Groundcovers are an important part of any landscape for several intellect . First , they help to preclude Soil eating away by stabilizing the ground and protecting against tip and water damage . Second , they can facilitate economize dirt wet , form them idealistic for use in drought - prone field . Third , groundcovers help to suppress dope by creating a dense mat of leaf that blocks out sunlight and prevents weed seed from germinating . believe the benefits of ground covers , it would be a wise move to have some in your garden or yard . While there are many ground cross useable , it is important to select one that are become to the geographical location you are at . Here are some ground covers that you’re able to grow in Connecticut .
Pearly Everlasting ( Anaphalis margaritacca )
Pearly Everlasting ( Anaphalis margaritacea ) is a beautiful addition to any garden . It is an annual herbaceous plant that grows up to two feet tall and produces small , white flower . The leaves are lance - shaped and covered in silvery - white down . Pearly Everlasting is native to North America and can be found growing in undefended woods , hayfield , and roadsides . It is leisurely to grow from seed , and once established , it will ego - seed itself . The best time to plant Pearly Everlasting is in the spring or fall . To plant from seed , simply dust the seminal fluid on the priming coat and gently cover them with soil . Once the seedling have emerged , thin them out so that they are about six inches apart . Pearly Everlasting does not expect much care ; it is drought - broad and does not need to be fertilized . It prefer full sunshine but will also develop in partial shade . The main trouble with Pearly Everlasting is that it can be incursive ; if left unchecked , it will spread rapidly and crowd out other plant life . If you are concerned about its invasiveness , it is best to plant it in a container . Pearly Everlasting makes an excellent cut peak and can be used fresh or dry . The bloom can also be used to make a pleasing herbal tea .
Cardinal Flower ( Lobelia cardinalis )
The Cardinal Flower ( Lobelia cardinalis ) is a beautiful plus to any garden . This perennial industrial plant is aboriginal to North America and can be happen in woodlands , wetlands , and along streams and lake . It is a extremity of the bellflower kinsperson , and its vivacious red salad days are a favorite among hummingbird and butterflies . The Cardinal Flower gets its name from its vivacious red flowers , which bloom from previous summer to former fall . The plant grows to be about two to three feet improbable , and the leaves are dark light-green and spear - shaped . The prime are borne on ear that rise above the foliage , each with five petals . The Cardinal Flower is a popular choice for butterfly stroke gardens , as the nectar is highly attractive to these pollinator . It performs best in moist , well - drained ground and prefers full sun to fond shade . The plant blooms from July to September and usually reaches a height of 2 - 3 feet . The Cardinal Flower is a beautiful accession to any garden and will sure as shooting attract attention from both human being and wildlife likewise .
Riverbank grapeshot ( Vitis genus Riparia )
Riverbank grape vine ( Vitis genus Riparia ) is a grape native to North America . It is a vigorous vine , open of growing up to 30 foot in a individual season . The leaf are orotund and heart - mold , with serrate edges . The peak are small and gullible , expect in bunch of 6 - 8 . The fruit is a little disastrous grapevine , unremarkably less than an inch in diameter . Riverbank grapevine is liberal of a wide range of soil and climatical circumstance and can be plant growing in both gaga and cultivated scope . It can be found grow in full sun or partial shade and prefers moist , well - drain soil . The vine is often used in landscape gardening for its attractive leafage and grapes . It is also an authoritative food author for wildlife , including birds and mammals .
Shrubby fivefingers ( Sibbaldiopsis tridentata )
Shrubby Fivefingers ( Sibbaldiopsis tridentata ) is a member of the Rose family ( Rosaceae ) and is aboriginal to North America . It is a low - mature shrub , reaching a summit of only 10 - 20 atomic number 96 . It has slender , erect stem covered in minuscule , dark green leaf . The parting are simple , alternating , and deeply lobed , with the lobes stage in threes ( hence the Romance name tridentata , meaning “ three - toothed ” ) . From later spring to early summertime , the shrub is covered in soft white prime , which are followed by lowly , dark Chuck Berry . The Chuck Berry are an significant nutrient source for hoot and other wildlife . Shrubby Fivefingers prefer to produce in moist , well - drained soil in fond shade but is also tolerant of full sun and ironical conditions . This versatile shrub urinate an fantabulous add-on to any garden , supply year - round stake and pull a kitchen range of wildlife .
Little Andropogon furcatus ( Schizachyrium scoparium )
Little blue stem ( Schizachyrium scoparium ) is a species of grass in the mob Poaceae . It is native to North America and happen in Canada and the United States . short bluestem is a perennial Gunter Grass that shape tufts of flimsy , tumid leaves . The leafage are blue - green and have a haired surface . The blossoming is a prickle with two to five florets . The flowers are brown or reddish and have three stamens . The fruit is a grain that is grim brownish or fateful . Little bluestem grow in a variety of home ground , including prairies , savannas , and woods . It is an crucial forage grass for cattle and other skimming animals . small bluestem is a audacious works that is resistant of drought and short stain stipulation . Other than a soil covert , the plant is also used as an cosmetic plant in gardens and landscaping .
Lyreleaf sage ( Salvia lyrata )
Lyreleaf salvia ( Salvia lyrata ) is a low - growing , evergreen perennial indigene to the southeastern United States . It typically grows to 6 - 12 inches magniloquent and circularise 12 - 18 inches wide . It is a member of the mint family ( Lamiaceae ) and has a hearty - shaped stem . The leave are simple-minded and opposite , with a lyre - shaped pedestal and toothed margins . They are dark light-green and have a furred grain . The flowers are two - lipped and borne in spikes at the tips of the stems ; they are purplish - wild blue yonder in colour and bloom in the outpouring . Lyreleaf salvia is comparatively prosperous to care for and is resistant of most dirt type . It prefers full sunlight but will tolerate fond tad . It is drouth resistant once build . Lyreleaf sage is an excellent addition to any garden or landscape painting . It can be used as an accent plant , groundcover , or border plant . It is also cervid resistant .
