8A Ground Cover

[ZPalms]

 

I've been searching for a ground cover that I can use in my garden bed. I've been removing grass from my garden bed, but I'm having trouble finding a suitable ground cover with a tropical appearance that would thrive in a full sun in 8A and come back after winter or if its evergreen, it doesn't have to be tropical-looking; something similar to the appearance of creeping jenny would be nice but I'm unsure if it works in full sun and I don't really want a golden/yellow ground cover. I would appreciate any recommendations for a reliable that would work for me 🤠👍

[Silas_Sancona]

6 minutes ago, ZPalms said:

 

I've been searching for a ground cover that I can use in my garden bed. I've been removing grass from my garden bed, but I'm having trouble finding a suitable ground cover with a tropical appearance that would thrive in a full sun in 8A and come back after winter or if its evergreen, it doesn't have to be tropical-looking; something similar to the appearance of creeping jenny would be nice but I'm unsure if it works in full sun and I don't really want a golden/yellow ground cover. I would appreciate any recommendations for a reliable that would work for me 🤠👍

Look into some of your natives.. and those that are native  up to 9a from nearby states.. first.. Asarum ( Wild Gingers ) have fairly tropical looking foliage / weird flowers..  Look at native sps first since those from Europe / Asia may prove to be invasive / aggressive.

A couple other natives that came up when i looked:

Barrens Strawberry,  Waldsteinia fragarioides

Goldenstar, Chrysogonum  virginianum

Wild Sweet William, Phlox divaricata,  Bloodroot, Blue Mist flower, various Salvia ( Native Sage ), and Violets could work, though those will be mainly spring flowering..

Don't forget you can use Ornamental, native Grasses / Sedges as accent plants too.. Stay far away from stuff like Fountain Grass, other non natives since they can become a nightmare..

While not native to N.C.,  Sunshine Mimosa, Mimosa strigulosa  is native to zone 8 areas nearby ( S.C. Georgia, N. FL, Alabama, etc )..  Foliage is more ferny-looking, but it is a very easy ground cover / flowers are nice / flowers over a long season, >Spring until frost<.... Will spread, ...but not aggressively. May die down there in winter, but should come back in spring.. ( it does in other zone 8 areas )

Non- native ( ...but non invasive ) plants like Hostas, Heuchera ( Alumroots / Coral Bells ) could work for larger-leaved / bolder looking ground cover-y accents also..

What will work will depend on what kind of sun / shade X area you want to plant gets.  ...That and how much water each area would get ( Larger leaved things will generally want more shade / more water.. )


If you're feeling bold, there are also some native and non native cold hardy Orchids Plant Delights has sold that might work for you.. Not necessarily ground covering, but would definitely be very tropical looking..  Even if you don't plant any, worth checking out, just for the heck of it..  Wish i could try -any- of them, haha..

[amh]

54 minutes ago, Silas_Sancona said:

While not native to N.C.,  Sunshine Mimosa, Mimosa strigulosa  is native to zone 8 areas nearby ( S.C. Georgia, N. FL, Alabama, etc )..  Foliage is more ferny-looking, but it is a very easy ground cover / flowers are nice / flowers over a long season, >Spring until frost<.... Will spread, ...but not aggressively. May die down there in winter, but should come back in spring.. ( it does in other zone 8 areas )

This is a great recommendation.

[Silas_Sancona]

32 minutes ago, amh said:

This is a great recommendation.

I want to try it here,  but have had a tough time getting it going from seed. Have considered sourcing plugs from out of state but not sure if plant sources from FL. / elsewhere will ship to AZ.  Has done well in a demo garden up at Boyce Thompson..

One of my favorite FL natives to recommend to people looking for a lawn-alternative / low maintnce. ground cover while in FL.  Not invasive like the other low growing, non native Mimosa it is often confused with either.

[amh]

6 minutes ago, Silas_Sancona said:

I want to try it here,  but have had a tough time getting it going from seed. Have considered sourcing plugs from out of state but not sure if plant sources from FL. / elsewhere will ship to AZ.  Has done well in a demo garden up at Boyce Thompson..

One of my favorite FL natives to recommend to people looking for a lawn-alternative / low maintnce. ground cover while in FL.  Not invasive like the other low growing, non native Mimosa it is often confused with either.

