shrubs. Spreads
touches of red. Sprays Propagates by
well, but not
of delicate flowers in
division. Zones 3-
invasive. Dried
early to mid-spring.
8.
foliage may remain
Spreads by
showy through
underground runners
much of winter.
to form dense clumps
Features yellow
about 10 inches high.
flowers and small
leaves.
Hosta spp.
Deciduous perennial.
Best in rich moist
Usually grows for
Clumps of basal
soil, but tolerates
its wonderful
Hosta, plantain lily, foliage vary from 6
drought and poor
foliage than for its
funkia
inches to 3 ft. tall.
soil. Grow in
flowers. Use in
Leaves unusually
partial to full
shade garden, and
heavily veined, vary
shade. Cut off
along woodland
in color from bright
spent flower stalks, paths with ferns.
green to blue green.
which can look
Variegated cultivars
unsightly. Remove
available. Spikes of
frost killed foliage
lavender white, or
in late fall.
purple flowers from
Propagate by
mid-summer to fall.
division. Slugs
Increases by clump
may be a problem.
size.
Zones 4-9.
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Ground Cover
Description Maintenance
Comments
Plant Name
Iberis sempervirens
Evergreen sub shrub.
Grow in fertile,
Use in small scale
Narrow green leaves
well-drained soil in planting for
Candytuft, edging
on ascending
full sun or light
evergreen color
candytuft
branches from fine
shade. Shear
and flowers. Pretty
textured, 1 ft. tall,
heavily after
cascading over
sprawling masses.
blooming to
walls or on slops.
Circular flat-topped
increase plant
For groundcover
clusters cover plants
density. Propagate
use, avoid the
in spring.
by cutting or
lower growing
division. Space 1
cultivars such as
ft. apart. Zones 4-
‘Little Gem’ or
10.
‘Purity’. These
work best as
edging.
Juniperus spp.
Evergreen shrubs.
Grows best in full
Excellent for
Leaves usually sharp
sun in average to
erosion control.
Junipers
pointed, scale like,
well drained soil.
Nice cascading
varies in color from
Tolerates drought
over walls. Use in
blue-green to bright
and partial shade.
foreground of
green on creeping or
Increases by
foundation
low spreading
spreading
plantings or shrub
branches.
branches, which
borders.
may root. Space 2
or more feet apart.
Shore juniper
zones 6-9; creeping
juniper zones 2-10;
Japanese garden
juniper zones 5-9.
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Ground Cover
Description Maintenance
Comments
Plant Name
Euonymus fortunei
Evergreen vine.
Grow in sun or
Use as carpeting
Glossy, oval foliage
shade in average to plant for erosion
Winter creeper
varies in size and
moist soil.
control on banks.
color depending on
Propagate by
Looks attractive
the cultivar and may
cuttings or
cascading over a
be variegated or
division. Scale
wall. Avoid mass
purple tinted. Flowers insects may be a
planting variegated
are not showy. Vines
very serious
cultivars because
train and climb to 20
problem, apply
they may look too
ft.
dormant and
busy. Use dwarf
summer oil sprays.
winter creeper
Cut back to prevent between stepping-
climbing too high
stones.
into trees and
buildings. Zones 5-
10.
Galium odoratum
Semi evergreen to
Best in partial to
Great ground cover
deciduous perennial.
dense shade in rich
for woodland or
Sweet woodruff
Tiny, bright green
humus soil. Keep
shade garden.
leaves on 6-8 inches
moist but not wet.
Combines well
high stems form
Prevent from
with tall spring
extensive mats. Small invading lawn with bulbs and
star like white
edging. Propagate
woodland plants.
flowers dot the plants
by division. Space
Mass plant under
in spring. Spreads
1 ft. apart. Zones 4-
shrubs. Fine
rapidly by
8.
texture looks good
underground runners.
in small gardens.
Spreads less in
poor soil.
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Ground Cover
Description Maintenance
Comments
Plant Name
Hedera helix
Evergreen vine.
Best in moist soil
Lovely, fast
Shiny, dark green
in partial to full
growing ground
English Ivy
leaves with light
shade. Full sun in
covering for shady
green veins/ Vines
winter can cause
spots. Good for
climb and trail to 20
leaf burn. Trim
erosion control on
ft., rooting as they go. back two or three
slopes and trailing
Flowers form only on times a year with
over walls. Include
the bushy adult.
clippers to keep in
spring flowering
bounds. Prevent
bulbs among the
from climbing high ivy for seasonal
into trees.
color.
Propagate by
cuttings or
division. Space
cuttings 6 inches
apart. Zones 5-10.
Lamium maculatum
Deciduous to
Grow in full shade
Lamia strum makes
evergreen perennials.
to partial sun. Both the best ground
Spotted dead nettle
Toothed, heart
tolerate drought but cover for large-
shaped, glossy leaves
perform best in
scale use because it
Lamia strum
are usually
moist rich soil;
grows more rapidly
galeobdolon
variegated. Trailing
need more
than Lamium.
to semi-trailing stems moisture with more Combine Lamium
Yellow archangel,
to 1 ft. tall.
sun. Shear off
with other ground
golden dead nettle
flowers after they
covers for a
fade to encourage
tapestry effect.
bushy growth.
Useful for mass
Both spread by
planting under
root stems.
trees and shrubs
and under tall
perennials.
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Ground Cover
Description Maintenance
Comments
Plant Name
Laurentia fluviatilis
Evergreen perennial.
Grow in light
Tolerates light foot
(Isotoma fluviatilis)
Leaves a ¼ in. long
shade; tolerates full traffic; use as a
on mat-forming
sun if kept
lawn substitute or
Blue-star creeper;
creeping stems. Light
constantly moist
between stepping-
isotoma
blue star-shaped
but not soggy. Best stones. Makes a
flowers from spring
in loose, fast
fine under planting
through summer.
draining soil.
for shrubs. Big on
Increases by
west coast but will
spreading stems.
grow on east coast,
Space 6 inches
too.
apart. Zones 7-10.
Liriope muscari
Semi-evergreen
Grow in rich to
Mass plant green
perennials. Grassy
average, moisture
cultivars as a
Big blue lily turf
foliage may be dark
retentive soil in full formal ground
green or variegated.
sun to full shade.
cover or in place of
L. spicata
Spikes of flowers in
Somewhat drought
lawn; can’t
late summer. L.
tolerant but needs
withstand foot
Creeping lily-tuft
spicata leaves are ½
ample water and
traffic. L. spicata
inch across and form
sunny locations.
faster than L.
soft, 9-inch high
Cut back or mow
muscari and makes
mounds; flowers
almost to the
a better ground
remain close to the
ground in the late
cover for large-
foliage.
winter.
scale plantings.
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Ground Cover
Description Maintenance
Comments
Plant Name
Mahonia repens
Evergreen shrub. Dull Grow in acid,
Use as a ground
bluish-green holly-
humus soil in
cover in woodland
Creeping mahonia
like leaflets from
partial to full
setting, beneath
large compound
shade. Tolerates
high-branched
leaves. Fragrant
dry soil. Protect
evergreens, or on
yellow flowers in
from winter sun.
shady sides of
spring followed by
Space 2 to 3 ft.
buildings. Native
edible black berries.
apart. Zones 5-9.
to the Northwest.
Grows about 1 ft.
high. Spreads by
underground stems.
Mitchella repens
Evergreen shrub. Dull Grow in acid,
Use as a ground
bluish-green holly-
humus soil in
cover in woodland
Partridge-berry,
like leaflets from
partial to full
setting, beneath
twin-berry
large compound
shade. Tolerates
high-branched
leaves. Fragrant
dry soil. Protect
evergreens, or on
yellow flowers in
from winter sun.
shady sides of
spring followed by
Space 2 to 3 ft.
buildings. Native
edible black berries.
apart. Zones 5-9.
to the Northwest.
Grows about 1 ft.
high. Spreads by
underground stems.
Ophiopogon
Evergreen to semi-
Grow in full sun to
A mature planting
japonicus
evergreen perennial.
full shade in good
forms a uniform
Forms dense, 8-10
soil; keep moist,
sea with coarse
Mondo grass
inch tall clumps of
especially in full
linear texture. Use
grassy, 1/8 inch wide, sun conditions.
instead of lawn
dark green leaves.
Mow to renew
grass in front yards
Spikes of white
growth and tattered and under trees;
flowers bloom in late
foliage at winters’
does not tolerate
summer and form
end. Propagate by
foot traffic.
blue berries in fall,
division. Space 6-
but remain mostly
12 inches apart.
hidden among the
Slugs may be a
foliage.
problem. Zones 8-
10.
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Comments
Plant Name
Pachysandra
Evergreen perennial.
Grow in good to
Pachysandra grows
terminalis
Glossy, toothed, dark-
average soil in
in the dense shade
green foliage in
partial to full
and terribly thin
whorls on 8-10 inch
shade; full shade in soil beneath
Japanese
tall stems. Short
south. Drought
surface rooted
pachysandra,
spikes of creamy
tolerant but
trees, where little
Japanese spurge
white flowers in early performs best with
else will grow.
spring. Spreads by
adequate moisture
Fills in quickly and
underground runners.
and in fertile soil.
practically defy
Contain with lawn
weeds. Use
border or edging.
‘Silveredge’ to
Propagate by
brighten shady
division or
spots under trees.
cuttings. Space 8
inches apart. Zones
8-10.
Phalaris
Semi-evergreen,
Grows in full sun
Use as ground
arundinacea var.
perennial cool-season to full shade in wet cover in small to
picta
grass. Flat bright
to dry soil. May
large area, in mid-
white and green
bleach out in too
ground of
Ribbon grass,
sometimes marked
much sun or be too ornamental grass
gardener’s garters
with pink, on stems
lanky in shade. Can gardens, or
that grow 1 ½ to 3 ft.
be invasive, clay
combined with
tall. Inconspicuous
soil and shade may
pastel or white
summer flowers.
slow down growth. flowers. Useful in
Increase by
wet soil where
underground runners.
other plants do
poorly.
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Weekender Small, Medium & Tall Deciduous Tree Recommendations
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Small Tree Name
Description
Maintenance
Comments
Acer griseum
Slow growing,
Grow in full to
Use this stunning
upright, round
partial sun in
tree where it can be
Paperbark maple
headed, open-
neutral to acid soil
enjoyed year
branched tree that
of average
round, but
reaches 20 to 30 ft.
moisture. Zones 5-
especially in winter
Light green leaves
7.
when the
toothed and divided
outstanding bark
into 3 parts. Fall color
provides color and
variable. Bark on
interest. Use as a
trunk and branches
patio tree, garden
rich cinnamon brown,
tree, or under story
peels into lovely
tree.
curls.
Cercis Canadensis
Moderate growing
Grow in partial
Native to the Mid-
tree with spreading
shade to full sun in
Atlantic and
flat topped canopy,
moist, well-drained Southeast.
Redbud
reaching 25 ft. Heart
soil. Tolerates acid
Charming
shaped medium green or alkaline
naturalized as an
leaves 3 to 5 inches
conditions. Canker
under story tree in
wide, and turning
and verticillium
a woodland. Makes
yellow in fall.
wilt can be serious, a nice patio tree or
Quantities of small,
but rarely trouble
specimen in a
reddish purple, pea
naturalized trees in
mixed border.
shaped flowers
a woodland garden. Flowers are best
cluster along the
Zones 5-9.
displayed against a
branches before the
dark background.
foliage emerges. Pods
3 inches long, in fall.
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Small Tree Name
Description
Maintenance
Comments
Chionanthus
Slow growing, open
Grow in moist but
Native to the
virginicus
round-headed tree. To well drained,
southern states and
20 ft. tall. White
slightly acid rich
enchanting
fragrant flowers,
soil in full sun.
naturalized in
Fringetree
somewhat larger on