Evergreen groundcovers form a living mulch that will spare trees from competion for nutrients from grass.

Groundcovers also protect the tree trunk from injury by lawn mowers or string trimmers.

A groundcover instead of a lawn are an attractive, easy care alternative to traditional lawn grasses that have to be mowed every week.

Available in a wide range of colors and sizes, they spread rapidly, forming a dense, weed-blocking layer that never needs mowing. How great is that!

English Ivy
Ideal under trees and on shady slopes. Will crawl and climb quickly.
Zones 6-10.

Miniature Japanese Sedge
Good for rocky sites, as well as poor, dry soils.
Zones 5-9.

European Ginger
Good in woodland areas. Slow to establish.
Zones 5-8.

Pachysandra
Reasonable fast spreading. Easy to maintain and very hardy.
Zones 5-9.

Christmas Fern
Hardy for full or semi-shaded areas. Dark green fronds.
Zones 3-9.

Mondo Grass
Good anywhere lawn grass grows well. Drought tolerant.
Zones 7-10.

Moss
Thrives in acidic, compacted soil. Takes moderate foot traffic. Bright green color with spring flowers.
Zones 4-8.

Return from Evergreen Groundcover to Ground Cover Plants

Homepage

Crocosmia crocosmiifloa are favorite perennial plants since many generations.

They spread freely producing lots of beautiful orange- crimson, or yellow flowers.

The swordlike leaves grow about 3-4 feet tall, but the C.hybrids are shorter at about 2 feet tall.

Crocosmias are great companion plants for roses. I love the orange ‘Emily McKenzie’ variety planted next to the white iceberg roses. A super combo!

Crocosmia ‘Emily McKenzie’

Despite their African origin, crocosmia’s tolerate a cool climate well.

They need to grow in full sun and with soil that is amended with plenty of organic compost, to flower well.

They do particularly well if they receive plenty of moisture during summer.

Plant corms about 6 inches deep. Crocosmias flower better if they are grown in a close group, and they form thick clumps.

So do not just buy one. A minimum of three for sure, as a group.

Buy Crocosmia Bulbs Here

Crocosmia ‘Emily McKenzie’
2 feet tall, orange with red eye.
Zones 4-24.

Crocosmia ‘Solfatare’
2 feet tall
Bronze foilage and yellow flowers.
Zones 4-24.

Crocosmia ‘Babylon’
2 – 3 feet tall.
Orange flowers with red throats.
Zones 4-24.

Crocosmia ‘Emberglow’
2-3 feet tall.
Scarlet flowers
Zones 4-24.

Crocosmia ‘Jenny Bloom’
2- 3 feet tall.
Golden yellow flowers.
Zones 4-24.

Crocosmia ‘Lucifer’
Grows to 4 feet tall.
Bright red blossoms.
Zones 4-24.

Crocosmia Masoniorum
Leaves 2.5 feet long. Bright orange to orange-scarlet flowers
Flowers last about two weeks after being cut.
Zones 5-24.

Make sure that you provide adequate water during hot summer months, otherwise they flower a lot less.

Remove old foilage in late fall by gently pulling it away from the underground corms.

Divide clumps every three years in the fall. When dividing a clump, lift all the corms out of the ground and discard the lower ones, and keep the uppermost. Amend the soil before re-planting.

Crocosmia is fully hardy and generally needs no winter protection. However, a good layer of mulch is beneficial in colder climates.

Return from Crocosmia Bulbs to Perennial Bulbs

Homepage

The bold tulips and daffodils, that epitomize spring, to the exotic, slightly tender dahlias and gladiolis that give your garden beauty and interest into fall.

What is a bulb? Bulbs are perennials that store energy that enables the plant to return to domancy at times when conditions are unfavorable for plant growth.

The bulb itself is an underground structure that is made up of scales fixed to a basal plate.

Corms and tubers are usually considered alongside bulbs, since their growth pattern are similar and they have comparable garden uses.

Perennial Bulb Flowers

Allium
Ornamental Onion
Only a few species are grown in the flower garden. They combine well with roses, and some, if grown in large numbers, will protect against aphids and fungus.

Amaryllis
‘Belladonna’
The amaryllis flower can be a star in your fall garden. My favorite is the amaryllis ‘Belladonna’ pictured here.

