Evergreen Ground Covers for the Southwest

These low-growing plants look great throughout the year while helping to suppress weeds and erosion and reducing soil moisture loss

From wearing ascendance toweed suppression , ground concealment encounter an important role in the garden . They benefit neighboring plants by shading the ground , which helps keep soil cool and boil down moisture loss to drying up . Manyground coversprovide nectar topollinatorsand shelter ground - dwelling insects and vertebrates . From an aesthetic standpoint , ground covers lend garden a ruined face . They can be used to emphasizefocal pointsor to soften conversion between garden constituent . Evergreen ground cover supply these services all year long , while creating a bridge circuit from one time of year to the next . Here are a few fabulous evergreen plant ground cover for the Southwest .

watch more : Drought - Tolerant Ground Covers for the Southwest

Choose from these xeriscape favorites for hot, dry, and sunny locations

Thanks to the benefit they provide , ground covering fire have become raw material of xeric and water - knowing gardens . Among the most democratic of these ishardy deoxyephedrine plant(Delospermacooperiand cvs . , Zones 6–10 ) , a ground - embrace succulent that rise just 3 to 6 inches marvellous and disperse up to 2 feet wide of the mark . Gardeners and pollinators likewise adore the brilliant magenta pink blooms , which cover plants from late spring through summer . Several cultivars and hybrid are available with varying flower colour .

Silver - edged horehound(Marrubiumrotundifolium , Zones 4–9 ) makes a carpeting of flaccid , flocculent leafage that lightly mounds up to 10 inch grandiloquent and distribute 1 to 2 human foot all-inclusive . The foliage is white on the underside , and the leaf edge kink up to give the light fleeceable topsides a silvery lining . Most gardeners choose to shear off the flower , which are insignificant .

geminate ash gray - march horehound with thegermander sage(Salviachamaedryoides and cvs . , Zones 7–10 ) , a more just ground binding with ok ash grey - green leaf and vibrant blue flower that draw butterfly and hummingbird . Plants bloom over a long period , from late spring through fall . This semi - woody perennial is capital for covering primer coat ; it spreads 3 to 4 metrical foot wide while keep a top of 1 to 2 metrical foot .

All three of these primer coat traverse fly high in raging , dry sites in full sun . They are adjust to flaxen or rocky soils and require splendid drainage . Once institute , these are hardy , drought - tolerant selection .

Consider these native ground covers for challenging sites

Native plants often provide the skillful root for challenging sphere . A miscellany of specie make excellent evergreen plant flat coat screening . Damianita(Chrysactinia mexicana , Zones 7–11 ) has been realise popularity throughout the Southwest thanks to its telling flowered displays . Blooming profusely in natural spring and fall , with sporadic blooms during the hotness of summer , damianita creates a prosperous carpet when establish in mass . plant grow up to 2 base marvellous and wide and are passing drought tolerant . For the best performance , place damianita in full sunshine and well - drained soil .

Orange Carpet ® creeping hummingbird trumpet(Zauschneriagarrettii‘PWWG01S ’ , Zones 5–9 ) is a native cultivar with a low - maturate , trailing habit . Also commonly called California fuchsia , this suffrutex metal money spreads like a primer cover , organize a idle lustrelessness of gently arching foliage . Orange Carpet ® features brilliant red - orange tree efflorescence that open up mid to later summertime and attract hummingbirds to the garden . Water during flowering encourages additional blooms . Give this plant full Lord’s Day to fond shade and good drainage , and you will be handsomely rewarded .

Not all ground covers are bantam . Creeping juniper(Juniperushorizontalisand cvs . , Zones 3–9 ) is wide set as a ground cover , and for good rationality : It covers a destiny of space . spread 5 to 8 infantry wide yet reaching only 12 to 18 in tall , grovel juniper excels at stabilizing slopes and harness wearing . Though native to Canada and the northerly United States , this needle evergreen is heat and drouth tolerant once established . It grow of course in arenaceous or rocky soils and involve full sun and good drain .

Another native shrub , creeping mahonia(Berberisrepensand cvs . , syn . Mahoniarepensand cvs . , Zones 5–9 ) provides excellent wearing ascendancy on slopes and banks . It is found in the main at high elevations in coniferous forests . plant life spread by runner , which help stabilize soil . mouse mahonia grows 18 inches marvellous and wide . With yellow blooms from mid through late outflow followed by cluster of blue - over-embellished Berry , this low - produce shrub attract chick and other wildlife to the garden . Plant pussyfoot genus Mahonia in rich , well - draining land in full to partial tint .

Evergreen ground covers incorporate well with deciduous kind as well as give bulbs . Use them to ancestry walk , or plant them under shrubs and tall perennial . In area with weighty soil , these excerpt work well in rock-and-roll gardens and raised plantation owner .

— Kim Toscano is a horticulturist ground in Stillwater , Oklahoma . She previously hostedOklahoma Gardening , a weekly PBS television program produce by the Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service .

Fine Gardening Recommended Products

ARS telescope Long Reach Pruner

Fine Gardening experience a commission for detail purchased through links on this situation , let in Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising computer program .

The Nature of Oaks : The Rich Ecology of Our Most Essential Native Trees

Get our latest tips , how - to article , and instructional picture send to your inbox .

Signing you up …

Evergreen Ground Covers for Shade in Northern California

Drought-Tolerant Ground Covers for the Southwest

Ground Covers for Part Shade

10 Ground Covers for Shade

Join Fine Gardening for a free engaging lively webinar feature Dr. Janna Beckerman , a renowned plant pathologist as well as professor emerita at Purdue University and the ornamental proficient manager …

When I spotted a particular moxie dollar cactus ( Astrophytum asterias ) at the Philadelphia Flower Show a few months ago , I knew I was in bother . With a delightful color pattern …

When we only prioritise industrial plant we want over plants our landscape painting need , each time of year is filled with a never - stop inclination of chores : pruning , pinching , watering , treating , amending , and fertilizing , with …

Video

Touring an Eco-friendly, Shady Backyard Retreat

You must be thrifty when you put down the backyard of garden interior designer Jeff Epping — not because you ’re potential to trip on something , but because you might be dive - fail by a pair …