I believe I have Mimosa microphylla here, although Mimosa strigulosa is present in the area. The stems are a bit more prickly and the flowers are at ground level.

 

[amh]

2 hours ago, ZPalms said:

 

I've been searching for a ground cover that I can use in my garden bed. I've been removing grass from my garden bed, but I'm having trouble finding a suitable ground cover with a tropical appearance that would thrive in a full sun in 8A and come back after winter or if its evergreen, it doesn't have to be tropical-looking; something similar to the appearance of creeping jenny would be nice but I'm unsure if it works in full sun and I don't really want a golden/yellow ground cover. I would appreciate any recommendations for a reliable that would work for me 🤠👍

The Heuchera genus has some species that should be native to your area.

[Silas_Sancona]

18 minutes ago, amh said:

I believe I have Mimosa microphylla here, although Mimosa strigulosa is present in the area. The stems are a bit more prickly and the flowers are at ground level.

 

microphylla ..or quadrivalvis..  M. hystricina might occur in some areas outside Houston also ...If iNat observation data for that species -outside Houston / areas nearby is accurate. 

See some Red Pea ( Indigofera miniata ) in the background in the upper left too

[amh]

5 minutes ago, Silas_Sancona said:

microphylla ..or quadrivalvis..  M. hystricina might occur in some areas outside Houston also ...If iNat observation data for that species -outside Houston / areas nearby is accurate. 

See some Red Pea ( Indigofera miniata ) in the background in the upper left too

I'd have to get down on the ground to get a really good ID, but at least 3 of those species are native to my area, and there could be multiple species in my yard. I'm not sure if it is a mimosa species, but I also have a very similar plant that is not sensitive and lacks prickles.

The red pea is really common in the area, I do my best to keep the natives flourishing.

[Silas_Sancona]

8 hours ago, amh said:

I'd have to get down on the ground to get a really good ID, but at least 3 of those species are native to my area, and there could be multiple species in my yard. I'm not sure if it is a mimosa species, but I also have a very similar plant that is not sensitive and lacks prickles.

The red pea is really common in the area, I do my best to keep the natives flourishing.

If it has white flowers instead of Pink, that plant could be one of the Desmanthus, ( Bundleflowers )... Of which there are also several sps in TX, ...Just to make proper ID's a challenge,  lol..

Prairie Acacia occurs there also, but foliage characteristics are obvious on it ..compared to Mimosa,  ..or Desmanthus.

[amh]

2 hours ago, Silas_Sancona said:

If it has white flowers instead of Pink, that plant could be one of the Desmanthus, ( Bundleflowers )... Of which there are also several sps in TX, ...Just to make proper ID's a challenge,  lol..

Prairie Acacia occurs there also, but foliage characteristics are obvious on it ..compared to Mimosa,  ..or Desmanthus.

The plant in question has pink, puff ball type flowers, but grows in slightly different dirt. I'll have to locate some this afternoon, but the seedpods look more like a Desmanthus. I think it might be a pink flowering Desmanthus.

[amh]

2 hours ago, Silas_Sancona said:

If it has white flowers instead of Pink, that plant could be one of the Desmanthus, ( Bundleflowers )... Of which there are also several sps in TX, ...Just to make proper ID's a challenge,  lol..

Prairie Acacia occurs there also, but foliage characteristics are obvious on it ..compared to Mimosa,  ..or Desmanthus.

I couldn't find any flowering, but here is one of the plants.

 

[amh]

@ZPalmsHere is an example of one of the sensitive brier species flower and leaves. This is growing in full Texas sun and competing with a lot of other plants. 

Any more input on what you are looking for?

[Silas_Sancona]

25 minutes ago, amh said:

I couldn't find any flowering, but here is one of the plants.

 

Possibly Desmanthus velutinus ..though it usually has white -ish flowers..🤔  There are a couple Calliandra sps  in TX, but not sure which / if any would occur in Cen. TX.. More shrub-like than sprawling / ground cover-like  -to my knowledge of the sps there..

[amh]

4 minutes ago, Silas_Sancona said:

Possibly Desmanthus velutinus ..though it usually has white -ish flowers..🤔  There are a couple Calliandra sps  in TX, but not sure which / if any would occur in Cen. TX.. More shrub-like than sprawling / ground cover-like  -to my knowledge of the sps there..

