Regional Picks: Tough Ground Covers – Northwest

1. ‘Elfin’ Creeping Thyme

Name:Thymus serpyllum‘Elfin’

USDA hardiness zones:4 to 9

Size:1 to 2 inches tall and 4 to 8 inches wide

Conditions : Full sunlight ; well - drain soil

The aromatic evergreen plant foliation of ‘ Elfin ’ sneak thyme is handsome in every season . Along a pathway , the dull flatness of tightly packed folio can artistically outline the spaces between stepping - stones , but the plant works equally well cascading over a rock wall . I look forwards to the few weeks in summer when ‘ Elfin ’ cover itself with miniature flush . This thyme can withstand fair hard understructure dealings .

2. ‘Black Scallop’ Bugleweed

Name:Ajuga reptans‘Black Scallop’

Zones:3 to 9

Size:3 to 6 column inch tall and 3 pes ( or more ) astray

weather condition : Full sun to partial shade ; well - drained soil

The stunning glossy foliage of ‘ Black Scallop ’ bugle is so disconsolate that it appear almost black , even though it ’s really a dreary purple . This is one of my favourite companion perennial because , when used under tall plant , the dingy leaf complements almost everything . To keep this crawler from overstepping its bounds during its one-year spring jump , I snip back its rambunctious runner .

3. Blue Star Creeper

Name:Isotoma fluviatilis

Zones:5 to 9

Size:2 inches tall , diffuse indefinitely

Conditions : Full sun to fond tone ; moist , well - drained grime

It ’s hard for me to decide on my favorite flora for a flagstone course , but one industrial plant that consistently rise to the top is the charming blue star creeper . This tiny - leaved semievergreen works sparkles with star - shaped , sky blue flowers from late spring into summer . The plant slows down after its initial flush of flower and blush sporadically until descent . You ’ll want to site this diminutive perennial away from minuscule touchy plants and give it way to wander because it can bury some neighbors if left uncurbed .

4. Alpine Water Fern

Name:Blechnum penna-marina

Zones:7 to 10

Size:6 inches grandiloquent and 5 feet wide

Conditions : Partial shade ; moist , acid , well - drained soil

The favored position of this creeping evergreen plant fern is in a moist spot with adequate drain . aboriginal to the Southern Hemisphere , where it grows in alpine regions at 3,000 foot , alpine water fern thrives equally well in gardens at ocean level . The raw growing unfurls in warm coppery hue , which light up a fly-by-night corner before the frond mature to special K . This new spring maturation complements the flaccid greens of the newly egress foliage of western sword fern ( Polystichum munitum , Zones 3–8 ) .

Debbie Teashonowns the regional gardening website rainyside.com .

Photos:#1 and # 4 , courtesy of Debbie Teashon ; # 2 , Steve Aitken ; # 3 , courtesy of greatgardenplants.com

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Regional Picks: Tough Ground Covers - Northeast

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