Anemone nemorosa
Windflower
The genus contains both springflowering corms as well as fall perennials. My favorite is the Anemone nemorosa in the picture.

Arum Italicum
These tuberous perennials are very handsome plants for a woodland garden.

Begonia
This large genus has about 900 species with a wide range of flower colors and shapes. None of these plants are hardy, and many are grown indoors as houseplants.

Camassia
Quamash
These plants are best grown in drifts in light woodland areas. But can also be grown in flower borders.

Canna
Indian Shot Plant
Great exotic plants for a fall garden. Grow them together with dahlias. They are also excellent in large containers.

Crocosmia
‘Lucifer’
The most impressive hybrid is the ‘Lucifer’ which is a wonderful plant in any flower garden.

Crocus
They are mostly spring-flowering. Although the genus include some fall blooming varieties. They are available in almost any flower color except pink.

Cyclamen
Native to the Mediterranian. Most cyclamens are not hardy. Widely used as indoor houseplants. The hardy varieties thrive in dry shade. So great for planting under trees.

Dahlia
They are ideal for adding splashes of color to your fall garden. Available in a wide range of colors and flower shapes.

Galanthus
Snowdrop
Few plants have the charm of the snowdrop, or are as welcome. They usually are the first flowers to appear in the new season.

Gladiolus
They are excellent cutting flowers and are favored by florists. The spikes can be picked while still in bud, and the flowers will open indoors.

Hyacinthoides
Bluebells
This genus include the well-known English bluebell. Bluebells are excellent for colonizing areas beneath trees.

Hyacinthus
Hyacinth
Nothing can match the scent of a hyacinth. They also have one of the widest color ranges of the bulb genera, including blue.

Iris
Irises belong to a large genus that include true bulbs, as well as perennials called rhizomatous ireses. Bulbous irises are excellent in flower borders.

Lilium
Lily
Lilies have varied cultivation needs. There are lilies for sun, for shade, acid and alkaline soil. Lilies work well in mixed borders.

Muscari
Grape Hyacinth
They resemble miniature hyacinths, hence their name. Their shape and deep purple-blue color also look like tiny grapes.

Narcissus
Daffodil
Spring wouldn’t be spring without the daffodils. They have one of the longest flowering season of any bulb. Most garden varieties today are hybrids. Plant then en masse.

Scilla
Squill
The most popular variety is the Siberian squill fron Central Russia.

Tulipa
Tulip
All tulips can be grown in containers. Some species are dwarf, modest plants. But the most versitale are the hybrid tulips. They should be grown en masse.

Zantedeschia
Calla Lily
Also called Arum lily. It originated from Southe Africa. Their bold, ravishing flowers are breathtaking sight when planted en masse.

Homepage

There are super-sized tall grasses, and some are small, dwarf size varieties. There are many medium sizes also.

They offer waves of foilage that very widely in texture, color, and overall look.

Some ornamental grasses are evergreen, others are deciduos but hold their dried stems and flowers through the cold months, providing year-round interest in a garden.

Tough and easy to grow, yet spectacular inn their effect. Ornamental grasses offer more reward for your effort than almost any group of plants.

Ornamental Grass Types

And the varieties to choose from is enormous, from dwarf tuft grasses of colorful foilage to huge tropical looking fountains of feathery blooms taller than a 10 foot fence.

Most ornamental grasses emerge slowly in spring, but start to put on a show of flowers in mid-to late summer.

But you will really appreciate them in fall and winter when most other plants are asleep.

Many varieties have colorful fall and winter leaves that really stand out.

RELATED PAGES

Types of Grasses: this page has pictures of some of the most popular ornamental grasses types.

Dwarf Fountain Grass: if you like dwarf grass varieties you should click on this link.

Homepage

Fountain grasses are the most graceful of ornamental grasses.

Fountain grass adds movement to the landscape with arching foilage that sway in the slightest breeze.

Fountain grasses have long, narrow leaves and arching stems that bear furry, foxtail-like flower plumes in summer, with bloom often extending well into the fall.

Use them in containers, and in perennial or shrub borders.

The ‘Little Bunny’ is an extra small fountain grass growing just 1.5 feet tall and wide.

Some varieties have white plumes, black plumes and light brown plumes.

The fine textured leaves turn red in the fall and maroon seed heads are showy through winter.

This plant is easy to grow in sunny spots. Plant it in average soil, dry is better than wet.