It is sprawling with pink flowers. I'll keep looking for a flowering specimen.

Desmanthus cooleyi can have pink flowers, but should not be in my area.

[Silas_Sancona]

11 minutes ago, amh said:

It is sprawling with pink flowers. I'll keep looking for a flowering specimen.

Desmanthus cooleyi can have pink flowers, but should not be in my area.

True true, pretty sure i saw both ( pinkish and white ) flowers on those i found down south a couple years ago.. Is listed as occurring in parts of W. TX.,  possible it is a bit more common than that out there?  ..interesting.. 

[amh]

3 hours ago, Silas_Sancona said:

True true, pretty sure i saw both ( pinkish and white ) flowers on those i found down south a couple years ago.. Is listed as occurring in parts of W. TX.,  possible it is a bit more common than that out there?  ..interesting.. 

I don't know the identity, but the fruit shape does exclude a few of the species.  It could just be an ecotype of a common white or yellow flowered species; the hill country is weird like that.

I have never seen it get taller than about 6 inches.

[Silas_Sancona]

3 minutes ago, amh said:

I don't know the identity, but the fruit shape does exclude a few of the species.  It could just be an ecotype of a common white or yellow flowered species; the hill country is weird like that.

I have never seen it get taller than about 6 inches.

From what i remember, Cooly's Bundleflower i'd seen were fairly short as well..  We'll see once you catch it flowering.. 

Texas definitely seems to be a hot spot for both Mimosa, and Desmanthus.   -At least- two Neptunia sp growing there also.

[Allen]

On 6/12/2023 at 11:57 PM, ZPalms said:

 

I've been searching for a ground cover that I can use in my garden bed. I've been removing grass from my garden bed, but I'm having trouble finding a suitable ground cover with a tropical appearance that would thrive in a full sun in 8A and come back after winter or if its evergreen, it doesn't have to be tropical-looking; something similar to the appearance of creeping jenny would be nice but I'm unsure if it works in full sun and I don't really want a golden/yellow ground cover. I would appreciate any recommendations for a reliable that would work for me 🤠👍

With wet soil and part/full sun I use colocasia fallax.  A little hard to get and will take a couple years but you will have plenty then.

[PalmatierMeg]

Pachysandra. My dad planted it in the border around basement stairwell at my old homestead in VA. It stays low and flowers.

[Silas_Sancona]

2 hours ago, PalmatierMeg said:

Pachysandra. My dad planted it in the border around basement stairwell at my old homestead in VA. It stays low and flowers.

Non Native sp is considered invasive in 15 states. https://mgnv.org/plants/invasive-plants/japanese-pachysandra/

https://www.invasive.org/weedcd/pdfs/wow/japanese-pachysandra.pdf 

There is a native Pachysandra sp, out there though that could work: https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/pachysandra-procumbens/

[ZPalms]

Thanks, everyone, for the replies! There's some good stuff here! I am looking for something native or from nearby states because I wouldn't want anything (like creeping jenny, for example) to escape into nature in my area, especially since I live near a swamp. It would probably make itself at home. Having something that's full sun and stays close to the ground and stays compact so weeds got smothered out.

That North Carolina website is pretty cool because I can mark natives, but the selection of low-growing natives is pretty slim unless I'm bad at flagging what I want.

But here's a photo of the area where I want to put ground cover to give an idea, as well as the mimosa-type plants I have in my yard. Don't mind how rough it is; I'm doing all my plantings and stuff from seed, so I'm slow at making it look manicured and pretty. Humble beginnings for my garden 🤠👍

My freshly planted Acoelorrhaphe wrightii in the bottom right corner 😍

 

[Silas_Sancona]

1 hour ago, ZPalms said:

 

 

Pretty sure this is Partridge Pea: https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/127907-Chamaecrista-fasciculata  .. A native, pioneering warm season Annual that will often colonize sandy disturbed places..  No worries on it becoming invasive, or tall.. though you'll see more of it each summer if left to do so over several years..   Dies out after seeding in winter though..  Like many other Legumes, Partridge Pea will also naturally fix nitrogen in the soil ..a good thing for the palms / other stuff you add.

