Alternative Groundcovers

The past few years we have been removing some of the traditional groundcovers from our site and planting newer varieties. When we started doing the Jeepers Creepers brand of plants we did find a lot of plants that were down low and fun to grow as the slogan says. Here are a few that have been more than just a little exciting. All three have been used in places where salt has been thrown, and they've all worked very well. Some have had snow piled very deep above them. Most notably the Mazus reptans. In fact, we had a customer slip around a corner in our entrance and drive right over the Mazus. So not only is it tolerant of snow piles, but heavy trucks as well. The customer was not hurt in the slip up. But I did ask him to drive a little slower.
Mazus reptans

This is one that I wasn't so sure about the first year we planted it. We had it at the bottom of a hill and as it turns out, the Voles found the roots delicious. So while the plant never really succeeded, it wasn't its own fault. So after being moved to the area you see in the picture, it has flourished. It does exactly what I ask of it, creeping right up to the drive way in one direction and butting up to the rock in the other. The white you see in the picture is from the Zumi Crabapples dropping their flowers, not the cultivar 'Alba'
Veronica 'Waterperry Blue'

I've been a fan of this for years now it seems. This is an area that used to be Euonymus fortunei 'Coloratus'. That was removed so that we could do some promoting of my favorite groundcover. This was done as a monoculture, but if you've seen any pictures from years prior, you'll know that I like to put Amsonia and Anemone sylvestris in the middle of it so that it adds height and textural differences. This plant has proven to bloom twice a year if irrigated. It will not bloom again in the fall in drought years unless given some moisture.

Potentilla neumanniana 'Nana'While not always as bright and cheery as it is today, this has also proven to be a great plant. Native to the arctic circle, this creeper actually forms small undulating mounds of lush foliage. I think this plant is the best substitute for the invasive Polygonum reynoutria 'Nana', that many people still inquire about. It can also withstand the horrible areas like parking lot islands, and is very salt tolerant.

Hope you enjoyed this weeks segment. It seems as though Spring is back today as the temperatures have plummeted, so stay warm and until next time, have a great day!