Waterwise Groundcovers

Size: px

Start display at page:

Download "Waterwise Groundcovers"

Mervin Hilary Lindsey
5 years ago
Views:

Utah State University DigitalCommons@USU All Archived Publications Archived USU Extension Publications 1-1-2005 Waterwise Groundcovers Larry A.

It is presented here for historical purposes only. For the most up to date information please visit The Utah State University Cooperative Extension Office Recommended Citation Sagers, Larry A.

1 Utah State University All Archived Publications Archived USU Extension Publications Waterwise Groundcovers Larry A. Sagers Follow this and additional works at: Part of the Plant Sciences Commons Warning: The information in this series may be obsolete. It is presented here for historical purposes only. For the most up to date information please visit The Utah State University Cooperative Extension Office Recommended Citation Sagers, Larry A., "Waterwise Groundcovers" (2005). All Archived Publications. Paper This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Archived USU Extension Publications at It has been accepted for inclusion in All Archived Publications by an authorized administrator of For more information, please contact

2 Waterwise Groundcovers Larry A. Sagers Horticulture Specialist Utah Sate University

3 Funding Assistance From A Bureau Of Reclamation Grant

4 Watering Guide Water Zone 0 Water Zone 1 Water Zone 2 Water Zone 3 Water Zone 4

5 Water Zone 0 No irrigation May need supplemental irrigation in extremely hot weather. Most ground covers require supplemental irrigation until they have filled in.

6 Combine flowers and grasses for low growing, no irrigation ground cover. Select two or three flowers and one or two grasses. Prepare seedbed and keep seed wet and plants moist for the first season. Seeding rates vary, consult seed company for advice or experiment with 1 pound per acre of each flower plus grass

7 Porter s Sulphur Flower Eriogonum umbellatum Perennial:yellow flowers 6 inches tall Sun, light shade Open individual plants without irrigation

9 California Poppy Eschscholtzia californica Annual: Orange or yellow flowers 8 inches tall Sun Self seeding

11 White Yarrow Achillea millefolium Sun Invasive, flowers more with zone 1 watering Flowers: White, Summer Tolerates mowing after flowers die

13 Pacific Aster Aster chilensis Herbaceous perennial Sun Flowers: Small, lavender and daisy like Fall flowers

15 Blue Grama Bouteloua gracilis Sun One grass uses 2 lb./1000 sq. ft., Two grasses use 1 lb./1000 sq. ft. Does better in Southern Utah Groundcover or open turf

17 Buffalograss Buchloe dactyloides Sun One grass use 2 lb./1000 sq. ft., Two grasses 1 lb./1000 sq. ft., Sharps or other improved cultivars preferred Male and female plants, males have no seeds

19 Early Indian Paintbrush Castilleja chromosa Sun Flowers: Red, Spring Often grows with sagebrush Dislikes transplanting

21 Sheep Fescue Festuca ovina Sun Grass, 1lb./1000 sq. ft.

23 Firewheel Gaillardia pulchella Sun Flowers: Yellow, Red Summer

25 Blue Flax Linum lewisii Annual Sun Flowers: Blue, Summer Direct seeding, no transplanting self seeding once established, spreads rapidly

27 Blazing Star Mentzelia lindleyi Sun Flowers: Large yellow, Spring Tall may not be a groundcover

29 White Evening Primrose Oenothera pallida Sun For clay soil use O. Caespitosa Flowers: White, Summer

31 Showy Goldeneye Viguiera multiflora Sun Flowers: Yellow, Summer

33 Water Zone 1 1 irrigation per month May need supplemental irrigation in extremely hot weather. Most ground covers require supplemental irrigation until they have filled in.

34 Pink Pussy Toes Antennaria dioica Evergreen Flowers: Pink, Summer Sun, light shade Forms dense mat; Silver, gray leaves

36 Prairie Coneflower Ratibida columnaris Sun Flowers: Yellow, Summer

38 Kinnikinnick Arctostaphylos uva-ursi Evergreen Prefers slightly acid soil Shade, light sun Flowers: White, Summer

40 Creeping Mahonia Mahonia repens Evergreen Yellow flowers with purple berries Sun, shade Drought tolerant

42 Blue Fescue Festuca ovina Clump forming grass Evergreen Sun Carefree once established

44 Common Juniper Juniperus communis Evergreen Many types with varying heights Sun, light shade Native alpine

46 Juniper Juniperus horizontalis Evergreen Size and appearance varies Sun, light shade Variety, blue green to green, no wet soils

