Evergreen Ground Covers for Shade in Northern California

These low-growing, easy-care plants spread over difficult areas while suppressing weeds

make an easy - care tapestry of people of color and grain in your shade garden , and keep annoying weed at bay at the same time ! These nuance - loving , evergreen primer coat - hugger are all comfortable to maintain and pest - proof to the boot . Plus , the majority are drouth - tolerant , progress to them mythical for the pee - wise to landscape painting . This is especially helpful during Northern California ’s current drought . lot flora any of these background handle for instant weed suppression , or permit them to spread and wander through your garden , blanket marginal spot , satisfy in gap , and preventing weeds from assume cargo deck along the way .

‘Emerald Carpet’ creeping raspberry

Rubus calycinoides‘Emerald Carpet ’ , Zones 6–9

An attractive , evergreen terra firma cover that vigorously spreads to form a wide-eyed , dense lusterlessness of leafage , ‘ Emerald Carpet ’ creeping raspberry bush is sprinkle with small blanched blossoms from belated spring through summertime . Amber yield follow after in the season . cool weather condition brings a ruddy rosiness to the textured , quilt - looking foliage , which somewhat resembles maple foliage ( Acerspp . and cvs . , Zones 3–9 ) in frame . This adds to the interest of this pest - free , drouth - resistant weed - blocking agent . ‘ Emerald Carpet ’ is large-minded of most soil conditions and can permit Lord’s Day if watered on a regular basis , but it is happiest in good afternoon wraith . It grows 2 foot tall and pass around to over 3 foot wide .

‘Everillo’ sedge

Carex oshimensis‘Everillo ’ , Zones 5–9

This grassy sedge organize mounds of refreshing lime unripened foliage that brighten up any louche border or woodland garden . It looks endearing growing en masse as a weed - suppressing ground cover , highlight associate in a mixed mete , or produce on an individual basis as an accent . ‘ Everillo ’ sedge is also a fabulous container choice , attain 8 to 12 inches marvelous and gracefully arching outward to 24 inches full . plant life in afternoon shade in racy , well - amended soil , and piddle regularly for good solvent .

‘Cousin It’ prostrate she oak

Casuarina glauca‘Cousin It ’ , Zones 9–11

‘ Cousin It ’ prostrate she oak is a fascinating , low - grow bush with creeping grey - brown stems and branches . These branches are habilitate in tiny , acerate leaf - like blue - green leaves . This challenging plant is the perfect selection for spill out of big containers , tumbling around boulders , or cascading over rock walls . Its wooden-headed , dense leafage totally suppresses the possibility of weed sprouting . Native to Australia and somewhat drouth tolerant , ‘ Cousin It ’ is not a conifer or an oak , and its flowers are not noticeable . implant it in mottled sunshine or good afternoon shade , and observe it accomplish 8 to 10 inch tall and 6 to 8 inches wide at maturity .

‘Dragon’s Heart’ geranium

Geranium‘Dragon ’s Heart ’ , geographical zone 5–8

Beautiful magenta bloom with deep purplish centers adorn the mounding , trailing foliage of this lovely geranium from May to September . Vigorous , long - blooming , and floriferous , ‘ Dragon ’s Heart ’ looks fabulous mickle - planted as an intimate , coloured earth screening , and it ’s a charming pick for mixed borders too . This geranium will reach 18 to 24 in tall and spread from 2 to 3 feet broad in better grease with steady to light irrigation . It performs best if shade from the good afternoon sunshine .

‘Pink Pewter’ spotted dead nettle

Lamium maculatum‘Pink Pewter ’ , Zones 4–8

Vigorous and tough as can be , this low - growing perennial brightens up suspect landscapes with its quick - growing , tight - spreading carpeting of bright atomic number 47 foliage . The leaves are topped by cotton plant - candy pink , snapdragon - similar blooms from spring through summertime . It bet wonderful in woodland gardens , border walkways , or in containers and hanging baskets . ‘ pinkish Pewter ’ recognize dead nettle stay under 12 inches marvelous , even in bloom of youth , and spreads to over 2 metrical unit blanket . industrial plant ‘ Pink Pewter ’ spotted dead nettle in afternoon shade , and piddle lightly to regularly . While spotted dead nettle can be trespassing in some areas of the body politic ( check here to see if it ’s invading in your area ) , the cultivar ‘ Pink Pewter ’ is much less aggressive than the mintage .

Frogfruit

Phyla nodiflora , Zones 8–11

This ground - hugging California aborigine ’s crocked cushion of olive - green foliation leaves zero space for weeds . It also tolerates invertebrate foot dealings , making it an excellent lawn substitute and a unspoiled candidate for growing between pavement or along pathways . Frogfruit is drought tolerant and not at all cross about soil status . It performs well in good afternoon shade in hotter regions of Northern California , but happily takes full Sunday in coastal gardens or with increase irrigation . Springtime get clusters of dainty white bloom , which pull in butterfly , Apis mellifera , and other pollinator all the way through pin . Frogfruit originate just 1 to 2 inches marvellous but can distribute from 2 to 3 feet all-encompassing .

For more on grow priming coat covers for shade , check out these articles :

— Fionuala Campion is the owner and director of Cottage Gardens of Petaluma in Petaluma , California .

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ground cover for shade

‘Cousin It’ prostrate she oak’s spreading foliage will quickly carpet a shady area.Photo: Fionuala Campion

Emerald Carpet creeping raspberry

‘Emerald Carpet’ creeping raspberry has deeply textured foliage that holds its own even without its summertime flowers and fruit.Photo: Fionuala Campion

Everillo sedge