If thinking about taller things you could add, could see interesting stuff like native broad-leaved ( more tropical looking than thinner-leaved species ) Milkweed species ( several back there ) Native Hibiscus ( ..or any interesting crosses between them ) hardy Canna, etc incorporated into spots among the palms too.. 

 

[amh]

3 hours ago, ZPalms said:

Thanks, everyone, for the replies! There's some good stuff here! I am looking for something native or from nearby states because I wouldn't want anything (like creeping jenny, for example) to escape into nature in my area, especially since I live near a swamp. It would probably make itself at home. Having something that's full sun and stays close to the ground and stays compact so weeds got smothered out.

That North Carolina website is pretty cool because I can mark natives, but the selection of low-growing natives is pretty slim unless I'm bad at flagging what I want.

But here's a photo of the area where I want to put ground cover to give an idea, as well as the mimosa-type plants I have in my yard. Don't mind how rough it is; I'm doing all my plantings and stuff from seed, so I'm slow at making it look manicured and pretty. Humble beginnings for my garden 🤠👍

My freshly planted Acoelorrhaphe wrightii in the bottom right corner 😍

 

Honestly, right now I would start adding mulch before planting ground cover. I would use the mulch to add organic material, suppress grass, and help with erosion control; by the look of the area, you could get some major flood erosion. You might want to inquire into chipdrop to keep your cost down. Keep getting plant recommendations and look at what ground covers are growing naturally in your area.

[ZPalms]

On 6/15/2023 at 7:17 PM, amh said:

Honestly, right now I would start adding mulch before planting ground cover. I would use the mulch to add organic material, suppress grass, and help with erosion control; by the look of the area, you could get some major flood erosion. You might want to inquire into chipdrop to keep your cost down. Keep getting plant recommendations and look at what ground covers are growing naturally in your area.

I would but I don't have much money to be able to mulch enough, I put a chipdrop order in but who knows when that will come in, which is why I want a ground cover to help strangle out weeds

 

On 6/15/2023 at 5:59 PM, Silas_Sancona said:

Pretty sure this is Partridge Pea: https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/127907-Chamaecrista-fasciculata  .. A native, pioneering warm season Annual that will often colonize sandy disturbed places..  No worries on it becoming invasive, or tall.. though you'll see more of it each summer if left to do so over several years..   Dies out after seeding in winter though..  Like many other Legumes, Partridge Pea will also naturally fix nitrogen in the soil ..a good thing for the palms / other stuff you add.

If thinking about taller things you could add, could see interesting stuff like native broad-leaved ( more tropical looking than thinner-leaved species ) Milkweed species ( several back there ) Native Hibiscus ( ..or any interesting crosses between them ) hardy Canna, etc incorporated into spots among the palms too.. 

 

If it is Partridge Pea then I need to move it and cultivate it into something nice, I do have cannas but I'm unsure where to put them.

 

I went to lowes the other day and I do want natives but I was able to get john creech sedum to try, I wanted native but I can't find anything I definitely like or doesn't grow too high because I want to maintain a very neat and carpeted look, I also saw Dwarf Carpet of Stars which also looks pretty nice as a grass substitute and apparently nice to walk on. But I'm still not 100%

[BeyondTheGarden]

On 6/13/2023 at 12:36 AM, amh said:

The Heuchera genus has some species that should be native to your area.

Heucheras and their cousins don't like full sun though right?  Our native varieties up here, and the store bought ones need lots of shade.

@ZPalms I was going to suggest sedum but you've already got it - there are lots of varieties.  Sempervivum are also carefree and prolific. 

For more exotic and tropical stuff- I have some small patches of Trachleospermum asiaticum "Summer sunset jasmine" that gets great color that reminds me of croton.  There's also some nice variegated Vinca that are low and creeping and sprawling.  Japanese spurge, Pachysandra terminalis is another nice looking ground cover, not sure if it's around on the east coast.  I guess I'll know here in a couple months. 

Edited June 18, 2023 by Jesse PNW

[BeyondTheGarden]

Also if you're looking for something thick that will strangle out weeds, there are many varieties of cotoneaster.  Some are boring with small bland green leaves, some are variegated with larger leaves that can get colorful.  

