Groundcovers

The rounded flower clusters open to a bright orange-yellow and quickly deepen into rich red tones. Gem™ Compact Orange Fire 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 just 8-10"H x 10-12"W. These versatile heat and sunloving plants can also be utilized for hanging baskets as well as in the garden and landscape. Due to their slow growth rate, the Lantana in this series may not be suitable for cool summer climates. 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# 13121

The 2021 Classic City Award winner in the UGA Trial Gardens! The rounded flower clusters open yellow, fade into peach, and then deepen into rich pink tones. Gem™ Compact Pink Opal 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 just 8-10"H x 10-12"W. These versatile heat and sunloving plants can also be utilized for hanging baskets as well as in the garden and landscape. Due to their slow growth rate, the Lantana in this series may not be suitable for cool summer climates. 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# 13122

The rounded flower clusters open a sunny yellow, fade into pastel peachy and apricot shades, and finally into soft rosy pink tones. Gem™ Compact Rose Quartz 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 just 8-10"H x 10-12"W. These versatile heat and sunloving plants can also be utilized for hanging baskets as well as in the garden and landscape. Due to their slow growth rate, the Lantana in this series may not be suitable for cool summer climates. 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# 13123

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

Dense pyramidal shaped clusters composed of hundreds of small bright golden yellow flowers are produced atop short sturdy 18-24" high stems in mid to late summer well into fall attracting a variety of pollinators. Golden Fleece Autumn or Heart-Leaved Goldenrod, a selection of Solidago sphacelata, is a compact rhizomatous perennial adorned with heart-shaped foliage that makes an easy and informal groundcover eventually spreading to about 30" wide in 3-5 years. Discovered as a chance seedling in an Eden, North Carolina garden and introduced by Richard Lighty of  Mt. Cuba Center in 1985. It won the 1994 Internationale Stauden-Union’s Award for an outstanding new plant in Switzerland. Golden Fleece was also one of the few 4 out of 4-star rated cultivars in the 2000 Chicago Botanic Gardens trials and proved to have excellent resistance to both rust and powdery mildew. Provide a full sun to partly shaded site in an average moist to dryish, average to well-drained, fertile soil. Images courtesy of North Creek Nurseries, Inc., all rights reserved. Item# 13180

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

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. 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

Spikes of 1" blue to purple tubular flowers that are tipped with white on the lower two petals are produced over an extended period beginning in mid to late spring into late summer if moisture is adequate. Heartleaf Skullcap, Scuttelaria ovata, is a shade-loving rhizomatous groundcovering evergreen native perennial with heart-shaped foliage that emerges a purplish red to burgundy and maintains a tinge of that coloration even at maturity. This species is widely distributed throughout much of central and eastern US and extends into both Canada and northern Mexico. Heartleaf Skullcap is tolerant of dry shade once well-established which is one of the more difficult combinations for plants to thrive in. It will be most apt to flower longest under average moisture conditions. The flowers attract hummingbirds, butterflies, and other garden beneficials. Images courtesy of North Creek Nurseries, all rights reserved. Item# 11979

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

Katy Dwarf Pink Mexican Petunia is a lovely dwarf perennial that produces loads of pink trumpet shaped flowers tucked in among the narrow dark green glossy foliage from spring to frost on a compact low mounding plant. This durable perennial makes a great border, groundcover, or makes a great addition to containers. The flowers of Ruellias attract bees, butterflies, and even the occassional hummingbird although they would not be as likely to get this near the ground. Where winters experience freezing temperatures (zones 8A-9B) this tough little tropical perennial may freeze back to near ground level but generally readily returns in spring once soil temperatures begin to warm. Item# 917

White Katie Dwarf Mexican Petunia is a lovely dwarf perennial that produces loads of pure white trumpet shaped flowers that shine brightly against the dark green glossy foliage from spring to frost on a compact low mounding plant. This durable perennial makes a great border, groundcover, or makes a great addition to containers. 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.