There’s always that spot . . . you know the one, where the grass just won’t grow. Or you have a slope that needs stabilizing, or a big flowerbed in need of something extra. The answer? Groundcovers!
We have many different options here in the Austin area that work in a wide range of conditions; from sun to shade, to wet to dry there is a ground cover that fits. Here are some of my favorites (including several groups) that I love to use in landscapes.
At the moment two of the most popular groundcovers for full sun are wooly stemodia and silver ponyfoot.
Both add an elegant gray color to native and perennial landscapes. They are very low to the ground (under 6”) and the stemodia produces delicate purple flowers.
They are not fully evergreen, but will rebound quickly in the spring. Stemodia and ponyfoot not only need sun, but are also best suited for drier beds and they love decomposed granite.
Horseherb is a native that flourishes in sun to part shade, and was thought of for many years as a lawn weed. This broadleaf groundcover with tiny yellow flowers works well as a lawn substitute and can be mowed and maintained as such. It is most compact in the full sun, and grows too tall for a lawn in the shade.
Another group of sun-loving plants are the low-growing succulents. Ice plant (Delosperma and other relatives) blooms with really cool starburst flowers in many warm shades and has a flat growth habit with shimmery green narrow foliage. They are also evergreen most winters.
Sedum (pronounced ‘seed-um’) is another succulent that looks beautiful in sunny flowerbeds. Mexican, blue spruce and dragon’s blood are a few that do well in Texas. The Mexican and blue spruce sedum produce yellow flowers above the foliage in the late spring and summer.
Herbs can create a taller groundcover for hard-to-fill spots in larger flowerbeds and sunny borders. Italian and Greek oregano, winter savory, prostrate varieties of rosemary and thyme are all good choices, and they’re all drought resistant.
Soapwort, an heirloom herb, is a wonderful afternoon shade groundcover. It can fill up a space with rounded grayish-green leaves in just a few seasons and will reward you with showy pink flowers every spring. Soapwart’s name comes from the lather that can be created from the roots.
For full sun to full shade there is a Tradescantia relative that will fit the bill. Fuzzy Wandering Jew is a low-growing, gray-shaded groundcover with purple flowers.
Bolivian Wandering Jew is a tiny-leaved variety that likes to grow in protected, partially shaded locations and also in flowerpots and hanging baskets. Purple Heart is the classic super hardy purple-leaved variety for shady flowerbeds.
For the shade, two effective border and groundcover options are Katie ruellia and our native wood violets. Both stay under 1’ and bloom throughout the growing season. Katie is available with pink, purple or white flowers and the wood violets are the traditional purple. Both can be aggressive in seed spread, so plan accordingly.
Lastly, if you would just like to fill in with lawn-like grass in spots too shady for traditional sod, there are three options to consider.
For a darker green look, monkey grass works well, and is available in a dwarf variety that would never need mowing. Liriope is monkey grass’s thicker-leaved counterpart. Big Blue is one common variety that comes in green or variegated and blooms purple flower spikes.
We also have sedges (NOT nut sedge) that are good tufted grasses for the shade. Berkeley and Texas are green options and there is also a blue sedge for a little color in the shade. You can grow the sedges in a wide range of wet to dry conditions.
No matter the size of the blank spot in your garden, there is always a groundcover to literally ‘fill’ your needs. Happy gardening everyone!
If you have a question for Chris or Amanda, send it via email to [email protected]. Ormail a postcard to It’s About Thyme: 11726 Manchaca Road, Austin, TX 78748 www.itsaboutthyme.com