[Silas_Sancona]

9 hours ago, ZPalms said:

I would but I don't have much money to be able to mulch enough, I put a chipdrop order in but who knows when that will come in, which is why I want a ground cover to help strangle out weeds

 

If it is Partridge Pea then I need to move it and cultivate it into something nice, I do have cannas but I'm unsure where to put them.

 

I went to lowes the other day and I do want natives but I was able to get john creech sedum to try, I wanted native but I can't find anything I definitely like or doesn't grow too high because I want to maintain a very neat and carpeted look, I also saw Dwarf Carpet of Stars which also looks pretty nice as a grass substitute and apparently nice to walk on. But I'm still not 100%

Forget trying to move the Partridge Pea... Will end up dying if transplanted.. Let it do its thing this season, the yank it after you've collected the seeds later.

Making use of the entire garden space ( 1st picture.. )  Here's a crude sketch on how you could lay everything out...




Magenta lines depict edges of your planting beds.. Dashed lines represent where you may ...or may not have ideas for additional paths through your garden..

Light Blue = where you have palms planted... Added a couple other spots for possible palms you could add later..

Light Green = low height plants... anything 5-12" tall.. Generally, you want stuff like that to be right next to the border of your paths..

Yellow Orange = Taller plants ..Anything 12 to say 20" tall...

Darker Orange = Where you could put tall stuff ( anything that will be taller than 15" in height ) ..The Cannas for example, Hardy Alocasia, Manihot, Native Hibiscus, etc.. up against the bottom of the house to hide the lattice. None of those plants will hurt the house itself..

..Again, just an idea.. to help you visualize a layout..




Since you are starting out, and are being mindful of $$ put into the project, -for now at least-   make use of what is available around you first...  leaves you collect in the fall can be used as mulch for the beds / to help build organic content in the soil in the beds..

I'm sure there are plenty of creeks in your area,  so, you can fish rocks out of them to use to outline where the edges / paths of your planting areas are / scatter a few larger rocks in the beds, if you choose to. No need to go to a Rock yard to get that stuff..

For the paths?, you could use any flat pieces of rock you find as stepping stones, ..or buy cheap  pavers from HD / Lowes, ....just to get the ball rolling   ..You can upgrade to more expensive options later / over time,  if that is a goal.     No need to go all in, if you don't have the funds to do so,  right at this moment.

Between them is where i'd plant a ground cover..


Hope this helps...

[amh]

3 hours ago, Jesse PNW said:

Heucheras and their cousins don't like full sun though right?  Our native varieties up here, and the store bought ones need lots of shade.

I don't know the answer to this, but I see cultivated heucheras in sunny locations here in south Texas.

[amh]

13 hours ago, ZPalms said:

I would but I don't have much money to be able to mulch enough, I put a chipdrop order in but who knows when that will come in, which is why I want a ground cover to help strangle out weeds

 

If it is Partridge Pea then I need to move it and cultivate it into something nice, I do have cannas but I'm unsure where to put them.

 

I went to lowes the other day and I do want natives but I was able to get john creech sedum to try, I wanted native but I can't find anything I definitely like or doesn't grow too high because I want to maintain a very neat and carpeted look, I also saw Dwarf Carpet of Stars which also looks pretty nice as a grass substitute and apparently nice to walk on. But I'm still not 100%

I forgot to mention a cheap annual, but you may consider a dense sowing of common purslane or Portulaca grandiflora. Both are easy to obtain and grow in harsh conditions.

[Silas_Sancona]

22 minutes ago, amh said:

I don't know the answer to this, but I see cultivated heucheras in sunny locations here in south Texas.

Only time i've seen them in habitat or gardens ( CA.. won't grow at low elevations here ) -here and in CA- is where they get shade ..maybe not all day shade, but never full sun, unless growing in a perennial seep w/ Stream Orchid / Erythranthe  Monkey Flowers ( ..In CA / AZ Mountains. )

Remember trying to grow Coral Bells back in San Jose, and them dying after the first big heatwave we had that summer..  Would look awful after some heat if put in too much sun at the nurseries i worked at out there too.

