Groundcovers

The rounded flower clusters open to a bright orange-yellow and quickly deepen into rich red tones. Gem™ Ruby Lantana was developed with container culture in mind where they will provide spring to fall color and nectar for pollinators all on a compact rounded plant growing to about 10-14" high and wide. These versatile heat and sunloving plants can also be utilized for hanging baskets as well as in the garden and landscape . Provide a full to mostly sunny site in a fertile, average moist soil for optimum vigor and continuous flowering. Images courtesy of Danziger, all rights reserved. Item# 13120

The large 1-1/2" long tubular color-changing flowers are produced in spike-like clusters from the leaf axils and start out yellow and fade through orange into red tones and are held on 3-4'H sturdy stems. The flowers are produced during the spring, where plants are not frozen to the ground, and/or in fall just in time for migrating hummingbirds. The Giant Cigar Plant, Cuphea micropetala, is a herbaceous, slowly spreading, upright to branching perennial cloaked in dark green glossy foliage. Considered by many to be the most reliably cold hardy Cuphea species surviving into zone 7B if provided a breathable winter mulch. It typically spreads stoloniferously and via rhizomes but is not considered invasive or aggressive. As with basically all Cupheas, the Giant Cigar is heat and sunloving and will benefit from average moisture, in fertile soils with average or better drainage. Where not hardy it can easily be maintained as a medium to medium-large container plant. Item# 429

Clusters of bright golden yellow upward facing daisies sit atop sturdy stems and emerge from rosettes of finely cut medium green foliage in early(8B) to midspring(6), depending on your cold hardiness zone. The flowers attract bees and other pollinators. Golden Groundsel is rhizomatous native perennial that readily develops into a groundcover and is tolerant of moist shaded conditions as well as in rain gardens, at the edges of ponds or other perennial water sources, or use it in naturalistic settings, roadsides, meadows and prairies. For optimum vigor this winter growing perennial prefers a consistently moist soil but can tolerate average moisture where it receives more shade. Item# 11803

Bright creamy white and bluish green variegated foliage adorn the trailing stems and act as a contrasting foil for the royal purple, saucer shaped flowers that are produced throughout the growing season and may be followed by decorative bright red berries. The foliage alone makes it worth growing as a specimen plant or use it as a bright spiller or thrilling groundcover beneath larger plants. An especially beautiful form of Variegated Paraguayan Night Shade, the Great Clorox Disaster can also be trained onto a trellis and as a tree form. Item# 11039

The mounding to trailing stems are adorned with beautifully variegated rounded foliage that is brushed with a patch of creamy white to pale yellow at its base that creates a stark contrast with the patches of burgundy, purple, and magenta all edged in a narrow band of blue-green. Great Falls™ Iguazu Coleus is a compact well-branched selection that is perfectly suited to create colorful hanging baskets, window boxes, specimen container plants, as a filler or spiller in mixed container gardens, as well as in the garden and landscape. This was the top-rated Coleus in 2017 trials at Penn State receiving a 4.96 out of a possible 5! Great Falls™ Iguazu Coleus is suitable for both shade and full sun conditions and it will prefer a moist to average moist, fertile, average to well-drained soil. Item# 12406

Flat topped clusters of bluish-purple Ageratum-like flowers are borne atop short sturdy stems that are adorned with finely cut and softly textured, medium green foliage. The flowers attract loads of butterflies as well as other pollinators and Gregg's Mist Flower flowers most heavily beginning in late summer and lasting through fall. Its rhizomatous though non-aggressive nature makes this durable and drought resistant perennial an excellent addition to the garden where it can be utilized as a groundcover as well as in naturalistic settings. It does seem to prefer a little midday and afternoon shade, especially in the hottest summer climates and in dryer settings. Caterpillar host: Rawson's Metalmark. Item# 10811.

Dense clusters of dainty white to lavender tubular flowers top the hairy blue-green to green fragrant foliage in summer. The small nectar rich flowers of Hairy Mountain Mint attract a wide variety of pollinators, and are especially important to native bees. This is a rhizomatous native perennial that will readily spread especially in moist soils. Hairy Mountainmint, Pycnanthemum verticillatum var. pilosum, is native to the northcentral US, mainly Illinois, Missouri, Indiana, Arkansas, eastern Tennessee, eastern Kentucky and as far south as northern Mississippi. It is typically found in moist, calcareous soils but can tolerate drier sites where it is less likely to spread aggressively. Item# 11763

Huge 4-6" bright yellow, green-eyed daisies are held on4-6'+ sturdy stems and produce an extended summer display. A reliable and vigorous clump forming perennial that is adored by butterflies and pollinators of all shapes and sizes. The rich green deeply cut foliage is disease and pest resistant. Deadhead spent flowers to extend the flowering season well into fall. Appreciates ample moisture when in growth. One of our favorites! Item# 9366.

