Groundcovers

The arrowhead shaped medium green foliage is decorated with darker purplish green round spots when young then matures to a rich medium green. Soon after leafing back out in spring, African False Hosta, Drimiopsis maculata, produces arching 1" diameter dense rounded spikes of small white buds that mature to green once the flowers open.This is a naturally decidous clump-forming, readily multiplying, semi-hardy tropical bulb that is well suited to shaded conditions and is suprisingly considered hardy in the garden into zone 7B per Tony Avent of Plant Delights. The shade-loving African False Hosta is well suited to container culture where it makes an easy and low-maintenance specimen plant, utilize it in mixed succulent gardens, as a groundcover under larger plants provided it gets sufficient light, as well as in the shaded garden or landscape. Its main requirement is a very well-drained soil. During active growth, average moisture is preferred and it can be allowed to remain a good deal dryer when dormant. We ship 3 flowering-sized bulbs actively growing in a 4.5" pot. Item# 12276

The arrowhead shaped medium green foliage is decorated with darker purplish green round spots when young then matures to a rich medium green. Soon after leafing back out in spring, African False Hosta, Drimiopsis maculata, produces arching 1" diameter dense rounded spikes of small white buds that mature to green once the flowers open.This is a naturally decidous clump-forming, readily multiplying, semi-hardy tropical bulb that is well suited to shaded conditions and is suprisingly considered hardy in the garden into zone 7B per Tony Avent of Plant Delights. The shade-loving African False Hosta is well suited to container culture where it makes an easy and low-maintenance specimen plant, utilize it in mixed succulent gardens, as a groundcover under larger plants provided it gets sufficient light, as well as in the shaded garden or landscape. Its main requirement is a very well-drained soil. During active growth, average moisture is preferred and it can be allowed to remain a good deal dryer when dormant. We ship 1-3 or more bulbs actively growing in a 2.25" pot. Item# 12277

Purple, lavender, and near white 5-petaled flowers practically cover the plant in spring atop the deep green narrow foliage. Alyissa's Purple Prairie Phlox is a groundcover like native perennial whose butterfly pollinated flowers open a dark purple and fade to light lavender and near white as they age. Use this low growing perennial as a groundcover at the front of the border, garden, or landscape or in natural settings like roadsides, meadows, and prairies. This is an Almost Eden exclusive introduction and was discovered in an old fence row in Beauregard Parish, Louisiana. Item# 11801

Spikes of light clear blue, 2" long, nectar-rich, tubular flowers are held against a foil of medium to deep green quilted, anise-scented foliage and are produced from spring into fall attracting hummingbirds and other pollinators. Argentina Skies Salvia or Anise Sage, a selection of Salvia guaranitica or now S. coerulea, is a vigorous rhizomatous and tuberous perennial Salvia slowly developing into a tall groundcover-like mass of upright stems, foliage, and flowers. Provide a full sun to partially shaded site in a rich, moist to average moist, fertile soil with average or better drainage for optimum vigor and flowering. Item# 9948

Masses of 1" wide, bluish purple daisies with a yellow-eye absolutely cover these plants for weeks in late summer and fall attracting bees and other smaller pollinators. The Aromatic Aster, Symphyotrichum oblongifolius, is a low mounding perennial that develops into a compact shrub-like plant by flowering time. Excellent fall color for the garden as well as drought tolerance and pest and disease resistance make this an excellent addition to the perennial or wildflower border as well as for additions to low maintenance landscapes. Provide a full to mostly sunny site in an average moist, well-drained soil. Item# 10075

An unusual bicolored Mexican Petunia, Aztec Pink and White™ Ruellia produces pure white trumpets with contrasting magenta throats that are born freely from late spring or early summer until first frost to year round under warm tropical conditions atop medium-sized sturdy stems. This Mexican Petunia is a relatively new, compact, seed and pollen sterile selection that can spend more energy on flowering instead of adding unwanted seedlings to the garden. It is a naturally evergreen, rhizomatous or spreading, tropical perennial that is grown as a die-back perennial in zones 8-9. It can be grown as a low maintenance container specimen plant, in mixed container gardens, as well as in the garden and landscape. It can also be used as a medium-sized groundcover in difficult sites. The flowers attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Provide Mexican Petunias with a full to part sun site in an average moist to wet, fertile soil for optimum vigor and flowering. Item# 12599

