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Ground Cover

PLANT USE KEY

Ferns

Conservation practices: H, N

Soil: Moist-Well Drained

Growth rate: Slow to Moderate

Sun: Partial- Shade

Description: The Christmas fern is one of the most easily recognizable ferns due it its hardiness and wide use in hanging potted displays. This evergreen, low growing fern prefers filtered sun and moist but well drained soils often seen on the sides of mountains and ridges and well drained floodplain areas in winter as one of the few foliage retaining ground covers.

Fact Sheet

USDA Plant Guide

Conservation practices: F, H, N

Soil: Moist not saturated

Growth Rate: Slow to Moderate

Sun: Partial- Shade

Description: Cinnamon fern is another common ornamental fern due to the cinnamon-colored reproduction fronds that spire out of the center of the large 2-4’ long sterile fronds. The fiddleheads of this species can be consumed when young and coiled and resemble asparagus in flavor. Requiring moist, but not saturated soils and filter sun, this species typically grows on the forested edges of wetlands and waterbodies.

Fact Sheet

USDA Plant Guide

Conservation Practice: H, N

Soil: Moist-Well Drained

Growth Rate: Slow to Moderate

Sun: Partial- Shade

Description: Maidenhair fern has a unique spiral frond stem with leaflets growing off one side like several mini fronds of their own. This shape causes the fronds to sway in the wind like long hair. Growing in similar moist but well drained soils and filter sun this species will slowly form a nice dense patch.

Fact Sheet

USDA Plant Guide

Conservation Practice: H, N

Soil: Moist-Well Drained

Growth Rate: Moderate to Fast

Sun: Partial- Shade

Description: New York fern is a soft, 1-2’ high fern that grows in dense patches typically coating the understories it inhabits in a vibrant green coating. The aggressive root sprouting of this fern can out compete with other species, and it is recommended to be planted in a separate location with room to create a patch.

Fact Sheet

USDA Plant Guide

Conservation Practice: F, H, N

Soil: Moist not saturated

Growth Rate: Slow to Moderate

Sun: Partial- Shade

Description: The ostrich fern is the largest of the lot growing to 3 -5’ in height with the large fronds resembling . . . you guessed it, an ostrich. This is the most common species used for fiddleheads, its edible young frond that surfaces in May. Only the new coiled fronds are edible and not all species’ fiddleheads are, so air on the side of caution.

Fact Sheet

USDA Plant Guide

Wildflowers

Conservation practices: H, N

Soil: Moist

Growth Rate: Fast

Sun: Full

Description: Liatris Spicata is a native North American wildflower that is also an herbaceous perennial flowering plant in the family Asteraceae. This wildflower produces tall spikes of purple flowers in mid to late summer for about 4-6 weeks. Liatris Spicata is also known as dense blazing star, prairie gay feather, or marsh blazing star.

Uses: The pollinators love Liatris spicata! Native and bumble bees and sometimes hummingbirds visit these wildflowers. Also considered deer resistant.

Fact Sheet

USDA Plant Guide

Stella De Oro

Soil: Wide Tolerance

Growth Rate: Fast

Sun: Partial-Full Sun

Description: A perennial that typically grows to 3′. It has a flower that is orange with a yellow-gold center. Daylily is a highly adaptable plant. It will thrive in most soil conditions and will tolerate light shade. This plant is drought resistant and almost disease free.

Uses: It has an extensive root system that makes it an excellent plant for soil erosion areas.

Fact Sheet

USDA Plant Guide

Hosta

Soil: Moist-Well Drained

Growth Rate: Slow-Moderate

Sun: Partial Shade

Description: A nearly 2′ high, spreading plant. It has a blue-green leaf color, and a trumpet shaped lavender flower, that appears in July. 

Uses: Hosta has an extensive root system that makes it an excellent plant for erosion control. It is also typically disease resistant.

Fact Sheet

Soil: Moist-Well Drained

Growth Rate: Slow-Moderate

Sun : Wide Tolerance

Description: Hosta ventricosa is a large, naturally occurring tetraploid Hosta. It grows in a rounded mound to 22″ tall spreading to 36″ wide. Thin, smooth, shiny, cordate, broad-ovate, dark green leaves have widely spaced veins, undulate margins and mucronate tips. Leaves develop strong ribbing as they mature. Bell-shaped, purple to violet flowers bloom in late summer to early autumn on upright, leafy, burgundy-spotted, pale green scapes.

Uses: Hosta are a mainstay of shade gardens. This large, mounded Hosta makes an interesting garden specimen. It is also effective in groups or massed. It can be mixed with other perennials in shady borders, shade gardens or woodland gardens. Edging.

Fact Sheet

Soil: Moist-Well Drained

Growth Rate: Moderate

Sun : Partial – Full Shade

Description: ‘Fortunei Hyacinthina’ is a medium Hosta which typically forms a foliage mound 14-18″ tall and 16-24″ wide of cordate-ovate (8-12″ by 6-8″) leaves which emerge blue green and mature to gray green. Leaves are edged with a very fine white marginal line. Racemes of funnel-shaped, pale purple flowers appear in summer on erect but slightly bending scapes rising to 34″ tall.

Uses: A dependable and versatile perennial which is grown primarily for its beautiful foliage. Hosta are a mainstay of shade gardens. Notwithstanding the often-showy flowers produced, Hosta are primarily grown in shady areas for the ornamental excellence of their foliage. Very effective in groups or massed. Good background plant. Shady borders, shade gardens or woodland gardens.

Fact Sheet

Soil: Moist-Well Drained

Growth Rate: Moderate

Sun : Partial – Full Shade

Description: ‘Fortunei Albomarginata’ is a medium-to-large, clump-forming Hosta (sport of H. ‘Fortunei’) that typically grows in a foliage mound to 22″ tall spreading to 50″ wide. Smooth, prominently veined (9-10 pairs), oval, dark green leaves (10″ long and 6″ wide) are variegated with irregular white margins, with the variegation extending around the leaves and down the petiole edges. Each leaf has rounded and pinched lobes, cuspidate tips and rippled edges. Narrow funnel-shaped lilac/pale lavender flowers bloom mid to late summer on leafy upright scapes rising above the foliage mound to 30-40″ tall.

Uses: Hosta are a mainstay of shade gardens. Notwithstanding the often-showy flowers produced, Hosta are primarily grown in shady areas for the ornamental excellence of their foliage. Very effective in groups or massed. Good background plant. Shady borders, shade gardens or woodland gardens.

Fact Sheet

Soil: Moist-Well Drained

Growth Rate: Fast

Sun : Partial – Full Shade

Description: ‘Honeybells’ is an erect, large, vigorously growing Hosta to 26″ tall and 46″ in diameter featuring large (11″ x 8″), flat, heart-shaped, light green leaves and racemes of bell-shaped, fragrant, pale lavender flowers on scapes up to 60″

Uses: Hosta are a mainstay of shade gardens. Notwithstanding the often-showy flowers produced, Hosta are primarily grown in shady areas for the ornamental excellence of their foliage. Very effective in groups or massed. Good background plant. Shady borders, shade gardens or woodland gardens.

Fact Sheet

Pachysandra

Soil: Moist-Well Drained

Growth Rate: Moderate

Sun: Shade-Partial Shade

Description: 1′ tall trailing evergreen. Spikes of snowy flowers that bloom in April. Grows best in shade and acidic soil. Good cover under trees and shrubs.

Uses: A great plant for ground cover in rock gardens or on banks.

USDA Plant Guide