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_00.gif)
Wednesday - October 07, 2009
From: Pembroke, MA
Region: Northeast
Topic: Groundcovers, Grasses or Grass-like, Herbs/Forbs, Shrubs
Title: Native plants for morning sun in Pembroke MA
Answered by: Barbara Medford
QUESTION:
Could you please suggest native groundcover,plants/shrubs/grasses for eastern facing slope which gets morning sun? It is my front yard which slopes down toward driveway so it would be a major focal point. How about any evergreen ground cover? ThanksANSWER:
In selecting plants for an area, the exposure (east, north, etc.) is not really as important as the amount of sun the area gets in a day. We regard full sun as 6 or more hours of sun a day, part shade as 2 to 6 hours of sun and shade as less than 2 hours. Pembroke, Plymouth County, is apparently in USDA Hardiness Zones 6a to 6b, with average annual minimum temperatures of -10 to zero deg. F. Obviously, with shorter days and as far north as you are, even the morning sun is going to be less for a while, but you might make a rough sketch of your property with indications of the amount of sunlight various areas receive.
We are going to go to our Recommended Species section, click on Massachusetts on the map, and then select some herbaceous flowering plants (herbs), shrubs, and grasses, checking each one to make sure it is native to your area of the state. We'll try also to find evergreen low-growing groundcovers. You can repeat this process, putting in the appropriate amount of light, soil moisture and so forth in your searches. We are just going to give you a sample and you can go from there. Incidentally, on a slope, there is no better plant to use than grasses, with their long fibrous roots to hold the soil. These are not going to be mowed lawn type grasses, but taller, more ornamental grasses. Follow each link to the page on that individual plant to learn projected size, light needs, soil moisture, growth habit, bloom time, etc. We are going to search on "Part Shade" and "Shade" as we feel that's about the best you could hope for in your situation.
Plants for an east-facing slope in Plymouth County, MA:
Gaultheria procumbens (eastern teaberry) - low, woody groundcover, evergreen, blooms white, pink June to August, part shade or shade
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi (kinnikinnick) - trailing evergreen shrub for groundcover, blooms white, pink March to June, sun, part shade or shade
Coreopsis lanceolata (lanceleaf tickseed) - perennial, evergreen, blooms yellow April to June, sun, part shade or shade
Mitchella repens (partridgeberry) - perennial trailing herb, evergreen groundcover, blooms white, pink or purple May to October
Lobelia siphilitica (great blue lobelia) - perennial, deciduous, blooms blue July to October, sun, part shade or shade
Rhododendron maximum (great laurel) - evergreen shrub, 4 to 15 ft., blooms white, pink in June, part shade
Cornus alternifolia (alternateleaf dogwood) - deciduous shrub or small tree, 20 to 30 ft. tall, blooms white May and June, part shade or shade
Calamagrostis canadensis (bluejoint) - perennial grass 3 to 5 ft. tall, medium water use, sun, part shade or shade
Muhlenbergia schreberi (nimblewill) - perennial grass, part shade or shade
From our Native Plant Image Gallery:
More Groundcovers Questions
Narrow strip of groundcover from Sonora TX
April 29, 2013 - I have an area that is right under my patio about 12 feet by 1 ft. I'm looking for something to plant in there. It has afternoon sun, morning shade. I live in SW Texas so it is hot. but would like so...
view the full question and answer
Deer-resistant groundcover for New Braunfels, TX
September 24, 2011 - Could you recommend some deer resistant ground cover plants for the New Braunfels area? We have tried Ajuga and Katie's Ruellia and they have been eaten.
view the full question and answer
Groundcover for area under oaks in Lake Conroe, Texas
October 17, 2010 - I live just off Lake Conroe, and my backyard is more dirt than grass. It is under a number of oak trees, and the dirt is more of a silt than a sand. I need suggestions for a quick growing ground cover...
view the full question and answer
Low-growing plant for grave in boggy Newfoundland
May 30, 2008 - I am looking for any suggestions on what type of plant I can plant on a grave. It is very boggy (peat)land. I want something that is hardy & not too tall. We have about 8 weeks of summer, July & Augus...
view the full question and answer
Ground cover for Orange County, California
August 05, 2012 - What ground cover do you suggest for an Orange Co., CA, backyard with a steep slope in 3-4 hours of sun? Needs to grow fast to beat the weeds. Something pretty would be nice!
Thanks
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |