Native Plants
Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?
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Friday - August 02, 2013
From: Birmingham, AL
Region: Southeast
Topic: Groundcovers
Title: Evergreen groundcover for full sun in Alabama
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
Mr. Smartyplants, can you suggest a native, evergreen, full-sun groundcover that might thrive in zone 8a? We hope to find a mass planting that would look good beside Heuchera villosa 'autumn bride,' in nearby shade. This is for a memorial site. Thank you so much!ANSWER:
There are not too many possibilities but here are a few. All are listed as evergreen or semi-evergreen, will grow in the sun and all grow in Alabama:
Antennaria plantaginifolia (Plantain-leaf pussytoes) Here is more information from Missouri Botanical Garden, Kansas Native Plants and Illinois Wildflowers.
Coreopsis lanceolata (Lanceleaf coreopsis) Here is more information from Ohio State University and Illinois Wildflowers.
Dryopteris cristata (Crested woodfern) Here is more information from North Carolina State University.
Packera aurea (Golden ragwort) Here is more information from Missouri Botanical Garden.
Salvia lyrata (Lyreleaf sage) Here is more information from Floridata.
Be sure to read the requirements for each plant under GROWING CONDITIONS on its species page and compare them to your site to check for compatibility.
From the Image Gallery
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Plants to grow between concrete pavers on the patio in Rock Hill, SC..
December 31, 2014 - I have a patio of concrete pavers, about 2 feet by 2 feet each. It gets very little sun. No morning sun at all. The zoysia grass we have between the pavers now does not grow well at all. Do you ha...
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June 03, 2010 - I would like to know what kind of flowering plant would grow good in sand? A short plant.
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May 20, 2009 - Dear Mr. Smarty Plants,
I am looking for a ground cover for a slippery slope. Do you have any suggestions?
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Low-growing plants for a slope in the shade
July 08, 2013 - Hello,
I'm looking for native plants to put in the shade (within the drip-line) of a well-established American Holly. The area gets deep shade; it is also on a very gentle north-exposure slope. We ...
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