researching groundcovers for the spring: Fort Worth, TX

[anthophilous]

Outside Pride has a list of offered groundcovers but I am wondering what personal experience any of you in my zone/climate might have. The bulk of it will be in west-facing exposure, full sun against a brown wood fence. I have had zero luck with Irish moss staying alive no matter where I put it, sun or shade, dry or wet. I've had decent luck

Comments

[romani123]

What about variegated Vinca Major?

[anthophilous]

I'll research it. I am finding some terrible reviews for the customer service at outsidepride, so I'm sure I'll be hunting around for suppliers depending on what the nursery here does or does not get in stock.

[regality3]

Instead of major, I recommend minor. It doesn't seem to be quite as invasive and it hugs the ground.

[bailey36]

sedum, a low growing one. or Ajuga. Mine does fine in high heat with little water.

[bailey36]

http://www.seelyhouse.com/photos/railwayphotos/sedum1.jpg

[mmegaera]

I'm not surprised you didn't do well in Texas with Irish moss, which prefers it cool and damp. I agree with the ajuga (which tends to take over) and some of the creeping sedums.

[rhodielady_47]

I'm not completely sure this is what you want but I'll chase it past you just in case:

Some people grow chamomile as a groundcover instead of grass. Here's the info:

http://www.jlhudsonseeds.net/SeedlistAL-AN.htm

'ROMAN CHAMOMILE', 'MANZANILLA'. A hardy, low growing, compact trailing perennial to 12", with abundant white 3/4" daisies with yellow centers in July to September, held above the aromatic, finely divided, feathery foliage. Europe. An excellent aromatic lawn substitute; do not mow till the second year. Grown since ancient times for flavoring and medicine, the Egyptians revered its virtues and dedicated it to their gods. Chamomile tea, made from the flowers, is an old favorite, being soothing, sedative, beneficial to digestion, tonic to the nerves, and tasty, too. The whole herb was used for making herb beer. Cut flowers when fully opened for tea. Germinates in 1 - 4 weeks warm.

Hope this helps.
:)

[leeneh]

I am in Europe, in USDA zone 7 approximately - with hot dry summers, and cool (below freezing) wet winters. My soil is clay - sticky and slick when wet, hard as concrete when dry, and the only groundcover I am having success with so far - that can stand both a lot of rain and a lot of drought - is creeping thyme. It's a species that grows wild here, I haven't been able to pinpoint exactly which yet. It's only a couple of cm high, spreads about 30 cm a year, and doesn't mind being stepped on. I have two patches "on trial" since a couple of years back - in soil that has been amended with only a bit of organic matter - grown from 10 cm cuttings, and they both cover about 60 cm in diametre now. In searly summer they bloom with lots of 3 cm clusters of tiny pink/lilac/purplish (I can't decide which!) flowers - really beautiful. It grows almost just as dense in partly shade, but doesn't flower as profusely there as in full sun. Here's a page with pictures and description of various thyme species.