Perennial of the Year in 2016, Missouri Botanic Gardens Plant of Merit, and a RHS Award of Garden Merit winner! As per Allan Armitage's Herbaceous Perennial Plants, 4th Edition "It has graced European gardens since the beginning of the American Civil War and is still the most popular and highly sought after white anemone today.". The clusters of 2-3" wide, pure white, upward facing flowers with yellow eyes are held high above the mass of deep green foliage on sturdy wiry, 3-4' high stems in fall. The flowers of this easy heirloom attract bees and other pollinators. Honorine Jobert Anemone is an easy to grow, clump forming, slowly spreading, shade tolerant perennial whose mass of 12" high, medium textured, deep green, Astilbe-like foliage makes a nice accent or groundcover even when the plants are not in flower. Anemones make good companions for spring flowering bulbs. Tough, easy, and reliable. Tolerant of *full sun in cool summer climates, elsewhere provide midday and afternoon shade or filtered shade. Provide an average moist, well-drained, fertile soil for optimum flowering and vigor. Images courtesy of Walter's Gardens, Inc., all rights reserved. Item# 12778

One of the daintiest of Hoyas with small olive green foliage and produces 1-2" clusters of tiny brick red flowers with pink centers. The foliage can vary from being heart-shaped to simple. When grown in full sun the leaves typically develop red margins. Grow in hanging baskets or on a small trellis. Item# 3090.

This plant covers up in 1" bright cherry red tubular flowers that are tipped in nicely contrasting sunny yellow and are sure to provide a feast of nectar for hummingbirds and other long-tongued pollinators. Hummingbird's Lunch Cuphea is a well-branched, naturally mounding plant to 24"H x 36"W that revels in the heat and sun of summer offering up a riot of continuous color for hanging baskets, window boxes, container specimens, in mixed container gardens as well as in the garden and landscape. This exciting new hybrid Cuphea has received top marks in trials across the US! Provide a full sun to part shade site in a well-drained, fertile soil for optimum vigor and flowering. Images courtesy of PlantHaven International, Inc., all rights reserved. Item# 12407

In summer arching spikes of showy green, flattened seed heads, reminiscent of fish hanging on a fishing pole, are produced which eventually fade to tan and remain showy until late winter or early spring. The seed heads flutter even in the slightest of breezes providing motion and interest for months. One of our most recognizable, useful, and adaptable native grasses, Inland Sea Oats, Chasmanthium latifolium, is a deciduous, small to medium-sized perennial that readily develops into a groundcover via both rhizomes and seed. Its shade and moisture tolerance lend it to use as a tallish groundcover in both full sun to lightly shaded, wet to average moist, naturalistic garden and landscape settings. The decorative seedheads are used both fresh and dried in cut flower arrangements and the foliage is utilized by the Northern Pearly-Eye, Salt and Pepper Skipper, Bell's Roadside Skipper, and the Bronzed Roadside Skipper butterflies. This rhizomatous native grass is widely distributed throughout the central and eastern US from near central and eastern Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas to Illinois, Indiana, and Pennsylvannia. Tough, adaptable, provides late summer, fall, and winter color, and it's deer resistant. Item# 13108

2-3" wide, coral red, double blossoms cover the stems of this low and spreading nearly groundcover-like Quince in late winter and early spring. Flowers may be followed by edible fragrant yellow tart fruit that may be best used for making jellies. The low spreading habit makes Iwai Nishiki Quince suitable for spilling over walls and hillsides or for the front of low maintenance landscapes. Like with all Quince, the stems with buds showing color can be used as cut flowers to bring a taste of spring indoors. Item# 10728.

An Allen Armitage 'no-brainer' perennial! The white full daisies are held atop and among the rich green foliage beginning in mid to late spring to early summer and continuing into fall. The nectar laden flowers are composed of multiple outer rows of white ray petals that have a light tinge of lavender surrounding a dense rounded mass of lemon tinged disc flowers. Japanese Aster, now classified as Aster iinumae previously Asteromea mongolica or Kalimeris mongolica, is a slowly spreading rhizomatous herbaceous bushy perennial growing to about 12-24"H x 18-24"W though some sources suggest that it may reach 36"H. This plant's reliability and flower power have garnered it a top spot among Dr. Armitage's list of "no-brainer" perennials. Provide a full sun to partly shaded site in average moist, average to well-drained, fertile soils for optimum vigor and flowering. Use this easy perennial in both the garden and landscape as a tall groundcover or specimen as well as for easy and free flowering container specimens. Caterpillar host: Field Crescent, Pearl Crescent, Texan Crescent, Roadside Checkerspot, Hoffman's Checkerspot, and American Lady.

