Just had a lot of weeds cleared out of an area in back of the yard, which has a lemon tree partially shading it (more or less, depending on season; angle of sun).
Would like to plant ground cover which would, I hope:
Tolerate partial shade
Have some flowers, even if only seasonal
Propagate rapidly.
This is Southern Calif coastal; mild Mediterranean climate.
Suggestions welcome!
(or should I just cover area with large piece bark and scatter a few pots around?)
Neither thyme nor oregano will do well in much shade, I'd look at vinca minor, lamium, various saxifraga, some hardy geraniums, asarum (wild ginger) or lirope or ophiopogon. Hostas are a great choice.
minor, lamium, various saxifraga, some hardy geraniums, asarum = = = = = = > (wild ginger) or lirope or ophiopogon. Hostas are a great choice= .
Thank you; I will check into these.
I took a quick look at Hostas in Wikipedia. It says they are subject to damage by snails and slugs. Same info at a Moss Phlox site re: slugs if soil is too moist. ****Does this mean that shade ground cover IN GENERAL is subject to snail and slug infestation? Or all ground cover? Inquiring minds...****
My soil in the target area is not too moist; in fact So.Cal is dry. So I might take a chance on some moss phlox. I just want to be reasonably sure what I'm in for, as it will be a LOT of work adding compost and otherwise modifying the soil in approx 15 x 5 area. Or maybe less if I scatter pots about, as someone suggested.
Sorry for thinking aloud I just called local nursery.. Plant guy thought Moss Phlox would do fine, but wait 3 months before putting in. He also suggested Pink Clover or Ornamental Strawberries, which can be put in now. All three would spread out.
REPLY to Garden Gal: You asked if ice plant does well in my area. I assume so, as I see a LOT of it around.
Any more input welcome. Recap: Want ground cover for partly shaded area in So. Calif. Coastal.
Pink clover (Persicaria capitata) is not a clover at all. It has little pink flowers that resemble the flowers of white clover. My entire front lawn and my rose bed in back are both planted with pink clover. There are some flowers all year long with the most in the summer.
This ground cover is relatively drough-tolerant once it is established. It forms a mat about 1 ft thick. The edges need to be trimmed several times a year; otherwise, it can be invasive.
Hostas like moist areas, so this may or may not have been a bad choice on my part. I went just by the title "Ground cover for shady area". Almost every plant in existence has a specific bug that that eats it. Hostas and slugs, Roses and Japanese beetles and so on. Slugs can be taken care of with a Product called Sluggo, a relatively safe product. Now getting rid of Japanese Beetles is more costly.
For me Gardening is one big experiment. Some plants grow well in an area and some not so well. If the plant thrives with few problems, cool. If the plant has problems thriving or having pest problems, get rid of the plant.
If you like gardening... You may want to consider... Annuals. I like annuals over perennials. Annuals have much fewer problems than perennials and look nicer over a single season than perennials. But I am not sure about how well they will grow in your area. For annual ground covers I like impatiens. In warm climates impatiens are perennials.
If hostas like moist soil, don't plant them close to your lemon tree. Citrus in the ground does best if the soil gets dry between watering. Your tree will suffer if the soil in its root zone is constantly moist.
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