Extra amount of humidity there might be it's saving grace -in more sun?? 🤔🤷‍♂️

[amh]

1 hour ago, Silas_Sancona said:

Only time i've seen them in habitat or gardens ( CA.. won't grow at low elevations here ) -here and in CA- is where they get shade ..maybe not all day shade, but never full sun, unless growing in a perennial seep w/ Stream Orchid / Erythranthe  Monkey Flowers ( ..In CA / AZ Mountains. )

Remember trying to grow Coral Bells back in San Jose, and them dying after the first big heatwave we had that summer..  Would look awful after some heat if put in too much sun at the nurseries i worked at out there too.

Extra amount of humidity there might be it's saving grace -in more sun?? 🤔🤷‍♂️

I just do not know how well these will grow in sun in North Carolina, but it would be good for experimentation at least. I do not personally grow heucheras, so I do not know how well they handle humid heat and sun.

[ZPalms]

On 6/18/2023 at 12:10 PM, Jesse PNW said:

Heucheras and their cousins don't like full sun though right?  Our native varieties up here, and the store bought ones need lots of shade.

@ZPalms I was going to suggest sedum but you've already got it - there are lots of varieties.  Sempervivum are also carefree and prolific. 

For more exotic and tropical stuff- I have some small patches of Trachleospermum asiaticum "Summer sunset jasmine" that gets great color that reminds me of croton.  There's also some nice variegated Vinca that are low and creeping and sprawling.  Japanese spurge, Pachysandra terminalis is another nice looking ground cover, not sure if it's around on the east coast.  I guess I'll know here in a couple months. 

 

On 6/18/2023 at 12:20 PM, Jesse PNW said:

Also if you're looking for something thick that will strangle out weeds, there are many varieties of cotoneaster.  Some are boring with small bland green leaves, some are variegated with larger leaves that can get colorful.  

Japanese spurge looks nice but the area Im working in at the moment is full sun and I don't know how invasive it could be if it managed to get out somehow but I apperciate the recommendations, I think some of these would look cool if I get brave with none native plants or have like hardscape to let some of these drape over 🤠

does it sucks you have to start from scratch or are you bringing stuff with you?

[ZPalms]

On 6/18/2023 at 6:11 PM, amh said:

I just do not know how well these will grow in sun in North Carolina, but it would be good for experimentation at least. I do not personally grow heucheras, so I do not know how well they handle humid heat and sun.

I was actually at home depot yesterday and saw these, I've never seen anyone plant these out in yards or anything. Maybe I'll give them a try when I have more established!

[ZPalms]

On 6/18/2023 at 12:21 PM, Silas_Sancona said:

Forget trying to move the Partridge Pea... Will end up dying if transplanted.. Let it do its thing this season, the yank it after you've collected the seeds later.

Making use of the entire garden space ( 1st picture.. )  Here's a crude sketch on how you could lay everything out...




Magenta lines depict edges of your planting beds.. Dashed lines represent where you may ...or may not have ideas for additional paths through your garden..

Light Blue = where you have palms planted... Added a couple other spots for possible palms you could add later..

Light Green = low height plants... anything 5-12" tall.. Generally, you want stuff like that to be right next to the border of your paths..

Yellow Orange = Taller plants ..Anything 12 to say 20" tall...

Darker Orange = Where you could put tall stuff ( anything that will be taller than 15" in height ) ..The Cannas for example, Hardy Alocasia, Manihot, Native Hibiscus, etc.. up against the bottom of the house to hide the lattice. None of those plants will hurt the house itself..

..Again, just an idea.. to help you visualize a layout..




Since you are starting out, and are being mindful of $$ put into the project, -for now at least-   make use of what is available around you first...  leaves you collect in the fall can be used as mulch for the beds / to help build organic content in the soil in the beds..

I'm sure there are plenty of creeks in your area,  so, you can fish rocks out of them to use to outline where the edges / paths of your planting areas are / scatter a few larger rocks in the beds, if you choose to. No need to go to a Rock yard to get that stuff..

For the paths?, you could use any flat pieces of rock you find as stepping stones, ..or buy cheap  pavers from HD / Lowes, ....just to get the ball rolling   ..You can upgrade to more expensive options later / over time,  if that is a goal.     No need to go all in, if you don't have the funds to do so,  right at this moment.

Between them is where i'd plant a ground cover..


Hope this helps...

