‘Variegatum’ bishop’s weed
Aegopodium podagraria 'Variegatum'
Densely foliaged fast covering groundcover with silver edged leaves, this easy to grow plant sports … Continued
browsing: low-maintenance lawn
The history of the turfgrass lawn goes back to ancient castles and the need for visibility for security. Fast forward to the 1950s and the middle-class birth of the suburban lawn, and here we are. In our new age of conservation and environmental awareness, alternatives to lawns are beginning to make their way into the mainstream. Collected here are some possibilities to consider when replacing all or a portion of a turfgrass lawn with pollinator-friendly, drought tolerant, no-mow, no chemical “lawnscapes.”
These plants are also:
- easily maintained once established
- erosion control, especially for slopes
- living mulch alternative providing soft landings for insects
- weed control
- beautiful texture and form
- evergreen options for year-round interest
‘Chocolate Chip’ bugleweed
Ajuga reptans 'Valfredda'
Narrow, burgundy leaves grow only 4″ high and are topped in late spring by purple-blue … Continued
‘Royalty’ bugleweed
Ajuga reptans 'Royalty'
Dark burgundy to black foliage with bright blue flowers makes a great low-mainetance groundcover that … Continued
‘Burgundy Glow’ bugleweed
Ajuga reptans 'Burgundy Glow'
Blue flower spikes in spring above variegated white, green, and burgundy foliage. Tolerant of deep … Continued
‘Rubra’ pussytoes
Antennaria dioica ‘Rubra’
Silver-white foliage carpet is topped with pink buds that resemble pussycat pads. Buds open to … Continued
buffalo grass
Buchloe dactyloides
This drought-tolerant grass requires few mowings each summer to keep neat and trim. Can go … Continued
purple wine cups
Callirhoe involucrata
Low-growing mounds of cut-leaves are covered with large, purple, cup-shaped flowers all summer. Can self-seed … Continued
‘Ice Dance’ variegated Japanese sedge
Carex morrow 'Ice Dance'
Wide, strappy leaves measuring 1/4 to 1/2 inch across, this carex makes a bold statement … Continued
snow-in-summer
Cerastium tomentosum
Low-growing, striking silver foliage grow happily in sunny locations as a ground cover. Narrow, silver-green … Continued
hardy plumbago, leadwort
Ceratostigma plumbaginoides
Intense blue flowers in summer are surrounded by glossy green foliage which turns vibrant scarlet … Continued
Roman chamomile
Chamaemelum nobile
Makes a fine, ferny and fragrant low groundcover tolerant of dry conditions. Tea made from … Continued
‘Prolificans’ lily-of-the-valley
Convallaria majalis ‘Prolificans’
Thrives in dry shade in poor soil. Excellent heirloom groundcover with dark green foliage spikes … Continued