Allow leaves and seed heads to remain on the plants through the winter.

Then prune them off in the spring just as new growth is emerging. Hardiness zones 5-9.

Return from Dwarf Fountain Grass to Ornamental Grass

Homepage

Growing ornamental grass varieties is exciting, because the grasses bring fine texture, great movement and a soft rustling sound to the garden.

But because of grasses unique texture and strong form, sometimes it’s hard to know what to do with them.

So later down this page I am providing a few tips for growing ornamental grass types.

Such as using them as focal points, as screening hedges or growing them in containers.

Grasses come in all shapes and sizes, so you are sure to find one that works in your garden.

Here are eight favorite grasses from the smallest to the tallest.

DWARF GRASSES

Blue Fescue
Festuca glauca
Spiky mounds of blue tinted foilage. 8 to 12 inches tall and 12 to 18 inches wide. USDA zones 4-8, AHS zones 8-1.

Japanese Forest Grass
Hakonchloa macra
Mounding, weeping chartreuse foilage. 12 to 14 inches tall and wide. USDA zones 5-9, AHS zones 9-1.

Japanese Blood Grass
Imperata cylindrica ‘Rubra’
Clumps of vertical, red-tipped foilage. 8 to 12 inches tall and 12 to 18 inches wide. USDA zones 4-8, AHS zones 8-1.

‘Ice Dance’ Japanese Sedge Grass
Carex morrowii
Grows about a 1.5 feet tall with shiny drooping green leaves. Good edging plant, regular water. Zones 3-9.

WAYS TO USE SMALL GRASSES

Use them to cover bare stems of plants that are leggy. As a low maintenance groundcover. To neatly edge a flower bed.

Dwarf grasses almost always look best when planted in multiples. Buy at least 3 pots of new grass, that can be divided later for more grass plants.

MEDIUM GRASSES

Pink Muhly Grass
Muhlenbergia capillaris
Dark green foilage form a mound of to 3 feet tall and up to 6 feet wide. Airy plumes of feathery reddish flowers adds another 2.5 feet to its height. It’s evergreen in low desert areas. Zones 4-24.

Fountain Grass
Pennisetum alopecuroides
Billowing foilage adds an element of relaxation to a garden. 2-5 feet tall and wide, Full sun and well-drained soil. Zones 6-9.

Korean Feather Reed Grass
Calamagrostis brachytricha
It’s an easy care grass that likes full sun to part shade. 3-4 feet high. Fluffy light pink plumes in mid- to late summer. Heat tolerant. Grows in clay soil without extra amendments. Zones 4-9.

TALL GRASSES

Maiden Grass
Miscanthus ssp
Up to 9 feet tall and 6 feet wide. White, silver or pink plumes in late summer to fall. Cold hardey and heat tolerant. Full sune and well-drained soil. Zones 4-9.

‘Heavy Metal’ Swichgrass
Panicum virgatum
Steely blue foilage and an upright habit makes this tall grass plant popular. Grow in full sun, fertile soil, and well-drained soil. Up to 5 feet tall 3 feet wide. Zones 5-9.

‘Morning Light’ Miscanthus
Miscanthus sinensis
Thin, arching blades striped white are very graceful. It blooms late summer. It can grow rampart in warm climates, so make sure its not a nuisance in your area before you plant it. Up to 6 feet tall and wide. Zones 4-9.

These ornamental grasses types are like no other type of plant. They contribute long visual lines and fine textures.

They sway and dip in the slightest breeze, and they add great interest to a garden in winter.

Homepage

Foxgloves are essential for having an informal cottage garden, and they are so easy to grow, so don’t be afraid to plant some in your own garden.

The foxglove flowers come in shades of rose, pink, yellow and creamy white.

The common foxglove, Digitalis purpurea, is normally grown as a biennial, but usually survives several seasons and even reseeds itself, at least in my garden. Most other foxgloves are reliable perennials and they are deer resistant, because the deer will never eat them.

So if you have a deer problem this is a beautiful plant for your garden.

Digitalis Foxglove Flowers

Perennial foxglove, such as the ‘Strawberry foxglove’, Digitalis x mertonensis, which usually blooms in the shades of pink and grows to 3-4 feet tall, is one of those reliable perennials.

‘Yellow foxglove’, Digitalis grandiflora, is another reliable perennial species, with light yellow flowers atop stems that are 2-3 feet tall.

