Native Plants
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
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
rate this answer
Tuesday - April 27, 2010
From: Columbia, MD
Region: Mid-Atlantic
Topic: Shade Tolerant
Title: Ground cover for shady area in Maryland
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
What ground cover grows well on a shady slope with close to surface tree roots?ANSWER:
Mr. Smarty Plants assumes you would like something that is evergreen. Here are five evergreen plants that make very nice ground covers:
Gaultheria procumbens (eastern teaberry)
Mitchella repens (partridgeberry)
Packera aurea (golden ragwort)
Polystichum acrostichoides (Christmas fern)
Dryopteris marginalis (marginal woodfern)
Here are two other plants that aren't evergreen that also make excellent ground covers:
Pachysandra procumbens (Allegheny-spurge) is semi-evergreen
Tiarella cordifolia (heartleaf foamflower)
You can search in our Maryland Recommended Species list for other possibilities.
You micht also be interested in a Maryland Native Plant Society publication Native Plants for Central Maryland Landscapes—Piedmont and Inner Coastal Plains.
Here are photos of the above plants from our Image Gallery:
More Shade Tolerant Questions
Vines for shade in Central Texas
February 04, 2008 - We'd like to fill in our long expanse of yard fencing with climbing vines. We are limited by 40' live oaks that cut off the sun but surely something works in the shade and heat!
view the full question and answer
Native vine for shade on west side in Texas
July 21, 2008 - I have just put in a trellis to cover the west side of my house for shade. What would be the best native vine to put their for quick growth. I plan on putting a rose (Fortunia) but can't do that till...
view the full question and answer
Plants to disguise plastic rainbarrels in dry shade
April 29, 2008 - What plants would you recommend to disguise blue plastic rainbarrels in dry shade?
view the full question and answer
Shade-loving plants for a long, narrow bed.
October 31, 2007 - We are installing a bed with a student-made sculpture dedicated to mothers at our high school in Austin, Texas. The bed is against the two-story school, east facing,and shaded by cedar elm. What can...
view the full question and answer
Need a recommendation for a fast growing shade tree near Gettysburg PA
October 08, 2009 - I am looking to plant a fast growing shade tree with non-invasive roots. I live in south central Pennsylvania just north of Gettysburg PA.
view the full question and answer
| Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |