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Perennial ground cover for shade.

VegemightVegemight Posts: 44
in Problem solving

I've posted about my problem front lawn. I've oversown it but one corner is particularly shady and I'm not confident it will 'take'.

I may have to go to plan B so I'd be grateful for suggestions as to suitable ground cover. The frontage is open plan bounded by paths.No boundary walls.The 'patch' forms one corner and is about 10 sq. metres. Basically I'd like to cover it with something quick and easy to maintain and presentable all year round. It would need to be low-growing. Appreciate some suggestions

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Posts

  • pansyfacepansyface Posts: 21,898

    Sorry, don't know what kind of soil you have but if it is neutral to alkaline you could plant Epimedium. They have thin but tough heart shaped leaves on 30 to 40cms wiry stems. The leaves stay on the plant all year and are either green or copper coloured in winter. They are best cut down in spring so that the red or yellow flowers can be appreciated. Clump forming in a nice way -  a pheasant built an invisible nest in one of ours - and dependable.

    Apophthegm -  a big word for a small thought.
    If you live in Derbyshire, as I do.
  • CeresCeres Posts: 2,276

    Sweet woodruff grows in shade but it is a thug and needs to be given strict boundaries.

  • Lou12Lou12 Posts: 1,149

    I just planted Leucothoe walteri 'zeblid' for shade groundcover in a tricky spot, I am loving it. It is evergreen but has wonderful bronze/red leaves in autumn and is a real beauty in all seasons, is a creeper and 50 cms max height according to the blurb on the label.

    I'm in love with it. Needs acid soil though.

  • VoyagerxpVoyagerxp Posts: 646

    VIOLA labradorica 'Purpurea' is a good ground cover plant that loves shade.

     

    http://www.perennials.com/plants/viola-labradorica.html

  • Lou12Lou12 Posts: 1,149

    Gaulteria procumbens? I just planted loads I got from Morrisons in autumn for £1 each and they are already creeping everywhere, evergreen, flowers and berries, very pretty all year round.

    Low growing ferns.

  • ButtercupdaysButtercupdays Posts: 4,407

    Pachysandra Terminalis and Cornus Canadensis. Both evergreen with white flowers, the first has glossy leaves, the Cornus has more interesting flowers and red berries in Autumn. Both like shade, some moisture, the Cornus prefers acid or neutral soil.

  • VegemightVegemight Posts: 44

    Thanks all, I'll google a few and have a look.

  • Joyce21Joyce21 Posts: 15,489

    Long Acre Plants for Shade have a lovely, evergreen, low growing white geranium. Their website has plenty of choice. Plants arrive within 2 days and are fairly large and in excellent condition.

    SW Scotland
  • LeifUKLeifUK Posts: 573

    As said Gaultheria procumbens is nice, very low growing with nice red berries in spring. It tastes of root beer. It is surviving in my clay soil. 

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