Ajuga and other Groundcovers
Ajuga and cerastium are great perennial groundcovers
Perennial groundvers can be attractive and useful and you don't have to restrict your choice to just Ivy or Vinca.
Groundcovers can be an attractive part of your landscape and you don’t have to stay with the standard Ivy and Vinca either. Depending on your specific needs there are numerous varieties of perennials that you can use.
Bugleweed (Ajuga reptans): This perennial can be invasive in some warmer areas, so be careful about where you plant it. On the positive side though, there are some very attractive leaf colors to this plant that are maintained on the plant throughout the year. The basic ajuga is a low growing plant that produces attractive blue colored flowers on 3 inch stalks each spring and into early summer. The leaves of the plant are variable and make an interesting feature of this groundcover. Some are purple (A. reptans ‘Atropurpurea’), some are green and still others have pink and white variegated leaves (A.reptans ‘Multicolor’ or ‘Variegata’). All ajuga varieties work well in part shade. Avoid hot afternoon sun that will shrivel the leaves and deep shade where the plants will not spread far. Ajugas grow in zones 3-8.
Basket of Gold (Aurinia saxatilis): This is a very colorful groundcover that looks particularly wonderful on rocky slopes. The bright yellow blooms arrive in early summer and last for several weeks. Aurinia does best in full sun in zones 4 – 7.
Snow in Summer (Cerastium tomentosum): Snow in summer is a great groundcover for sunny areas. The gray leaves cover an area well, and each summer the ground is covered with tiny white flowers. This groundcover also grows well in zones 3-8.
Chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile): There are two chamomiles that are commonly grown but only one is a groundcover. This neat slow growing groundcover is an ideal substitute for lawn in areas where turf grass will not grow and although it prefers full sun, chamomiles do quite well in part shade. When walked on, chamomile will give a slightly apple scent which is why was used on medieval seats as well as between paving stones on walkways. Chamomile gives a white flower that can be used in teas. There is, however, a non-flowering chamomile called ‘Treneague. This groundcover will grow in zones 6-8.
Creeping Phlox (Phlox subulata): There are many tall phlox varieties that bloom in the summer, but the low growing creeping phlox will flower in spring. Familiar to many people across North American continent, this phlox comes in a variety of colors that vary from white to pink to red. The background mat of green is easy to keep in bounds and to split apart for friends and neighbors who live in zones 3 -9.
Thymes (Thymus): We are all familiar with thymes that grow upright and are used in the kitchen, but some thymes make great groundcovers too. One notable thyme is Coccineas (T. praecox articus coccineus), which is a splendid but not fast growing, ground cover that is ideal for between paving tones, and rewards you with scarlet blooms each spring. Faster growing than coccineus is wooly thyme (T. pseudolanuginosus). This thyme makes a dense mat of wooly gray growth that does not inhibit bulbs but will deter weeds. Finally there is a moss thyme (T. pulegioides) which comes in white flowering and pink flowering forms and is primarily used between stones or the edge of a pool. This is possibly not a great choice for groundcover as it takes a long time to cover more than a foot or so, but over many years it will make progress. Thymes grow in zones 4-9 but this will vary with the variety.
These are just a few perennial groundcovers that can make excellent additions to your landscape. Remember to check their cover every year to ensure that they are not invading another perennial’s space and you will be glad that you invested in them.
