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Oct 10, 2013 4:47 PM CST
Name: Debra
Garland, TX (NE Dallas suburb) (Zone 8a)
Rescue dogs: Angels with paws needi
Dragonflies Dog Lover Bookworm I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Garden Photography Bee Lover
Plays in the sandbox Butterflies Region: Texas Garden Sages I sent a postcard to Randy! Charter ATP Member
Gets two, maybe three inches tall, Natalie.
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Oct 10, 2013 6:29 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Natalie
North Central Idaho (Zone 7a)
Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Dog Lover Daylilies Irises Plant Lover: Loves 'em all! Hummingbirder
Frogs and Toads Native Plants and Wildflowers Cottage Gardener Lover of wildlife (Black bear badge) Region: United States of America Xeriscape
Thanks Debra! Sounds much better than the one I had.

Clint, I am really thinking that I'll plant Delosperma on this one hill. I love the plant, and I love that it comes in various colors that look good together. It has never spread very fast for me, but maybe I'll have better luck with it at this house than I did at the last house. Another thing I love about it is that it is very low growing, which is an important factor for this spot. I don't want anything that will block my view from the family room window. Because of the area that this slope is in, anything taller than 6 inches will do that. I'll look into the other plants that you mentioned for other areas. I love anything that gives year-round color! I'm open to planting anything that is drought tolerant!

Now if I can just find some Delosperma for sale where we live, I'll be set! I haven't seen even one plant for sale yet, not even at Home Depot, but I just found out about another nursery in the city that probably has it. I talked to a neighbor a few weeks ago, and she was pretty sure that she saw it there last Spring. I'll check with them the next time I pass by there, and if they don't have it, I'll see if I can order some from them. I really do love that plant!

Now to work on the other 10 acres of hillside......
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Oct 10, 2013 7:32 PM CST
Name: Debra
Garland, TX (NE Dallas suburb) (Zone 8a)
Rescue dogs: Angels with paws needi
Dragonflies Dog Lover Bookworm I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Garden Photography Bee Lover
Plays in the sandbox Butterflies Region: Texas Garden Sages I sent a postcard to Randy! Charter ATP Member
Natalie, mamajack is going to have the Delosperma Wonder series that Clint mentioned in a Spring sale on Cubits. I compiled the interest numbers for them, so I am priiiitttty sure those, at least, will be a go.

http://cubits.org/notfortheser...
It’s okay to not know all the answers.
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Oct 10, 2013 7:34 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Natalie
North Central Idaho (Zone 7a)
Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Dog Lover Daylilies Irises Plant Lover: Loves 'em all! Hummingbirder
Frogs and Toads Native Plants and Wildflowers Cottage Gardener Lover of wildlife (Black bear badge) Region: United States of America Xeriscape
Thanks Debra!!!
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Oct 10, 2013 10:24 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Natalie
North Central Idaho (Zone 7a)
Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Dog Lover Daylilies Irises Plant Lover: Loves 'em all! Hummingbirder
Frogs and Toads Native Plants and Wildflowers Cottage Gardener Lover of wildlife (Black bear badge) Region: United States of America Xeriscape
clintbrown said:I think these might work. They do well for me.

Delosperma cooperi - blooms from April to November for me or when the frosts hit. Cuttings of these root in a matter of days just by sticking pieces in the ground. It would be an excellent choice in my opinion.

The good thing about Sedum 'Angelina' is it doesn't have to bloom. The foliage is great all year round. You might try planting patches of it and other drought tolerant plants. Add some Sedum 'Blue Spruce' too.

It's not really a ground cover, but Yucca 'Color Guard' would make some great color in spots too. It looks good year-round and gets pink tints in winter. Maybe use it as focal points in certain areas. I think it may be my favorite plant of all plants for year-round interest. Also consider getting Hesperaloe 'Red' and 'Yellow.' There is a dwarf version called 'Brakelights' that is good. These multiply easily from divisions. I have rooted so many this past year. Nothing attracts humming birds like Hesperaloe.

I'm experimenting with Delosperma 'Wheels of Wonder.' The series is supposed to be very hardy and they seem to bloom a very long time. If the heat tolerance is good, it would be perfect. It's available in 6 colors.

Add in some Agastache too.

I would use some ground covers, but mix in larger plants in the background. You can't go wrong with that Yucca.

Clint, I just looked up the sedum that you mentioned, and I'm pretty sure that I have Sedum 'Angelina' already. I really like it. I have another really nice one too, but can't think of the name right now. It's grey, with yellow flowers. Even without the flowers, I really like it. Any idea if these are easy to start from cuttings? I've got another area that I'd like to get them started in, but don't really have enough to transplant them yet. Maybe next year they'll be larger, but if they root easily, that would be a plus.

I've always sworn that I would never plant Yucca, after trying for several years to remove it at my Mom's house. The previous owner had planted Yucca and Peonies together. The Yucca has practically smothered the Peonies, and I was trying to save them since they were so beautiful. Does the one you mentioned take over? I've got plenty of room, but I don't want it all covered in Yucca!
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Oct 10, 2013 11:17 PM CST
Moderator
Name: Clint Brown
Medina, TN (Zone 7b)
Beekeeper Garden Art Hellebores Heucheras Hummingbirder Garden Procrastinator
Sedums Sempervivums Region: Tennessee Region: United States of America Ferns Echinacea
The 'Color Guard' variety doesn't take over. It produces some offsets, but not like the other kind. It also doesn't stick me like the others. It's more soft to the touch. Many people rank it among their favorite plants for year-round color.