‘Straw foxglove’, Digitalis lutea, is about the same size, but it’s even paler yellow.

They are gorgeous in cottage gardens when planted with old garden roses. They also bloom in the same season which is very nice.

And they look absolutely lovely planted against a white picket fence. Just imagine it now.

Foxglove plants need full sun in zones 4-7, and partial sun in warm areas such as zones 8-9.

Grow them in rich, well-drained soil that is evenly moist and they will reward you with lots of blooms.

Plant established seedlings of any type of foxglove in spring.

In warm zones 7-9, you can plant established seedlings in the the fall for blooms the following spring.

I really think the best way to plant them is in groups of 10 or more. If you can do it, I promise you’ll be very delighted with the result. It will be stunning.

Don’t forget to mulch around the plants to help keep them moist.

Important: don’t forget that all plant parts are poisonous if ingested, so keep small children away from them.

Return from Foxglove Plants to Deer Resistant Perennials

Home Page

Planting for privacy is something you might want to do because few gardens have pretty views in every direction.

The beauty of privacy planting is that you can avoid looking at anything unattractive.

Make unwanted views disappear behind carefully selected landscape plants.

So go out in your garden, and look around to see where you could benefit from having more privacy from neighbors windows and yards.

Rugosa Rose Hedge

EVERGREEN VS. DECIDUOUS PLANTS Evergreen plants are often used as privacy plants because they retain their foilage year-round.
Some are so dense that they form screens like living walls.
Deciduous plants can also be used for screening. Look for fast growing plants, or ones that are described as good choices for informal hedges.

PLANT SHAPE and HEIGHT Some screening plants such as privet or arborvitae are green from the top to the bottom and create a solid privacy screen.
Others, such as a redbud or crabapple create a screen higher up. If the unfortunate view is the top half of your neighbor’s peeling garage as seen over your fence, for example, one or two of these small trees will do nicely.

CONSIDER VINES If you have a chain link or other open work fence between you and the unpleasant view, plant it with fast growing annual vines, such as morning glory, or a perennial vine.
A perennial vine won’t cover the fence as quickly, but it will offer more privacy in the long run.

OTHER PRIVACY PLANTING IDEAS
A planting that screens can be something other than a long row of plants that are all the same.
A deciduous tree with a couple of evergreens, a few shrubs, and some perennials would work well.

Build a berm. Berms instantly block out the lower portion of a view with soil.
They also make even newly planted trees and shrubs seem taller by elevating them.

Abelia, glossy, (Abelia x grandiflora), zones 6-9.

Arborvitae, ‘Emerald’, (Thuja occidentalis), zones 3-9.

Azelea, ‘Exbury’, (Rhododendron), zones 4-8.

Azalea, ‘Northern Light’, (Rhododendron, zones 4-7.

Barberry, Japanese, (Berberis thunbergii), zones 4-8.

Bayberry, northern, (Myrica pensylvanica), zones 2-6.

Boxwood, edging, (Buxus sempervirens, zones 6-8.

Boxwood, ‘Green Beauty’, (Buxus microphylla), zones 5-9.

Boxwood, Korean, (Buxus microphylla koreana), zones 5-9.

Boxwood, Japanese, (Buxus microphylla japonica), 6-9.

Boxwood, ‘Winergreen’, (Buxus microphylla), zones 4-6.

Camellia, sasangua, (Camellia sansagua), zones 7-9.

Cape Honeysuckle, (Tecomaria capensis), zones 10-11.

Coralberry, (Symphoricarpos orbiculatus), zones 4-7.

Dogwood, corneliancherry, (Cornus mas), zones 4-8.

Forsythia, border, (Forsythia x intermedia), zones 6-9.

Hawthorn, Indian, (Rhaphiolepis indica), zones 8-11.

Hibiscus, Chinese, (Hibiscus rosa sinensis), zones 9-10.

Holly, ‘Green Lustre’, (Ilex crenata), zones 4-6.

Holly, ‘Winterberry’, (Ilex verticillata), zones 3-9.

Honeysuckles, (Lonicera spp, zones varies.

Ixora, jungle geranium, (Ixora coccinea), zones 10-11.

Jasmine, downy, (Jasminum multiflorum), zones 9-10.

Juniper, ‘Parson’s', (Juniperus chinensis), zones 3-9.