This evergreen herbaceous perennial plant grows to a height of between 8” and 31” (20 – 80 cm) and spreads very quickly.

Ground cover Spotted Dead Nettle plants thrive in moist soil that is out of direct sunlight. Different cultivars of this plant have dark green, silver, purple, or gold-colored leaves. This shade-loving plant produces pink, purple, or white helmet-shaped flowers. Spotted Dead Nettle has many cultivars including some with variegated leaves (meaning they have more than one color) and different colored flowers. Spotted Dead Nettle is an excellent ground cover plant because of its flowers and its spreading growth habit. Spotted Dead Nettle ( Lamium maculatum) is a flowering type of low growing ground cover plant that thrives in the shade. The plant in the picture is the Lamium maculatum cultivar. Ground Cover Plants for Shade (With Pictures and Names) – Identification Guide Spotted Dead Nettleĭeadnettle is a flowering ground cover plant for shade with many cultivars. You will also learn about the best plants that flower, are drought resistant, or just provide evergreen cover in shady areas. In this article, you will find out about some of the best low-maintenance ground cover plants that grow well in the shade. The reasons to use plants that provide good ground cover in the shade is to help control weeds, prevent erosion, or landscape areas of your garden where other plants don’t thrive. Generally, ground cover plants for shade are hardy types of creeping or spreading plants that are green all year long. Flowering ground cover plants can transform pathways, accent garden features, or grow where there is little sun. There are many varieties of ground cover plants for any type of garden. For extra color, you can also choose ground cover plants that flower in the spring, summer, or fall. Creeping, clumping, or trailing plants are good landscaping solutions that generally require little maintenance. Ground cover plants for the shade help to provide greenery to areas where other plants don’t grow well. Many types of ground cover plants are perfect for planting in the shade. They may also damage trees and structures with their aggressive growth.Email Pinterest Facebook Twitter Linkedin Invasive ground covers smother other plants, including native varieties. The issue with these plants is that they are difficult to control and a pain to eradicate. Problems Associated with Invasive Ground Cover PlantsĪs you might expect, invasive ground covers proliferate rapidly, soon taking over a section of a garden, then a whole yard if you’re not careful. These days, most nurseries know not to stock these creepers, but be wary of species marketed as “vigorous.” Their seeds disperse unintentionally through human movement, as well as on animal bodies.īesides seeds, invasive plants use underground roots and rhizomes and aboveground stolons to extend their reach. It became apparent that they were not good choices for home gardens, but, by then, the damage was done. These plants, often native to Europe or Asia, were often planted in North America as ornamentals. Reading plant labels and doing a little online research ahead of plant purchasing can save you a lot of time and aggravation later. While growing ferns indoors adds unique appeal, planting ferns as ground cover in the yard is often not recommended, as many species are considered invasive. They can also be challenging to remove completely. No matter what types of plants you want to add to the yard, ensure that you stay away from very invasive shrubs, annuals, perennials, and non-native species or they will take over your space with little effort. Although these plants often have attractive qualities, their aggressive nature means that they’re generally not worth the risk. It’s essential to educate yourself about invasive plants so that you know which species to avoid and why. Mexican Evening Primrose (Oenothera berlandieri) – A Night-Blooming Invasive Ground Cover.Bishop’s Weed (Aegopodium podagraria) – A Leafy Invasive Ground Cover.Myrtle (Myrtus communis) – A Self-Fertilizing Invasive Ground Cover.Creeping Thyme (Thymus serpyllum) – A Fragrant Invasive Ground Cover.Japanese Pachysandra (Pachysandra terminalis).Problems Associated with Invasive Ground Cover Plants.

Shade ground cover