Forum home› Garden design

tough location for plants to grow

jamesgoss57jamesgoss57 Posts: 2
in Garden design
Hi There
I live in British Columbia Canada, weather much like Seattle.
On the side of the house I have a strip that runs along the sidewalk that is approx. 1 1/2ft wide. Right now we have Perry Winkle that doesn't do very good.
I would like to plant something else that would thrive there.
It only gets direct sun approx. 1hr per day.
We like the Perry Winkle as it has small flowers and stays very well in control.
So something like that for ground cover is what we are looking for.
Thanks
James

Posts

  • FireFire Posts: 18,018
    If you want a low level, shade loving ground cover, the Sweet Woodruff does well and covers space fairly fast. Is the area pretty dry?
  • Mark56Mark56 Posts: 1,653
    There are quite a few dry shade tolerant hardy geraniums
  • DampGardenManDampGardenMan Posts: 1,054
    I've found woodruff to be a thug. I've spent a lot of time trying to get rid of the stuff!

    Shade-loving geraniums (e.g. G. nodosum, try to get the white variety as this shows up best in shade) are just the ticket, in my opinion.

    Pachysandra is also supposed to be good for ground cover in shade, though I've no personal experience of it, so not sure how dry a soil it will tolerate.
  • jamesgoss57jamesgoss57 Posts: 2
    been away reason for late response.
    The sweet woodruff will it be contained if locked in by walkway or is it a creeper?
    The area doesn't have to be dry, the garden hose is right there and my wife likes to over water things.
  • [Deleted User][Deleted User] Posts: 0
    The user and all related content has been deleted.
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 29,818
    For variety of form and foliage I would consider adding some ajuga reptans - green, purple or variegated leaves and short stems of blue flowers in late spring/early summer.  Some heucheras such as the metallica series might be OK but not the softer leaved caramel and lime leafed versions.   

    Geranium macrorhizum has scented foliage which turns red for winter and then white, pink or deeper pink flowers depending on variety.  Alchemilla mollis should be OK too and milleum effusum Aureum for grassy foliage to blow in the breeze or carex Ice Dance if you want something stiffer.  This last can become a thug in soft, moist soil but will be more restrained in dry shade.

    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing." - George Bernard Shaw
  • FireFire Posts: 18,018
    My geraniums died because the area was too dry. I moved them and they took off.
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 29,818
    Depends on the geranium.  Some want sun, some prefer shade, some need moisture and some cope with dry but even those need careful watering in till they get established.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing." - George Bernard Shaw
  • hogweedhogweed Posts: 4,053
    I have Pachysandra in my garden. All I can say about it is that it is green. And particularly slow growing. 
    I would suggest London's Pride, a saxifrage that is low growing, evergreen, spreading, easy to control and flowers. Will survive quite happily in partial shade. 
    'Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement' - Helen Keller
Sign In or Register to comment.