The best ground cover in a shaded area should consist of a mixture of ten different types of plants. While ivy may be attractive, other types of ground cover are better options. In this article, you’ll learn about Sweet Woodruff, Periwinkle, Japanese spurge, and Sweetscented Bedstraw. All of these plants have their own benefits and are also great for the shaded area.
Sweet Woodruff
This ground cover has a delicate, lacy white flower and star-shaped leaves. It grows easily in shade and tolerates a range of soil conditions, but prefers a moist, slightly acidic soil. If you’re not sure how to grow sweet woodruff, consider adding compost or decaying leaves to the area. This herb can be found growing in USDA zones four through eight.
A great plant for ground cover in shade is Sweet Woodruff, a semi-glossy annual with delicate, white flowers in the spring. Its foliage is attractive, too, with lance-like leaves growing in whorls on fine stems. When in bloom, sweet woodruff produces tiny white flowers in May. This ground cover can also be used in rock gardens, as it will hold up well in water.
While sweet woodruff appears dainty, it can stand up to heavy foot traffic. It is often grown among pavers, along a walkway, or in flower beds. This ground cover will produce a delightful fragrance every time you mow it. Sweet Woodruff can be invasive, so it’s best to use it sparingly. The smell of sweet woodruff is derived from coumarin, a substance found in the leaves of this plant. The fragrance is known to have medicinal properties, including cardiac and antispasmodic treatments. However, sweet woodruff is slightly toxic, and should not be used by pregnant women or children.
Sweet Woodruff is a perennial ground cover. This plant grows to 6 inches tall and spreads easily once established. It has a nice fragrance and can be used as potpourri. Its leaves can also be used as potpourri. In addition to being low-maintenance, Sweet Woodruff also attracts pollinators and is one of the best plants for ground cover in shade.
Periwinkle
Periwinkle is an excellent ground cover plant that is easy to maintain. Periwinkle has attractive foliage and dainty blue flowers. Its spreading habit and creepy habit make it a good choice for ground cover in shaded gardens. Periwinkle can create a waterfall effect if planted close together. Periwinkle is a good plant for shade gardens because it grows well in shade.
Periwinkle is a vine that grows in a wide variety of soils. It is best suited for partial to deep shade, where it can thrive. Its roots can hold the soil in place. In some parts of the United States, it is an invasive species, which is why it’s best planted in partial shade. It grows well in a variety of soil conditions, including dry shade.
Periwinkle is a low-growing, perennial ground cover with attractive foliage and flowering stems. It has long been a favorite in ornamental gardens, despite its low interest. The foliage is glossy and deep green, and the flowers are spiraled five petals with a pale blue-violet hue. Periwinkle grows up to 6 inches tall, with a spreading habit of about 3 feet.
Periwinkle grows well in both sunlight and shade, making it a great choice for underplanting and planting around trees and on rock walls. Periwinkle is an excellent plant for ground cover in shade and is a great choice for a variety of gardens. Periwinkle is a popular ground cover in a variety of settings, including woodlands, rock gardens, and borders.
Sweetscented Bedstraw
Sweetscented Bedstraw, also known as sweet woodruff, is a perennial herb that loves shade. Its fragrance is so enticing that it’s also used in potpourri and the flavoring of Maiwein wine. Sweet woodruff is native to northern and central Europe. Sweet woodruff has a strong and pleasantly fragrant aroma. It’s easy to grow from seed or runners, and it will cover a large area without looking overcrowded.
Native to most of Europe and western Siberia, Sweetscented Bedstraw is also common in Japan, China, and Turkey. Its fragrant flowers are usually two-lipped and blue or purple. The plant’s leaves are evergreen and provide excellent ground cover for gardens. Sweetscented Bedstraw is frost hardy in USDA zones 5 to 11.
Japanese Spurge
For shaded areas, Japanese spurge is a great plant to use. This perennial grows slowly and is not aggressive or invasive. It is also resistant to deer and other pests. As a bonus, Japanese spurge requires little maintenance. You just need to water it a few times per year, and it will eventually form a dense cover. Read on to learn more about this great plant.
Pachysandra, also known as Japanese spurge, is an excellent choice for groundcover. This shrub thrives in full shade and is reliably evergreen throughout freezing winters. It forms neat mats of green leaves, but is also tolerant of neutral to slightly acidic soil. It is hardy in zones four through seven. The foliage of Japanese spurge looks great year after year, so it’s worth the time to invest in a large bed.
The Japanese spurge is a wonderful choice for ground cover in shade. This herbaceous perennial, native to East Asia, has soft, feathery green foliage that looks like a tapestry. The foliage does not die back during the winter and is semi-evergreen throughout. Although it can be a bit difficult to keep up with, it will provide the shaded area with a natural tapestry that you’ll enjoy for years.
Wild Ginger
If you have shade in your garden, Wild Ginger may be the best plant for you. Native to Eastern North America, wild ginger was most likely ingested by early settlers, who probably used it as a substitute for culinary ginger. Native Americans drank the root, either fresh or dried, and used it as a sweet tea and an expectorant. However, wild ginger isn’t for the faint of heart. Its sweet, spicy taste may aggravate sensitive skin, so be sure to consult your doctor before planting it in your garden.
Asarum canadense is an excellent ground cover plant for shade. Wild ginger is native to the United States, and does not need to be fertilized. Its foliage dies back each fall, protecting the bud-forming branches from the cold winter weather. Wild ginger spreads slowly but can be divided in spring and fall to get a fresh new batch of plants. However, be sure to check the USDA plant hardiness zone before planting your wild ginger in your garden.
A native of North America, wild ginger is a hardy plant that grows to about 3 feet tall. This ground cover plant has downy, medium-green leaves with fine hairs on them. The flowers on this plant only appear in May, after which it will be overgrown by new foliage. This ground cover is also highly deer resistant. However, if you have shaded areas in your garden, Wild Ginger is the best choice.
Heuchera
Known for its lush foliage and bright yellow flowers, Heuchera is a popular plant for use as ground cover. They have shallow roots, and require a moderate amount of water, which makes them prone to ‘frost heaving’, a process whereby a plant’s rootball floats above the soil surface. This condition is fatal to Heuchera plants, so it’s important to ensure proper air circulation around the roots.
Heuchera varieties have different leaf colors and textures. Some have large green leaves, while others are frilly and reddish. The Silver variety is particularly striking, with its dark edging and red veining. It’s a beautiful plant for shade, and its flowers are two feet high. It does best in partial shade, but can tolerate a bit more sun. If you want the plant to grow in full sunlight, consider planting it in compost or peat moss.
Heuchera is an excellent shade garden plant, and it comes in a variety of colors. Also called coral bells, it bears colorful flowers in summer. This perennial is great for winter pot displays, and it also tolerates full sun. Heuchera is a member of the saxifrage family and is deer-resistant. However, heuchera is best used in containers, where it can grow in containers.