48 Juniper Juniperus sabina Evergreen Size and appearance varies Sun, light shade Variety, blue green to green, no wet soils

50 Juniper Juniperus scopulorum Evergreen Size and appearance varies Sun, light shade Variety, blue green to green, no wet soils

52 Juniper Juniperus squamata Evergreen Size and appearance varies Sun, light shade Variety, blue green to green, no wet soils

54 Potentilla Potentilla neumanniana or verna Herbaceous perennial Flowers: Yellow, Summer Sun Invasive

56 Dragon s Blood Sedum Sedum spurium Perennial Flowers: Pink, Summer Sun, light shade Low growing, spreads rapidly

58 Utah Green Sedum Sedum acre Evergreen Flowers: Yellow, Summer Sun Spreads rapidly

60 Hens and Chicks Sempervirens tectorum Evergreen Flowers Summer Sun Plants multiply but die after they bloom

62 Water Zone 2 2 Irrigations per month More frequent irrigation may be necessary in hot weather Need more frequent irrigation to establish plantings

63 Bishop s Weed Aegopodium podagraria Herbaceous perennial Flowers: White, Summer Shade, leaves burn in sun Prune flowers after blooming, heat sensitive

65 Bugleweed Ajuga reptans Herbaceous perennial Flowers: Blue, Spring Shade, light sun Height: 6 inches

67 Basket of Gold Aurinia saxatilis (Formerly Alyssum saxatalis) Herbaceous perennial Flowers: Yellow, Spring Sun, light shade Height: 12 inches

69 Snow in Summer Cerastium tomentosum Perennial Flowers: White, Summer Sun, shade Height: 4 to 12 inches

71 Alpine Strawberry Fragaria vesca Herbaceous perennial Flowers: White, Summer followed by small fruit Sun, shade Height: 6 inches

73 Aaron s Beard Hypericum calycinum Evergreen Flowers: Yellow, Summer Sun, shade Burns in extreme heat

75 Hall s Honeysuckle Lonicera japonica Herbaceous vine forming perennial Fragrant, invasive Sun, shade Flowers: White, Summer

77 Mountain Lover Paxistima myrsinites Evergreen Also forms low shrub Shade, light sun Prefers slightly acid soil, grows under trees

79 Memorial Rose Rosa wichuraiana Semi-evergreen Flowers: White, Summer Sun Tolerates poor soil, may become invasive

81 Water Zone 3 1 irrigation per week

82 Irish Moss Sagina subulata Evergreen Solid green mat, Scotch moss is lighter green Shade, light sun Needs well drained soil

84 Dwarf Plumbago Ceratostigma plumbaginoides Herbaceous perennial Flowers: Blue, Summer Sun Showy red fall color

86 Sweet Woodruff Galium odoratum Herbaceous perennial Flowers: White, Spring Shade, light sun Excellent for many uses

88 English Ivy Hedera helix Evergreen Climbs if not controlled Shade -- burns in direct sun May become invasive

90 Creeping Jenny Lysimachia nummularia Evergreen Flowers: Yellow, Summer Sun, light shade Invasive

92 Pachysandra Pachysandra terminalis Evergreen Flowers: White, Summer Shade or filtered sun May winter kill under harsh conditions

94 Wooly Thyme Thymus psuedolanuginosus Evergreen Soft, low growing plant Sun Nicely scented

96 Periwinkle Vinca major Herbaceous, trailing perennial Flowers: Blue, Summer Sun, shade Invasive

98 Periwinkle Vinca minor Herbaceous perennial Flowers: Blue or white, Summer Sun, shade Good for planting with other plants

100 Sweet Violets Viola odorata Herbaceous perennial Flowers: Purple or white, Spring Light sun, shade May be invasive

101

102 For More Information Contact Your Local Utah State University Extension Office

103 Check Them Out At

Waterwise Groundcovers. Larry A. Sagers Horticulture Specialist Utah Sate University

Waterwise Groundcovers. Larry A. Sagers Horticulture Specialist Utah Sate University Waterwise Groundcovers Larry A. Sagers Horticulture Specialist Utah Sate University Funding Assistance From A Bureau Of Reclamation Grant Watering Guide Water Zone 0 Water Zone 1 Water Zone 2 Water Zone