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Plants suitable for use as Ground Covers and Bedding Plants in the Albuquerque
Area
In the average landscape
the most common ground cover is some variety of grass. There are however,
occasions and locations where some other kind of plant would be more desirable.
Ground cover plants are used in garden or landscaped areas in places where they
can contribute color, texture or form to the overall garden design. Usually
they are plants that are low growing, ranging in height from a few inches to two
feet or more, and they are usually wide spreading. All are usually perennial,
although annuals that reseed themselves may also be used. Once they are
established, they can be maintained with a minimum of care. When carefully
chosen and skillfully used, ground cover plants contribute greatly to the beauty
of any landscape.
Ground cover plants:
1) provide color in
shady areas where grass and other plants may be difficult to establish or
maintain;
2) prevent soil erosion
on slopes and steep banks, and where it is impractical to establish and maintain
grasses;
3) edge walkways to
regulate and help direct foot traffic in gardens and yards;
4) provide a foreground
planting to enhance the beauty of a border.
When you choose a
ground cover, select one that can grow well on your site. Some species thrive
only in shade, some need partial shade or require a northern exposure, and
others thrive best in locations exposed to full sun. Still other species grow
equally well in either sun or shade.
Soil
Preparation and Plant Care
Before you plant any
ground cover, eliminate all perennial weeds and grasses using a herbicide such
as glysophate (Round-up and others) if necessary. Bermuda grass, bindweed and
nut sedge are especially troublesome and difficult to eradicate. All three of
these are perennial and also set seed and self propagate from tiny pieces of
root that may be left in the soil when cultivating. Therefore it is important to
do as much as possible to eliminate them before planting any ground cover.
Prepare the soil for
the plantings according to the needs of the species selected. The following
lists of plants that may be suitable for our climate and soils are listed as
small growing, native, and moderate growing. Many of these may also be invasive
if planted in small areas. Many of them may also be combined with other
plantings such as bulbs for effective design. Also included in the listings are
plants that are frequently used as bedding plants for color displays.
Many additional plants
could have been included in these listings but those plants that require large
amounts of water or those that need acid soil to thrive are not included here.
If you have conditions where water is abundant or the soil is naturally acid you
should consult other references for many additional plants.
|
Andorra Juniper |
Juniperus horizontalis
plumosa |
18-24" |
6, 7, 8 |
|
Algerian Ivy |
Hedera canariensis |
8-10" |
8 |
|
Ardisia |
Ardisia japonica |
6-8" |
8 |
|
Asiatic Jasmine |
Trachelospermum asiaticum |
2-4" |
7, 8 |
|
Beard Tongue |
Penstemon |
|
7 |
|
Bellflower |
Campanula |
|
3 |
|
Bergenia |
Bergenia |
|
4 |
|
Big Leaf Periwinkle |
Vinca major |
12-15" |
6, 7, 8 |
|
Bishops Cap |
Epimedium |
|
4 |
|
Blue Fescue |
Festuca ovina glauca |
4-6" |
6, 7 |
|
Blue Rug Juniper |
Juniperus horizontalis 'Wiltoni' |
1-2" |
6, 7, 8 |
|
Blue Star Creeper |
Laurentia fluviatilis |
|
6 |
|
Brass Buttons |
Cotula squalida |
|
5 |
|
Bugleweed |
Ajuga reptans |
2-3" |
6, 7, 8 |
|
Bunchberry |
Cornus canadensis |
|
4 |
|
Chameleon Plant |
Houttuynia cordata |
|
3 |
|
Cinquefoil |
Potentilla |
|
9-May |
|
Cotoneaster |
Cotoneaster species |
1-3' |
6, 7 |
|
Cranesbill |
Erodium reichardii |
|
7 |
|
Creeping Mazus |
Mazus reptans |
|
5 |
|
Daylily |
Hemerocallis species |
18-24" |
6, 7, 8 |
|
Dead Nettle |
Lamium maculatum |
|
4 |
|
Dutchman's breeches |
Corydalis |
|
5 |
|
Dwarf Japgarden Juniper |
Juniperus procumbens 'Nana' |
6-8" |
6, 7, 8 |
|
English Ivy |
Hedera helix |
6-8" |
6, 7, 8 |
|
Evergreen Candytuft |
Iberis sempervirens |
6-8" |
6, 7 |
|
Ground Ivy |
Glechoma hederacea |
|
6 |
|
Hall's Honeysuckle |
Lonicera japonica halliana |
18-24" |
6, 7, 8 |
|
Holly Fern |
Cyrtomium falcatum |
24-30" |
8b |
|
Irish Moss |
Sagina subulata |
|
4 |
|
Ivy |
Hedera spp. |
|
vary |
|
Japanese Spurge |
Pachysandra terminalis |
6-8" |
6, 7 |
|
Kenilworth Ivy |
Cymbalaria muralis |
|
3 |
|
Lavender Cotton |
Santolina chamaecyparissus |
18-24" |
6, 7, 8 |
|
Lenten Rose |
Helleborus orientalis |
12-15" |
6, 7 |
|
Liriope |
Liriope muscari |
14-20" |
6, 7, 8 |
|
Lungwort |
Pulmonaria |
|
4 |
|
Mock Strawberry |
Duchesnea indica |
|
5 |
|
Mondo Grass (Dwarf Lilyturf) |
Ophiopogon japonicus |
6-10" |
6, 7, 8 |
|
Moss Verbena |
Verbena tenusecta |
8-12" |
8 |
|
New Zealand Hair Sedge |
Carex comans |
|
4 |
|
Parsons Juniper |
Juniperus davurica 'Expansa' |
18-24" |
6, 7, 8 |
|
Periwinkle |
Vina minor and Vinca
major |
3-6" (18") |
6, 7 |
|
Phlox |
phlox |
|
6 |
|
Plantain Lily |
Hosta species |
6"-3' |
6, 7, 8 |
|
Purple Wintercreeper |
Euonymus fortunei coloratus |
6" |
6, 7 |
|
Redwood sorrel |
Oxalis oregana |
|
7 |
|
Santa Barbara Daisy |
Erigeron karvinskianus |
|
7 |
|
Sargent Juniper |
Juniperus chinensis sargentii |
12" |
6, 7, 8 |
|
Shore Juniper |
Juniperus conferta |
18-24" |
6, 7, 8 |
|
Snow-in-the-summer |
Cerastium tomentosum |
|
3 |
|
St. Johnswort (Aarons Beard) |
Hypericum calycinum |
12" |
6, 7 |
|
Sweet Woodruff |
Galium odoratum |
|
3 |
|
Thrift (Moss Pink) |
Phlox subulata |
2" |
6, 7, 8 |
|
Twinspur |
Diascia |
|
7 |
|
Violet |
Viola |
|
4 |
|
Wild Ginger |
Asarum caudatum |
|
5 |
|
Wild Strawberry |
Fragraria chiloensis |
|
6 |
|
Winter Creeper |
Euonymus fortunei |
|
5 |
|
Wire vine |
Muehlenbeckia |
|
6 |
|
Wooly Thyme |
Thymus |
|
3 |
|
Wooly Yarrow |
Achillea tomentosa |
|
2 |
For additional listings click below.
12/30/2004
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