I've been pulling weeds in my new hummingbird/butterfly garden for several days now. I'd let them get bad as it was so hot last month. I would love to plant a ground cover to fill in so that I wouldn't have to worry about weeds so much. (No, I'm not really that lazy--just don't want to spend my time pulling weeds.)

Does anyone have any recommendations? This is the West side of my house and gets full sun. The only thing I could immediately think of is ivy but not sure it likes full sun. Obviously if there is a ground cover that would bloom and be attractive to hummers and/or butterflies that would be great. I do want the ground cover to look good year-round. Any suggestions will be appreciated!

Thank you,
Carol

Carol R
Tennessee
USDA Hardiness Zone 7
Heat Zone 7

How about Salvia Forskaohlei http://www.robsplants.com/plants/SalviForsk.php I have this one, and the hummers do use it, the bottom clump of leaves will cover 4 sq ft.


- Andrew - Southern Ontario, Canada - Zone 6
- Won't Get Fooled Again ~ The Who.

Thank you Andrew! I'll consider that.

Anyone else have any recommendations??

Carol

Carol R
Tennessee
USDA Hardiness Zone 7
Heat Zone 7

Does it get real hot and dry, or do you keep things watered? If it doesn't get too dry, Creeping Jenny, Lysimachia aurea, is a real thorough weed-smothering ground cover here, and a nice color contrast for the green leaves and the bright flowers of other plants. No flowers itself, though.

There is a ground cover Zauschneria from High Country Gardens.

Lisa
Central NJ/ z6b
Heat zone 5/6

Thank you Lisa. I'll look at both of those, too. I've been keeping everything watered this summer as it is the first summer for this garden. I was hoping I could be more lax next year as things get established. I'll always have potted plants out there that need to be watered though, so it won't really be all that dry.

It gets very hot though!

Carol

Carol R
Tennessee
USDA Hardiness Zone 7
Heat Zone 7