Medium height and sterile! Aztec Purple™ Ruellia or Mexican Petunia produces purple trumpets that are born freely from late spring or early summer until first frost to year round under warm tropical conditions atop medium-sized sturdy stems. This Mexican Petunia is a relatively new, compact, seed and pollen sterile selection that can spend more energy on flowering instead of adding unwanted seedlings to the garden. It is a naturally evergreen, rhizomatous or spreading, tropical perennial that is grown as a die-back perennial in zones 8-9. It can be grown as a low maintenance container specimen plant, in mixed container gardens, as well as in the garden and landscape. It can also be used as a medium-sized groundcover in difficult sites. The flowers attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Provide Mexican Petunias with a full to part sun site in an average moist to wet, fertile soil for optimum vigor and flowering. Item# 12780

The rosette-like clusters of glossy, wide, succulent, medium green, tapering foliage resembles a bromeliad in many regards but is actually a close kin of the more common Wandering Jew and Spiderworts. Mature Basket Plant mothers may produce upright to arching branching stems that are adorned with basket-like clusters of dainty, white, fragrant flowers that are likely pollinated by hummingbird and Sphinx moths. New pups are typically produced at the ends of long, spidery trailing arms and can be up to 36" long. This is an easy and rewarding, heirloom plant suitable even for beginners and it can be enjoyed indoors as well as out. The Basket Plant, Callisia fragrans, is a naturally evergreen, tropical perennial with individuals growing to about 6-10"H x 12"W. It can be enjoyed as hanging basket and container specimens and is also used as an easy and low maintenance groundcover in areas with mild winter climates. It is reported to withstand some direct sunlight but the leaves tend to lay down and may take on purple tinging, we personally think it looks the best when grown in light shade or with a short period of cool direct sunlight like very early or very late in the day. Provide a well-drained, average moist soil and allow the soil to become somewhat dry between waterings. Item# 12908

Tall long-lasting spikes of lavender and purple flowers are held on sturdy stems above the beautiful rich glossy green foliage in late summer and fall. Bear's Breeches is an easy to grow slowly spreading perennial that lends its form, flowers, and foliage to the shaded garden, landscape, and even as a container plant. The leaf pattern of Acanthus mollis was used extensively in Greek architecture. Provide good to average drainage, moderate fertility and average moisture for optimum growth and flowering. Item# 3003

Tall long-lasting spikes of lavender and purple flowers are held on sturdy stems above the beautiful rich glossy green foliage in late summer and fall. Bear's Breeches is an easy to grow slowly spreading perennial that lends its form, flowers, and foliage to the shaded garden, landscape, and even as a container plant. The leaf pattern of Acanthus mollis was used extensively in Greek architecture. Provide good to average drainage, moderate fertility and average moisture for optimum growth and flowering. Item# 11914

Belle Starr Gold Lantana produces a endless display of deep golden yellow, nectar rich, rounded flower clusters on a vigorous mounding to trailing plant with deep dark green glossy foliage acting as a backdrop. A 2015 LSU Agcenter Plant with Potential, this hardy Lantana attracts loads of butterflies, bees, smaller pollinators, and other garden beneficials and flowers from spring to frost. Use Belle Starr Gold Lantana as filler/spiller for medium to large containers or as a groundcovering perennial in the garden or landscape. It was named for the famous outlaw queen associated with James - Younger gang. Item# 11146

Beautiful, deep blue flowers emerge from spikes of black calyxes on this exquisite perennial Salvia all summer and fall against a backdrop of rich deep green foliage. Black and Blue Salvia, an Anise Sage, is a highly sought after nectar plant for hummingbirds and may also be visited by larger butterflies. This easy and reliable perennial Salvia slowly spreads by rhizomes to create a tall groundcover like effect. Provide a full to mostly sunny position in an average to well-drained moderately fertile soil for maximum vigor and flower production. Item# 808

Large clusters of lightly fragrant, pale blue flowers held on 12-14" high stems are produced in early spring to early summer, depending on your zone, attracting mainly butterflies, long-tongued bees, and sphinx and hummingbird moths. Blue Buttons' Lapham's Phlox, is a selection of Phlox laphamii, a.k.a. P. divaricata var. laphamii, that is reported to have a slightly longer flowering season, petals that are without clefts and are rounded to pointed, wider foliage and may have a slight preference for shade above that of typical Woodland Phlox. This is an evergreen to semi-evergreen, slowly spreading native perennial that makes a choice groundcover in average moist to moist, well-drained, fertile soils preferably rich in organic matter. Provide shade during the heat of the day such as morning sun, filtered shade, and deciduous shade seems to be about perfect as they receive sunlight during the majority of the growing season but are shaded by the time summer arrives. Item# 12878

