HI

I have two berms I am looking for ground cover for. I live in the northeast North of Boston USDA zone 5 -6

The berms are about 12 feet wide (incline ) and about 6-8 feet high about 100 ft long with partial shade and sun and a sharp incline 45 degrees or so.

I am looking for a fast growing ground cover and would prefer color. (Grape Hyacinth bulbs MUSCARI looks great) if I an get it to cover well, grow fast, and last on an incline .
1. Would these work?
2. how long for coverage?
3. How many do I need?


I was first looking at pachysandra (but no color and I heard they grow slow) also creeping Thyme... Dragons blood sedum

ANY suggestions at all would really be appreciated.
THANKYOU!!

Hi!,
You will have to watch for answers here. Most advise you NOT have your phone number on this public forum.
Muscari will not work. They only have leaves winter thru spring and no leaves in summer. You can have 'some' but they won't spread much and won't cover all year.

Spreading Liriope. Could have some muscari mixed in for some spring color, then it will have purple flower spikes and black berries.

Some sedum do spread well (Blue Spruce, Angelina)

Biggest challenge is keeping out weeds while waiting for your planting to fill in. For that reason, I would do it in sections. My parents dealt with slope at their house, it is a nightmare in disguise.

Thanks Sally

Yes I have been struggling with these banks (or berms and now are determined to do something.

Any thoughts on Pachasamdra?

John

I am not familiar enough to judge Pachysandra.
Vinca spreads but with gaps you have to watch for weeds and grass at first.
There is a new development near me with big berms, part mowed by a maintenance company and part mulched and planted.

A development near me did this on slope , the far part of it is tall and seems pretty steep.


A neighbor has this shady slope covered in English ivy with other things in it. Milkweed, dames rocket...another plant I dont know but might be for butterflies


Liriope can be spreading kind like this and will fill.in.



Other varieties stay in a clump but gradually expand

Thanks Sally some great ideas.

@Whitebeard might have some good suggestions.

Hi Johnsal,

First off, Welcome here. I was faced with a similar situation, but my berm is slightly less sterp (or so I'm gussing). At first I thought to go with just one ground cover and let it go. However I bit the bullet and ended up planting it out. Not easy on the incline. I'm currently on the smartphone and not at the desk, but I do have some pics here. How adventurous are you willing to be? Hard work will pay off. A few photos:









Here I also have more sun than you do. Colorful groundcovers in shade is hard to come by.