Groundcovers

Clusters of fragrant pure white flowers are produced atop sturdy 15-20" high stems in mid to late spring providing a feast of nectar for butterflies and hummingbirds. Minnie Pearl Phlox, a selection of our native Phlox caroliniana, begins flowering earlier than Garden Phlox, Phlox paniculata, and is an easy slowly spreading, groundcovering perennial with excellent disease resistance. This plant was discovered along a Mississippi roadside by Karen Partlow and was introduced by Tony Avant of Plant Delights Nursery in 2003. With its easy and reliable nature it has quickly become an enduring native perennial for the garden and landscape as well as part of more naturalistic settings like meadows, prairies, and of course roadsides. Item# 12311 

The large lemony yellow, lightly fragrant, cupped flowers can reach up to 5" across and open from long showy pointed buds that are often tinged red with flowers opening in the evening and closing up the following morning. The flowers are held against a contrasting foil of dark green to gray green, narrow, glossy foliage and the plants are pollinated by Sphinx moths that are sometimes confused with hummingbirds. The Missouri Evening Primrose, Oenothera macrocarpa or O. missouriensis, is one of the most recognizable US native perennial wildflowers and has long been a desirable garden perennial for its showy flowers, toughness, and long season of flowering that can begin as early as midspring and may continue into mid and late summer. It is a clump-forming, taprooted perennial native to the west central US in Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, southern Arkansas, and of course Missouri that is typically found in very well-drained, gravelly to sandy to loamy, typically alkaline, often dry soils. For the gardener in other parts of the country it will need excellent drainage in a relatively dry soil in a full to mostly sunny site to do well and it does not like to be crowded. The flowers are followed by large winged seedpods that are sometimes dried and used in cut flower arrangements and the plants may reseed on exposed soils. Item# 12803

In spring to early summer clusters of rich rosy pink flowers are produced atop 18-24" high sturdy stems providing a feast for butterflies and hummingbirds. Morris Berd Smooth Phlox, a highly disease resistant selection of Phlox glaberrima or P. carolina depending on the source, is a clump-forming, slowly spreading rhizomatous native perennial that readily develops into a dense groundcovering mass of foliage and stems. This sunloving perennial is decidous in the colder portions of its range but may remain evergreen with purplish winter foliage in warmer winter regions. This easy to grow Phlox has proven to be highly resistant to powdery mildew and was in the top four in trials both at Mt. Cuba Center and the Chicago Botanic Gardens. Provide Morris Berd Phlox with a full to mostly sunny site in an average moist, fertile, well-drained soil for optimum vigor and flowering. Item# 12318

A butterfly and pollinator magnet and the standard in Trailing Lantanas! This low growing, groundcovering Lantana produces an endless display of deep golden yellow flowers from late spring to fall. The clusters of brilliant yellow flowers positively shine against the glossy dark green foliage. New Gold Lantana rarely fruits and its mostly sterile pollen make this long popular selection a gardener and landscapers dream with its impressive flower power and reliability! New Gold creates a low maintenance colorful groundcover or use it as a spring to fall filler, spiller, or specimen for medium to large containers. Item # 3032.

Masses of 1" wide yellow-eyed bluish purple daisies absolutely cover this plant for weeks in late summer and fall. October Skies Aromatic Aster, a selection of Symphyotrichum oblongifolium, 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 and landscape. Prefers good to excellent drainage and a full to mostly sunny site. Caterpillar host: Field Crescent, Pearl Crescent, Texan Crescent, Roadside Checkerspot, Hoffman's Checkerspot, and American Lady. Item# 9913

Small clusters of unusual looking, funnel-shaped deep red flowers are tipped with contrasting white and green with the insides of the flowers being streaked and flecked with brown. The flowers are produced in early to midsummer atop 2-3' high stems and attract hummingbirds and other pollinators. The Parrot Lily, Alstroemeria psittacina, is an old pass-a-long heirloom perennial whose rhizomatous habit may be too aggressive for most garden settings but in the right location it makes an easy and rewarding informal groundcover. Alstroemerias prefer an average moist, fertile, well-drained soil and tend to be sturdiest where they receive atleast 4 hours of direct sunlight. *Where summers are hot, consider providing shade or filtered shade during the hottest part of the day. These also serve as long-lasting and popular fresh cut flowers. Item# 12831

The rounded flower clusters open a deep orange-yellow, deepen through orange tones, and mature to deep fuchsia attracting a variety of bees, butterflies, and other garden beneficials throughout the growing season. Passion Fruit Lantana is a trailing selection perfectly suited to hanging basket and container culture whether as specimens or in mixed company and will also make a statement in the garden and landscape as a groundcover or enmasse. These heat and sunloving plants are sure to provide continuous color from spring to frost. Provide a full to mostly sunny site in a fertile, average moist soil for optimum vigor and continuous flowering. Images courtesy of Ball Horticulture, Inc., all rights reserved. Item# 13310

What a surprise to any newcomer who encounters the unexpected delicious fragrance of this peppermint scented vine! Sure to be a conversation piece and a great addition to the fragrance garden. Item # 3037.

The large and showy, cupped, 2-4" wide pink and white full flowers of this Primrose make it one of the most desirable and recognizable members of its genus. The many common names attest to the affection that has been doted upon it over the years. Pink Ladies is a low growing colonizing, groundcover like perennial that flowers for an extended period beginning in mid spring with established plants producing a display of showy flowers well into summer under good conditions. Tolerant of a wide range of soil types this easy to establish perennial readily reseeds making this a great choice for naturalistic settings, roadside plantings, and meadows. Attracts a variety of pollinators. Item# 10911.

