Post #61 Groundcovers
Hi there dear gardeners! Are you ready to talk groundcovers? Well, we sure are!
Groundcovers are a critical layer of any forest garden. They fill in empty spaces, look pretty, and provide food for pollinators. Some are very low growing, others will provide some height.
Beyond forest gardens, groundcover crops are utilized globally in large scale agriculture, subsistence farming, and even in your neighbor’s backyard.
So how, and why, should you integrate groundcovers into your garden?
Let’s dig right in. We’ll cover what these plants are all about, why they are an important element of gardening, and provide a list of plants categorized by height that we have grown successfully here in zone 11a.
What is a Groundcover?
Groundcovers are generally rotated or annual crops OR perennial plants that play a part in the ecosystem of your garden.
As an annual crop they can be planted between harvest and seeding the next main annual to regenerate the soil.
Perennial groundcovers are used as food sources and/or soil protectors.
Why Plant groundcovers?
- Transform a useless, water wasting lawn into a useful space
- Trap carbon in the soil through photosynthesis
- Fix nitrogen
- Improve soil quality by providing micro and macro nutrients as well as beneficial bacteria
- Maintain or improve soil structure; preserve topsoil and break up soil deeper down through root structures
- Create erosion control on small (or large) inclines
- Provide an edible landscape depending on the crop used
- Increase beauty while protecting soil in an otherwise empty patch (or pathway)
- Provide food for pollinators
Alternatives to a Lawn
Frogfruit (Phyla nodiflora) – A Florida native that can be both mowed and walked on.
Mondo Grass (Ophiopogon japonicus) – Growing to a height of just 6 inches tall, this evergreen roots aggressively, making it ideal for erosion control on hills, river banks, or swales.
Perennial Peanut (Arachis glabrata) – A super spreader with leaves similar to pea plants, this perennial grows to a height of 12 inches tall and spreads up to 8 feet.
Spanish Shawl (Creeping Tibouchina, Dissotis plumosa) This low dense grower looks beautiful spilling over retaining walls.
Sunshine Mimosa (Mimosa strigillosa) – Despite its feathery look, this perennial is hardy enough to be mowed and walked on.
Turtle Vine (Bolivian Jew, Callisia repens) – This walkable lawn alternative has escaped cultivation here and often shows up in lawns where grass may struggle to grow.
Very Short, But Not Walkable:
Bay Bean (Canavalia maritima) – A vine with purple flowers, this groundcover is perfect for beach dunes.
Beach Morning Glory (Railroad Vine, Ipomoea pes-capri) A Florida native with purple flowers, this one also can be found covering the sand at the beach.
Chenille Plant Dwarf (Acalypha pendula Dwarf) – A dwarf version in every way, it grows to just 3 inches tall, and is one of the best groundcovers in my opinion.
Inch Plant (Basket Plant, Callisia fragrans) – Considered an herb, this succulent perennial is commonly seen in older gardens.
Peperomia (Peperomia obtusifolia) This fast growing Florida native is grown for its foliage, it is too delicate to walk on, but thrives in part to full shade.
Purple Queen (Tradescantia pallida) It grows to 18 inches tall and readily roots in sandy soil from cuttings.
Scaevola, Prostrate (Scaevola plumieri) – A Florida native, also known as Ink Berry, this evergreen thrives on the beach or similar sandy soil. Please avoid the invasive variety, S. taccada.
Sweet Potato, Ornamental (Ipomoea batatas) – Lime green (‘Margarita’), ‘Tricolor’ (also known as ‘Pink’ – green leaves splashed with pink and white), almost black (‘Blackie’ – divided leaves) and two other black ones (‘Purple Heart’, and ‘Ace of Spades’, both with heart-shaped leaves) can be found by mail order and sometimes locally as well.
Wandering Jew (Zebrina pendula) – This plant spills beautifully out of baskets, over retaining walls, or makes a great ground cover around trees.
Up to 2’ tall:
Amaryllis (Hippeastrum x hybridum) – a gorgeous flowering bulb, this spring flower can fill an area over several years in full sun.
Asiatic Jasmine (Trachelospermum asiaticum) – A popular vining groundcover grown for its pretty foliage. It takes awhile to cover an area but once it’s established it can get dense enough to smother weeds.
Blue Daze (Evolvulus glomerata) – An evergreen perennial that blooms on and off throughout the year with gorgeous blue flowers reminiscent of classic morning glories.
Coral Creeper (Barleria repens) – The whole plant can grow up to 2 feet tall and a foot wide. Easy to propagate from cuttings but beware, it can become a weed if you do not keep it in line!
Firecracker Flower (Crossandra infundibuliformis) – A perennial in South Florida, this smallish shrub likes heat and humidity and prefers moist soil.
Lily Turf (Liriope muscari) – This plant grows in 1 foot mounds of grassy foliage, with purple flower spikes when in bloom. ‘Silver Dragon’ is a popular cultivar; its white-striped leaves break up the green and make a neat edge.
Porterweed, Prostrate (Stachytarpheta jamaicensis) – A Florida native wildflower that sprawls along the ground in full sun. Known as a butterfly plant, many species of these pollinators rely on the nectar as a food source. Beware, there is an invasive Porterweed (S. cayennensis) that looks similar, so be sure what you are getting when you buy.
Shore Juniper, Dwarf (Juniperus conferta ‘Compacta’) – A slow-growing shrub that spreads out wide, this plant is grown for its needle-like foliage and makes a good low hedge or foundation planting.
Spider plant (Chlorophytum comosum) – A perennial with dark to light green blade-like foliage, often striped with white. Let it spread or cut off the babies and plant them somewhere else.
Up to 3’ tall –
Florida Lantana (Lantana camara) – This is the only variety of L. camara that is safe to grow; most others (such as the popular weeping ones) are invasive. So it may be best to research rather than picking some up at a big box store. A hardy, easy keeper that enjoys full sun and attracts native pollinators, this plant is a no-brainer in the South Florida garden.
Yellow Lantana (L. ovatifolia var. reclinata) and Pineland Lantana (Lantana depressa) – These are two forms of a Florida native variety.
Keep in mind that groundcovers are generally good spreaders. Pay attention to the general height categories they are grouped in and the sun requirements listed for each plant. Another consideration is color, do you want lots of colorful blooms or are you more interested in showy foliage? Or maybe both, depending on the areas you have designated for groundcovers.
What groundcovers do you have currently growing in your garden? Are they volunteers or did you plant them purposefully? Tell us all about it in the comments below – or ask us questions! We are here for your gardening triumphs and blunders alike, we want to hear it all!
Until next time, Happy Gardening!
Mary