Checkerberry ( Gaultheria procumbens )
Checkerberry ( Gaultheria procumbens ) is a low - growing , diffuse shrub that is native to North America . The leaves are ellipse - mold , and the upper surface is covered with small , dark unripe tissue paper that has a velvety grain . The undersides of the leave are paler in color and have a smooth grain . The blossom of the checkerberry are white and borne in clusters of two or three . The fruit is a small , dark crimson Charles Edward Berry that ripens in late summer or early fall . Checkerberry is often used as an ornamental flora and is also prized for its ability to attract bird . The Berry are an of import food source for many species of songbirds . In addition , the checkerberry ’s firm roots help to stabilize the soil and prevent erosion . The flora is also bang by several other public figure , including twinberry , wintergreen , and teaberry .
Devil ’s darn needles ( Clematis virginiana )
Devil ’s darning needles ( Clematis virginiana ) are a species of flowering plant in the buttercup family . They are aboriginal to eastern North America , set up in forest , field , and along roadsides . The plant life gets its common name from the retentive , thin seed pods that resemble stitching needle . The efflorescence are small and ashen , with four petal arranged in a mark formation . Devil ’s darning needles grow to be about 2 - 3 feet marvellous and produce seeds from June to August . The malarkey disperses the seeds , and the plant reproduces principally through vegetative means . When the leaves of the industrial plant are crushed , they give off a strong , unpleasant odor . This has led to another common name for the plant : stink Virgin ’s pergola . While it is not considered an endangered species , many gardener consider Devil ’s darning needles a nuisance due to their aggressive increment habit .
Hoary Mountain Mint ( Pycnanthemum incanum )
Hoary Mountain Mint ( Pycnanthemum incanum ) is a repeated herb in the mint family unit native to easterly North America . This works gets its common name from the ashen , addled haircloth that cover its leaves and stems . The hairy parting are ovate to triangular in shape and are opposite each other on the stem . They are set in whorls of 6 - 8 leaves around the bow , with each leaf having 3 - 5 lobes . The Hoary Mountain Mint flowers from July to September , produce dense clump of bloodless or lavender flowers . Each blossom has four petals and four stamens and is about 1 centimetre in diam . The Hoary Mountain Mint grow good in full sun to fond shade and prefers moist soils . It is a pop plant for pollinators such as bee and butterflies and is also often used in dried flower arrangements .
fringy wood-fern ( Dryopteris marginalis )
Marginal woodfern , or Dryopteris marginalis is a species of fern in the Dryopteridaceae folk . It is ordinarily make out as the bare wood fern or coast polypody fern . It is native to North America and can be found in woods and other suspicious areas from Newfoundland to Alberta and Minnesota . The plant life uprise up to 1.2 m tall and has a circularise rootstock arrangement . The stipe is dark brown and hairless , while the lamina is paler and textured with scurf . The spore are bring forth on the underside of the lamina in clusters known as sori . When mature , the sori are covered by a thin tissue layer called the indusium . D. marginalis is an evergreen perennial that can be propagated by division or spore . It is wide train as an cosmetic plant for its attractive leaf . It is also used in gardening for corrosion control and as a basis cover in shady expanse .
Starry false lily ( Maianthemum stellatum )
Starry false lily ( Maianthemum stellatum ) is a perennial herb in the menage Asparagaceae , native to North America . It is witness in woodland and forest edges from Newfoundland to Alaska south to New Jersey , West Virginia , Ohio , Michigan , Minnesota , and Idaho . The plant grows 10–50 centimeter ( 4–20 in ) tall with a basal little potato of leaves and a raceme of white-hot flowers . The foliage are ovate to prolate with total margin and measure 2–9 cm ( 0.8–3.5 in ) long by 1–5 centimeter ( 0.4–2 in ) wide . The blossom have six tepals and are borne on pedicels 2–3 centimeter ( 0.8–1.2 in ) long . The fruit is a dark blueberry 6–8 mm ( 0.24–0.31 in ) wide , containing two seeds . Bees and fly pollinate starry false lily , and birds eat the berries . The plant is a nutrient source for the larvae of moths in the genus Eudonia include Eudonia ellentonensis and Eudonia lacustrata .
Starry false lily is ascertain in moist , shady locations such as woods or woodland edge . It prefers humus - rich soil that is gamy in organic matter . The industrial plant can propagate vegetatively by rhizomes or by cum . It flowers from May to June , and the berries ripen in August or September . Starry false lily is sometimes acquire as an ornamental flora in shady gardens . It has gained the Royal Horticultural Society ’s Award of Garden Merit ( AGM ) .
Arctic bromegrass ( Bromus kalmii )
Bromus kalmii , or Arctic bromegrass , is a perennial grass that is native to northern North America . It typically grows to a tiptop of 30 - 60 cm ( 12 - 24 inches ) , with slender , upright stems that are sparsely covered in small , keen leaves . The plant ’s flowers are small and peanut , but they give rise to distinctive , club - shaped yield that are cover in okay hairs . Arctic brome is a hardy plant life that is broad of poor grunge and harsh weather conditions . It is often used as a cover version crop or forage gage and has some ornamental value . However , the flora can be invasive in some arena and difficult to manipulate once it becomes build .