Hundreds of Japanese-lantern like buds open to display the unusual, downward facing, deep rosy pink flowers with strappy petals, that lighten toward their tips and are red speckled on the inside, are produced in late spring and early to midsummer with some repeat into fall. The flowers are held in large clusters of up to 50 flowers from the upright flower stems. Pink Octopus Japanese Bellflower, an unusually heat and humidity tolerant Campanula hybrid, is a clump forming, slowly spreading, 12-16" high perennial with feathery edged deep green foliage that makes an easy groundcover in full sun to part shade conditions. Provide an average moist soil in full sun but tolerant of drier soils in shaded areas once fully estagblished. Soils should be well-drained for optimum growth and flowering. Pink Octopus Bellflower was recommended for green roofs by Jimmy Turner while he was at the Dallas Arboretum and it performed quite well in their Perennials for Purgatory trials. Photos courtesy of Terra Nova Nurseries, Inc., www.terranovanurseries.com, all rights reserved. Item# 12861

The extra large (for a Phlox) rich pink 1-1/4" wide flowers are centered by a contrasting dark purplish-red eye which is in turn surrounded by a narrow white halo all atop a dense groundcovering mound of rich green foliage. The butterfly attracting flower show of Pink Profusion Phlox begins in late winter to early spring and may continue for up to 8 weeks and at peak flowering the foliage may be nearly completely hidden. This is a dense clump forming slowly spreading hybrid Phlox that is well suited to the front of the border in the garden and landscape. Naturally summer dormant, consider part shade in hot summer climates. Provide a full sun to partly shaded site in a well-drained, humus rich, fertile soil for optimum vigor and flowering. Images courtesy of Chicagoland Grows®, Inc., all rights reserved. Item# 12283

This wonderful low groundcover produces dense cone-shaped, upright flower spikes with red stems in mid to late spring, with some flowering later in the season, and are composed of tiny ball-shaped shrimp-pink buds that open to display the tiny white flowers. The flowers are held just above the palmate bluish-green to green foliage with each lobe displaying a black to burgundy main vein. In fall and under shade, the foliage becomes a deep shiny black and in sunnier sites it takes on deep bronze tones. Pink Skyrocket Foam Flower is an easy and rewarding low, stoloniferous (think Strawberry plants), semi-evergreen groundcover that is shade tolerant and will likely need shade in areas with hot summer climates. They will prefer a moist soil with ample organic matter and average or better drainage. The flowers are reported to be fragrant and are likely pollinated by smaller bees. Dr. Allen Armitage in his Herbaceous Perennial Plants, 4th Edition states that he "puts these plants on the A list for shady areas." Pink Skyrocket Foam Flower is an RHS Award of Garden Merit winner. Photos courtesy of Terra Nova Nurseries, Inc., www.terranovanurseries.com, all rights reserved. Item# 12872

Clusters of 2" wide primrose yellow fragrant 4-petalled flowers are produced in mid to late spring into early summer atop the low growing spreading stems adorned with deep green fuzzy foliage of this native perennial wildflower. Prairie Sundrops, a.k.a. Meadow Evening Primrose, is a dayflowering species of Evening Primrose with a low somewhat bushy habit and it does spread somewhat by rhizomes which is great for naturalistic settings like meadows, prairies and roadside plantings and it is reportedly relatively easy to control in garden settings as well. An adaptable native perennial that is tolerant of wet to dry soils including clay but it seems to prefer an acidic pH. The flowers attract butterflies and larger native bees. Item# 11662

Hundreds of 1" wide lavender-blue, semi-double daisies with a showy yellow eye literally cover these plants for weeks beginning in late summer and continuing into mid fall. Professor Anton Kippenburg New York Aster or Michaelmas Daisy is a clump forming, densely branching, perennial growing to just 12-18" high and wide and while this is a small growing plant it never seems to lack for flower power once late summer arrives. Dr. Allen Armitage in his Herbaceous Perennial Plants, 4th edition states that "This excellent cultivar has withstood the test of time." No pinching or staking is required to enjoy these beauties. Use these perennials where you would normally buy Chrysanthemums whether as part of the perennial border, in the landscape, or even as container plants. The flowers attract bees, butterflies, hover flies, and numerous other garden beneficials. Item# 12018

Clusters of fuchsia pink, 1 1/2", tubular blooms are borne throughout most of the year on this beautiful tropical trailing perennial. Glossy green slightly quilted foliage on arching to trailing stems. Great for hanging baskets, mixed containers, or in the front of the garden. Attracts Hummingbirds. Item# 862.

Small clusters of lightly fragrant purple and lavender flowers are born from summer to frost on this easy and adaptable perennial. With a low, naturally spreading to weeping habit Purple Trailing Lantana makes an excellent choice for the garden or as a spiller in mixed containers. Excellent for butterflies, bees and other pollinators. Hardy and considered to be non-invasive. Item# 10506.

Masses of 1" wide yellow-eyed bluish purple daisies absolutely cover this plant for weeks in late summer and fall. Raydon's Favorite Aromatic Aster, a selection of Symphyotrichum oblongifolium and the big brother of the slightly more compact October Skies, is a medium-sized, herbaceous, densely mounding shrub-like perennial that matures to about 3' x 3' at the time of flowering. 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 and landscape. The flowers attract a variety of pollinators but seems to be especially popular with bees. Caterpillar host: Field Crescent, Pearl Crescent, Texan Crescent, Roadside Checkerspot, Hoffman's Checkerspot, and American Lady. Prefers good to excellent drainage and a full to mostly sunny site for optimum vigor and flowering. Named the 2016 Plant of the Year by the Garden Club of America and selected for the 2003 Theodore Klein Award. Images courtesy of North Creek Nurseries, Inc., all rights reserved. Item# 13164