Images courtesy of North Creek Nurseries, all rights reserved. Item# 13150

Loads of pink, trumpet-shaped flowers are tucked among and atop the narrow dark green foliage from spring to frost all on a low and compact plant. Flowers of the Mexican Petunia attracting bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. Katie Pink Dwarf Ruellia, a selection of R. tweediana or sometimes R. simplex, is a dwarf, root hardy, clump-forming, naturally evergreen tropical that is adorned in narrow deep green, sometimes tinged with purple or bronze tones, weeping foliage creating small individual mounds on their own similar to Liriope. Use this heat and sunloving, shade-tolerant perennial as a border, groundcover, as well as a filler in container gardens. In zones 8-9, Ruellia act like die-back perennials that freeze back and then return from their crown in spring once the weather and soil temperatures begin to properly warm. An insulative but breathable organic mulch will help to ensure their return in areas that experience freezing temperatures. Easy and reliable! Item# 917

Loads of white trumpet-shaped flowers are tucked among and atop the narrow dark to medium green foliage from spring to frost all on a low and compact plant. Flowers of the Mexican Petunia attracting bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. Katie White Dwarf Ruellia, a selection of R. tweediana or sometimes R. simplex, is a small and compact, root hardy, clump-forming, naturally evergreen tropical that is adorned in narrow medium to deep green weeping foliage creating small individual mounds on their own similar to Liriope. Use this heat and sunloving, shade-tolerant perennial as a border, groundcover, as well as a filler in container gardens. In zones 8-9, Ruellia act like die-back perennials that freeze back and then return from their crown in spring once the weather and soil temperatures begin to properly warm. An insulative but breathable organic mulch will help to ensure their return in areas that experience freezing temperatures. Easy and reliable! Item# 9284

Clusters of pinkish purple flowers with a white eye sit atop sturdy stems and are borne in late spring and early summer. Kim Carolina Phlox is a slowly spreading evergreen perennial well suited to the front of the garden and its nectar rich flowers attract a variety of pollinators including butterflies and hummingbirds. A disease and mildew resistant easy care native. Item# 10913.

Widely flaring white, up to 2" wide flowers are borne from spring through fall with flowers appearing in greatest abundance after rains. With arching to upright narrow strap-like foliage and excellent durability rainlilies make a good choice for the front of the perennial border. Use them in mass plantings to great effect. Multiplies readily and often readily reseed. Tolerant of sun or shade and wet or dry although the best flowering is likely to occur with a sunnier location. Item# 10934.

Dense pyramidal clusters composed of hundreds of soft lemony yellow flowers are produced on short sturdy 12-18" high stems in mid to late summer attracting a wide array of pollinators. Little Lemon Goldenrod is a hybrid selected for its flower power, uncommon color, compact well-branched habit, and good garden manners, in that it stays where you put it. This little goldenrod is a hardy and reliable, deer resistant, clump forming perennial that is compact and tidy enough for container culture but may be at its best in a garden or landscape setting. Provide a full sun to mostly sunny site in an average moist, well-drained, fertile soil for optimum vigor and flowering. Images courtesy of North Creek Nurseries, all rights reserved. Item# 10280

Large clusters of lightly fragrant very pale-blue flowers, that appear white from any distance, are produced in early spring and are held well above the deep dark green foliage. May Breeze Phlox was selected by renown Netherland landscape architect Piet Oudolf for its vigor and near white coloration. This Woodland Phlox  is an excellent choice for lightly to partially shaded gardens, as a groundcover under deciduous trees. Provide shade during the hottest portion of the day in hot summer climates and a well-drained soil rich in organic matter. Easy and reliable once established. The flowers provide early spring nectar to butterflies and other pollinators. Item# 12352

Medium pink trumpets with deep pink throats are born freely from late spring or early summer until first frost to year round under warm tropical conditions atop sturdy stems. Mayan™ Pink Ruellia or Mexican Petunia is a relatively new seed and pollen sterile selection that can spend more energy on flowering instead of adding unwanted seedlings to the garden. In many regards it is similar to but outperforms Purple Showers in overall flower power and disease resistance. It is also a tetraploid so the funnel-shaped flowers are slightly larger than your typical Mexican Petunias. The Mexican Petunia 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 tall groundcover in difficult sites. The flowers attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Provide Mexican Petunias with a full sun to part sun site in an average moist to wet, fertile soil for optimum vigor and flowering. Item# 12436