Sedum 'Angelina' can be propagated by just pinching small pieces off and stick them where you want them. It's so easy. I even root them in July in full sun. I bought one plant last year and broke it all to pieces and it filled in around my Maple tree completely in one season. It's a good plant!
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Oct 11, 2013 9:04 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: Natalie
North Central Idaho (Zone 7a)
Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Dog Lover Daylilies Irises Plant Lover: Loves 'em all! Hummingbirder
Frogs and Toads Native Plants and Wildflowers Cottage Gardener Lover of wildlife (Black bear badge) Region: United States of America Xeriscape
Thanks Clint. I'll give the Yucca a try then. I'm also very glad to hear that it doesn't poke. I'm always worried about the dogs losing an eye on plants with pointy ends. All of the Yucca that I've been around can be used as a weapon in an emergency!

I'm really excited to hear that Angelina can be rooted so easily! Is there a "better" time of the year to try that?

This is going to sound really weird, but I had a dream about you last night. In the dream, I was on ATP, and noticed that you had been appointed as a moderator of a new "ground cover" forum! I was closing ATP when I noticed it, and then couldn't get back on here to check it again, as the site was down for some reason. I was really happy for you, and also for the fact that there was a new ground cover forum! I just felt bad that I hadn't said congratulations! I have the strangest dreams! Rolling on the floor laughing Rolling on the floor laughing Rolling on the floor laughing I had to check this morning to make sure that you really weren't the moderator of the new forum! Hilarious!
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Oct 11, 2013 7:39 PM CST
Name: Susan
Virginia (Zone 8a)
God is the only thing that matters.
I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Garden Ideas: Level 1 Avid Green Pages Reviewer Hibiscus Dragonflies Daylilies
Bee Lover Dahlias Butterflies Hostas Birds Lilies
I never did mention my favorite ground cover, Its Clover! Clover is a great ground cover and it has a lot of benefits as a lawn alternative. Here are the benefits:

- Fixes Nitrogen

- High drought tolerance

- Evergreen

- Pet urine resistant

- Grows in bad soil

- Fertilizes surrounding plants

- Does not have to be mowed


http://cloverlawn.org/
Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Mat.6:28-29
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Oct 11, 2013 8:15 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Natalie
North Central Idaho (Zone 7a)
Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Dog Lover Daylilies Irises Plant Lover: Loves 'em all! Hummingbirder
Frogs and Toads Native Plants and Wildflowers Cottage Gardener Lover of wildlife (Black bear badge) Region: United States of America Xeriscape
I spread about 2 pounds of Dutch White Clover seed on the lawn before going on vacation! I love clover mixed in with the lawn. It is so beneficial. I've got another 2 pounds to spread, so maybe I'll toss some on another hillside, outside the fence. That way, the deer and bunnies will have something to munch on!
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Oct 11, 2013 8:19 PM CST
Name: Debra
Garland, TX (NE Dallas suburb) (Zone 8a)
Rescue dogs: Angels with paws needi
Dragonflies Dog Lover Bookworm I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Garden Photography Bee Lover
Plays in the sandbox Butterflies Region: Texas Garden Sages I sent a postcard to Randy! Charter ATP Member
Golden Oregano at ground level
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Oct 17, 2013 8:34 AM CST
Name: Betsy
Texas (Zone 9a)
In the beginning GOD created ...
Amaryllis Region: Florida Hummingbirder Irises Lilies Master Gardener: Texas
Native Plants and Wildflowers Region: Texas Plant and/or Seed Trader Daylilies Cottage Gardener Container Gardener
Did anyone mention 'wedelia' ? These are drought-tolerant and will take over. In my zone, they are truly easy care plants.
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Oct 17, 2013 9:17 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: Natalie
North Central Idaho (Zone 7a)
Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Dog Lover Daylilies Irises Plant Lover: Loves 'em all! Hummingbirder
Frogs and Toads Native Plants and Wildflowers Cottage Gardener Lover of wildlife (Black bear badge) Region: United States of America Xeriscape
Thanks Betsy. I just looked it up, and it doesn't appear to be hardy in my zone. Which one do you grow?
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Oct 22, 2013 10:39 AM CST
Name: Debra
Garland, TX (NE Dallas suburb) (Zone 8a)
Rescue dogs: Angels with paws needi
Dragonflies Dog Lover Bookworm I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Garden Photography Bee Lover
Plays in the sandbox Butterflies Region: Texas Garden Sages I sent a postcard to Randy! Charter ATP Member
Natalie, how about Spicy Orange Thyme? The one at my house stays pretty much a flat mat of soft needle-like foliage. And it smells wondermous.
Thyme (Thymus Orange Spice™)
It’s okay to not know all the answers.
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Oct 22, 2013 11:08 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: Natalie
North Central Idaho (Zone 7a)
Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Dog Lover Daylilies Irises Plant Lover: Loves 'em all! Hummingbirder
Frogs and Toads Native Plants and Wildflowers Cottage Gardener Lover of wildlife (Black bear badge) Region: United States of America Xeriscape
That's a pretty one Debra! Does it spread fast?
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Oct 22, 2013 2:15 PM CST
Name: Debra
Garland, TX (NE Dallas suburb) (Zone 8a)
Rescue dogs: Angels with paws needi
Dragonflies Dog Lover Bookworm I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Garden Photography Bee Lover
Plays in the sandbox Butterflies Region: Texas Garden Sages I sent a postcard to Randy! Charter ATP Member
Yes, but not too wide. Will take light foot traffic, though, smells nice, and is a different form from usual.
It’s okay to not know all the answers.

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