gray-green or green or golden leaves, with rosy-pink or lilac flowers. Valued as mat-forming or prostrate ground covers for well-drained areas. Will take light foot traffic. Spacing: 12 inches (30 cm) apart.
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Perennials that do well in dry shade
