Native Plants
![](../_images/smarty_plants.gif)
Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?
A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.
Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
![](../_images/mr_smarty_plants_logo_web_200w.jpg)
rate this answer
![](../_images/star_43.gif)
Friday - April 24, 2015
From: Salado, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Groundcovers
Title: Native ground cover for bare ground
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
I have a 20 x 40 foot partly sunny area that has only leaves covering the bare ground. I want to replace the leaves with ground cover. Can I mix ground covers like clover, asian jasmine, etc? I would prefer to use only native plants. Also, will I need to cover the area with a quality topsoil before I start planting? Thanks in advance. Jack RobinsonANSWER:
Certainly you can mix groundcovers but if you want them to be native plants, you don't want to use Trachelospermum asiaticum Asian jasmine. It is, as its name suggests, a native of Asia (Japan and Korea) and not a North American native. Most familiar clovers such as Trifolium repens (white clover) and Trifolium pratense (Red clover) are also non-native.
Here are several native groundcovers that will do well in part shade:
Sedges—Carex planostachys (Cedar sedge) and Carex texensis (Texas sedge) are both good choices for shade or part shade.
Calyptocarpus vialis (Straggler daisy) is a low herbaceous plant that grows in sun, part shade or shade and remains evergreen in mild winters.
Phyla nodiflora (Texas frogfruit) will grow in sun and part shade and tolerates drought and flooding.
Salvia lyrata (Lyreleaf sage) grows in sun, part shade or shade and is evergreen. It grows from one to two feet tall and can be mowed.
Glandularia bipinnatifida var. bipinnatifida (Prairie verbena) grows to only 6 to 12 inches high in sun and part shade. It has a very long blooming period.
Dichondra carolinensis (Carolina ponysfoot) is very low-growing and grows in both sun and shade. You can see more photos in the Archive of Central Texas Plants.
It shouldn't be necessary to cover the area with topsoil. The Carex species you can buy in small pots to plant. It is probably a good idea to include a little compost in the hole for the plant. If you are sowing seeds it would be a good idea to remove the leaves and loosen the top of the soil to insure good contact with the seeds. Follow planting directions on the seed packages.
From the Image Gallery
More Groundcovers Questions
Non-invasive sun ground cover for Atlanta GA
June 29, 2011 - I would like to find a non-invasive ground cover for zone 7 (Atlanta, GA) in full sun. I had a bed of ivy with daylilies on a slight slope. I have pulled up the ivy but want something that is not as i...
view the full question and answer
Low maintenance plants for crack in concrete
July 01, 2008 - Dear Mr. Smarty Plants,
I would like to grow some very low maintenance weeds, mosses and flowers out of a crack in a slab of concrete. Can you recommend any species that would do well in this sort...
view the full question and answer
Need evergreen hedge and groundcover for shade in Carmel, Indiana
September 27, 2010 - Our property is bounded by a fencerow that is wooded and mostly shaded by mulberry and hackberry trees during the growing months. We'd like to create a 5'+ tall evergreen barrier on the property li...
view the full question and answer
Source for ground pine plants from Ligonier PA
December 21, 2012 - Where can I purchase "ground pine plants? I want to use them for erosion control.
view the full question and answer
Groundcovers for Miami FL
March 27, 2013 - What is a ground cover that does not need mowing or a lot of water and survives in South Florida heat and is also native to the area? I would like to turn my lawn into a more natural self-sustaining a...
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |