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_20.gif)
Wednesday - September 02, 2009
From: Modesto, CA
Region: California
Topic: Groundcovers
Title: Native groundcover for central California
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
In Modesto, CA. Hot summers, cold winters. Need a low ground cover for area next to driveway approx. 5ft X 14ft. that stays green all year round. I did have grass there but neigbors lawn is loaded with crabgrass and it was impossible to keep this out. I need a solution, pleaseANSWER:
Las Pilitas Nursery in Escondido and Santa Margarita has a wonderful website with excellent information about native California plants. They have a groundcover page that divides the ground covers into three categories—less than one foot high, one to two feet high and two feet and higher. Here are a few from the 'less than one foot high' category:Symphoricarpos mollis (creeping snowberry)
Clinopodium douglasii (yerba buena) [syn. = Satureja douglasii]
Fragaria vesca ssp. californica (woodland strawberry) [syn. = Fragaria californica]
I can't guarantee that these will keep the crab grass out, but they certainly would be attractive in your site. You can look at the others on the Las Pilitas page for suitability for your site. You can learn more about most of them by searching in our Native Plant Database using their botanical name.
More Groundcovers Questions
Destructive landscape crews in The Woodlands TX
October 20, 2012 - Hi. We need help. We recently moved to a house where landscape crews have been blowing away the leaf litter from the front yard for many years. The underbrush was also cleared long ago. The result...
view the full question and answer
Groundcover for parking strip in Pasadena, California
January 04, 2010 - Can you suggest a low growing, low maintenance plant which will spread to cover parking strip in Pasadena, California? Thank you.
view the full question and answer
Phyla nodiflora as a ground cover
March 23, 2007 - I'm considering using frogfruit in my lawn and between stepping stones. However, I'm concerned about it being invasive. The tree is in the front lawn and don't want it to take over the Bermuda law...
view the full question and answer
Help with control of small, invasive groundcover
April 16, 2012 - I have a very invasive ground cover creeping into my yard. I've tried to identify it and it's similar to creeping charlie or garlic mustard. Leaves are triangular with jagged edges, small purple f...
view the full question and answer
Need suggestions for groundcover in between flagstones in patio in Sugarland, TX.
July 05, 2011 - We are looking for a ground cover to plant in between our flagstone on our courtyard patio. The courtyard is full sun and we currently have a crushed rock-like substance in between the pieces. I thou...
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |