Located in NJ - Zone 6... Looking for recommendations on a "Shade Evergreen Ground Covering" and ideally Low in height. If possible fast-growing... needs to cover about 100-150 Sq ft area under a Norway Maple Tree (shade grass will just not grow). I keep coming up so much conflicting info when googling articles or just ads... Thank you!
I'm in a similar situation here in 7B. Too many trees makes growing any kind of grass next to impossible. I have pachysandra terminalis in one area, but it doesn't spread quickly and just would work where I really need something.
Have you tried vinca/periwinkle? It spreads... fast, is evergreen and has small flowers in spring. There are a number of varieties, from plain green to gold edges.
Good luck.
LLK: No longer by my side, but forever in my heart.
Pal tiem shree tal ma.
Soleirolia soleirolii, Asarum caudatum, Ajuga reptans, Galium odoratum, Dicentra eximia are the majority of the ground covers in my shade garden. (Common names are mother of thousands, BC ginger, ajuga, sweet woodruff and fern leaf bleeding hearts). BC ginger is my favorite for my bigger woodland area and you can use the leaves for tea. The second favorite and used around the house is mother of thousands. It really shows off smaller plants.
@Jewell, the info I am finding for Soleirolia soleirolii is that it is only hardy to zone 9? Is it actually hardier, or does it reseed?
I'm assuming it is the one in the middle picture under the japanese painted fern? It looks lovely and I'm very intrigued.
Bob,
Thank you for the link for the Purple Wintercreeper. I have been trying to figure out what that was in my garden. When we bought our historic home here in Culpeper, VA (zone 7a) 8 years ago, I found this mixed in with all of the English ivy. Purple Wintercreeper is a nice looking plant until you try to get rid of it.
I want to get rid of English ivy and Purple Wintercreeper in a shade garden that we have on the side of the house. I've always dreamt of having a beautiful shade garden full of ferns, hostas and some flowering shade plants. The space is not huge, but it is not small either and it feels like if I try to do just parts of the space at a time, the ground covers just grow so fast that by the time I can do the next section, the first section is already being overgrown again. Any ideas?
Jane.