Flat topped clusters of bluish-purple Ageratum-like flowers are born atop sturdy stems in summer and sometimes into fall. Blue Mistflower is a rhizomatous colonizing native perennial that may be best suited to naturalistic settings or among larger growing plants as a tall groundcover. Excellent for pollinators, particularly native bees. Item# 10458

Large clusters of lightly fragrant lavender-blue flowers are produced in early spring and are held well above the deep dark green foliage. Blue Moon Phlox was selected for its clusters of large full flowers and vigor. This is an excellent choice for lightly shaded gardens or as a groundcover under deciduous trees. Provide shade during the hottest portion of the day in hot summer climates and well-drained soil rich in organic matter. Easy and reliable once established. The flowers provide early spring nectar to butterflies and other pollinators. Item# 11217

Light blue to blue-purple 1/4" wide nectar-rich flowers adorn the tall narrow indeterminate flower spikes from spring to frost to year round under warm tropical conditions. Native to Florida and much of the tropical Americas, Blue Porterweed, Stachytarpheta jamaicensis, has smoother lighter green foliage and generally grows wider than tall whereas the other Blue Porterweed, Stachytarpheta cayennensis or S. urticifolia, has more rugose or quilted deeper green glossier foliage with a typically upright habit. Porterweeds are excellent pollinator plants where they attract a continuous menagerie of aerial acrobats from spring until frost. This a heat and sunloving tropical to tender perennial that can be added to gardens and landscapes or plant them in containers to draw the pollinators in for upclose viewing. Blue Porterweed is also a caterpillar host plant for the Tropical Buckeye butterfly. Item# 12046

Pale blue frilly 1 to 1-1/2" wide daisies with a nicely contrasting yellow center are produced beginning in late spring and through summer often continuing into fall atop a neat mound of deep green foliage. The Blue Star Japanese Aster is a tidy under-used clump-forming perennial selected for its exceptionally long flowering season that is sure to add delightful color to the garden and landscape but it also makes easy and exceptionally long-flower container specimens. The flowers are sure to attract a multitude of pollinators. Provide a full to mostly sunny site with a well-drained soil for optimum vigor and flowering. Heat, sun, and humidity tolerant. Images courtesy of North Creek Nurseries, all rights reserved. Item# 11682

Spikes of 1/2" long, tubular, two-lipped, deep azure blue flowers have a contrasting bright white bee-guide and throat are produced in late spring or early summer and continue into fall atop the tall wispy stems. The nectar rich flowers attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Bog Sage, Salvia uliginosa, is a rhizomatous, herbaceous perennial producing a multitude of tall thin wiry stems that can reach 5-6' high in rich fertile moist soils but tends to remain shorter, 3-4' high or so, under average moist garden conditions, which it can tolerate quite well, despite its name, once fully established. it tends to be more restrained under drier conditions as well. Its long flowering season and ease of care have garnered Bog Sage the RHS Award of Garden Merit. It can tolerate full sun in the cooler portions of its range but may be at its best where it receives a little midday shade in areas with hot summer climates. Item# 12906

The narrow deep green to bluish-green foliage is adorned with broad creamy white vareiegation down the center of each recurving leaf. In typical Airplane Plant fashion, Bonnie produces a multitude of miniature plantlets along creamy white arching stems eventually developing into a dense mass of foliage that is perfectly suited for small to medium-sized hanging baskets and containers. It will do best where it receives bright indirect sunlight in an average moist, fertile soil. We have long been in love with this cultivar not only for the name it shares with our mother but also for its neat dense and unusual habit. Easy and carefree and perfectly suited for shaded porches, patios, atriums, and gardens or enjoy it indoors with bright to medium indirect sunlight. In warm tropical climates Airplane Plants may be utilized as shady groundcovers. Item# 12461

Clusters of soft lavender pink, nicely fragrant flowers are borne in loose clusters in spring. The rich dark green, narrow foliage is nearly immune to powdery mildew! A vigorous ground-covering perennial that flowers over an extended period and attracts butterflies. Item# 3062.