Ground Covers for Sun and Shade We are often asked to suggest alternatives for some of the invasive non-native ground covers like Wintercreeper, English Ivy, or Periwinkle. It is difficult to offer a low-growing native In This species that will cover an area as quickly as these invasives; however here are a few options that are worth a bit of a wait! Issue

Ground Covers for Sun Elizabeth Kuhn

Hairy hawkweed, Hieracium gronovii, is a low-growing drought tolerant plant that can Ground grow in full to partial sun and moist to dry soil. In full sun, this species tends to stay shorter and Covers for need a bit more moisture. The bright yellow Sun and flowers bloom in June. Although the flower stalk can reach up to 2 feet in height, this Shade species makes a good groundcover because of the low growing leafy base. The broad leaves are covered with fine hairs giving this plant a nice texture in the garden. Hairy Hawkweed is an attraction to many different kinds of bees Hairy Hawkweed Photo: Tom Barnes Comics and an excellent addition to your garden.

Shale Barren Pussytoes, Antennaria virginica, is almost always found in dense masses and is a great groundcover. The plant has small sage green Plant Sale leaves and runners that will slowly form silvery Time! mats - sometimes several feet in diameter. White blooms appear in early spring on stalks not more than 15 inches tall. The small tubular flowers form heads that are in tight terminal clusters which resemble a cat's paw, giving the plant its name . This drought tolerant species will grow in very dry, rocky soils and prefers full sun. Shale Barren Pussytoes Photo: Porterbrook Native Plants

Prairie Dropseed, Sporobolus heterolepis -This graceful, elegant, fine textured grass grows 2-4’ tall. The narrow emerald green leaves change to beautiful bronze in the fall and winter. Blooming in late fall, the flowers are noted for their coriander-like scent and give way to delicate plumes of seed, which birds love. This grass grows best in sunny, dry conditions and will tolerate rocky and poor soil. This is a spectacular groundcover, border or accent plant for your garden. Prairie Dropseed Photo: Dropseed Nursery Ground Covers for Shade by Diane Secor Christmas fern, Polystichum acrostichoides. This native woodland fern grows best in organically rich, dry to medium moisture, in part shade to full shade. It does not tolerate clay soils or standing water. It must have good drainage. Clumps typically grow to 2 feet tall and slowly spread by rhizomes to provide excellent evergreen color and ground cover for shaded garden areas. Silvery fiddleheads emerge in early spring. Christmas ferns stay green throughout the winter, providing good winter interest for landscapes. This fern is easy to establish and grow where conditions are right. It is also a good plant for massing on slopes (including dryish, rocky ones) to help combat soil erosion, and may be planted in shady Christmas Fern areas along walls or foundations.

Wild Ginger, Asarum Canadense The glossy green, heart-shaped leaves of this plant can create a very attractive ground cover in a moist, shady spot. Wild ginger rises to only 4-6 inches tall but spreads indefinitely by rhizomes to form dense carpets of heart shaped dark green leaves. Tiny, urn-shaped, ground- hugging, maroon-brown flowers bloom in April and May, but are hidden by the foliage- so they are often missed, but worth looking for! Wild Ginger will keep its foliage throughout the season, and it is also deer- resistant! Although unpalatable to deer and other mammals, it is an important food source for the Pipevine Swallowtail Butterfly. Many insects are attracted to Wild Ginger, including ants, believed to Wild Ginger pollinate the plant. Photo: Tom Barnes

Pennsylvania Sedge, Carex pensylvanica. Pennsylvania Sedge is a low-growing perennial that spreads by underground rhizones and forms a nice ground cover for dry shady areas. It grows easily in part shade and shade and is ideal for planting under deciduous trees. This plant prefers well-drained soil with average moisture but it will grow in infertile, slightly acidic soil, dry soil. The 6-12” leaves are green in summer, turning tan in winter. Reddish-brown, thimble-like flowers top the narrow, fine textured leaves in spring. The thick mat of growth provides excellent seasonal cover for foraging small songbirds. While a number of birds and small mammals feed on the seeds, it is thankfully resistant to deer grazing.

Pennsylvania Sedge

In the right corner we have the local favorite – Hairy Hawkweed. In the left corner it’s Kudzu. This is going to be a real David and Goliath showdown, folks!

Thanks Mary!

Dropseed Nursery Plant Sales 1205 S. Buckeye Lane, Goshen, KY Saturday May 11, May 18, May 25 and June 1 9 am – 5 pm Dropseed Nursery will be holding our spring sales. Come by and see our new selections! Visit our website for directions to the nursery: http://www.dropseednursery.com Or call Margaret at 502-439-9033

Louisville Nature Center Plant Sale Dropseed Nursery will be supplying plants to the Louisville Nature Center for their plant sale on Sunday April 28, from 11 am to 4 pm.

Come by and support the Louisville Nature Center 3745 Illinois Avenue, across from the zoo.

If you can’t make the Nature Center sale - or if you just can’t get enough…

Dropseed Native Plant Nursery 1205 S. Buckeye Lane Goshen, Ky 40026

502-439-9033 www.dropseednursery.com