This is a awesome visual, I would of replied sooner but Ive been feeling very fatigued these past couple of days but this photo doesn't show the whole bed I'm working on but I like the visual of how close I can plant stuff! I do try and be mindful to the enviorment im in though, I try not to take stones and stuff from natural areas, I do have some nice big rocks that I'll be moving to my garden space and eventually when I get mulch that I ordered from chipdrop whenever that will come in 1000 years, I'll use that in my walkways. 😍

Edited June 24, 2023 by ZPalms

[JohnAndSancho]

On 6/24/2023 at 7:48 AM, ZPalms said:

This is a awesome visual, I would of replied sooner but Ive been feeling very fatigued these past couple of days but this photo doesn't show the whole bed I'm working on but I like the visual of how close I can plant stuff! I do try and be mindful to the enviorment im in though, I try not to take stones and stuff from natural areas, I do have some nice big rocks that I'll be moving to my garden space and eventually when I get mulch that I ordered from chipdrop whenever that will come in 1000 years, I'll use that in my walkways. 😍

Did your chipdrop ever show up? I have tons of grass I want to bury, and I'm assuming it'll be easy and quick here because the primary industry in this county is timber. 

[ZPalms]

6 hours ago, JohnAndSancho said:

Did your chipdrop ever show up? I have tons of grass I want to bury, and I'm assuming it'll be easy and quick here because the primary industry in this county is timber. 

Sadly no and they cancelled my drop and I was told to renew it, I just didn't go back and place another "order" 😭

[JohnAndSancho]

Bastards 

[Tom in Tucson]

The suggestion to use native plants for ground cover is excellent.

A stray native ground cover, Bahia absinthifolia, started growing around the base of my two creosote bushes a few years ago. The contrast of the silvery foliage enhanced the olive green color of the creosote bush (also native). I received a couple positive comments from my neighbors. Last week I received a letter from my HOA with an image of this combination. It said remove your weeds. Although I typically acquiesce to their nonsense, this time I'm not going to comply. Not only is this area attractive, it could not be any better for xeroscaping. I don't ever water this area.

Hi 85°, Lo 53°

[Tom in Tucson]

13 hours ago, Tom in Tucson said:

The suggestion to use native plants for ground cover is excellent.

A stray native ground cover, Bahia absinthifolia, started growing around the base of my two creosote bushes a few years ago. The contrast of the silvery foliage enhanced the olive green color of the creosote bush (also native). I received a couple positive comments from my neighbors. Last week I received a letter from my HOA with an image of this combination. It said remove your weeds. Although I typically acquiesce to their nonsense, this time I'm not going to comply. Not only is this area attractive, it could not be any better for xeroscaping. I don't ever water this area.

Hi 85°, Lo 53°

While looking for the native range of distribution today of Bahia absinthifolia, I discovered it's name was changed in '16 to Picradeniopsis absinthifolia. Also a correction to spelling of xeroscaping. It should be xeriscaping.

Hi 85°, Lo 53° Oct 26

[Calosphace]

I'd probably get several different plants and see what likes the spot the most or just do a pattern with them.

I would go to Plant Delights either their website or tour their gardens they are in NC and definitely grow plenty of ground covers and since they test their plants, theres much better chances you would be avoiding an invasive. Their groundcovers are here

Honestly I think Dyckia would look great in that bed but it would be price-y to fill the entire bed with them but I'd definitely get a few if possible. They have mango gold flowers and  many have burgundy foliage.  As a bonus I planted them right up on my well-established ancient native palms and they survived so they are a great candidate for taking palm roots

If the site is well-drained enough you could try Salvia chamaedryoides which I believe is evergreen in your zone. Coontie I think is hardy to zone 8a as well...

Other resources are Nurcar and Naturescapes of Beaufort (for SC natives)

Many of the natives mentioned will not work in full sun (Chrysopogon, Asarum, Pachysandra) I grow these in coastal north FL which has cooler highs than interior GA in my experience and I still give them morning sun only. I do love that native Pachysandra though.. if you get a spot for it is a very nice plant and quite rare. Plant Delights sells a selection collected from southern Alabama that is more heat tolerant which is what I have

There are some Heuchera with the Louisiana species parentage that are supposed to be more heat tolerant but I sadly never have luck with them, really love them up north but they just dont work in FL (usually it is early spring they die I think lack of enough vernalization is part of it) but they would be part shade plants in southeast for best form regardless.

Edited October 28, 2023 by Calosphace