Ground Cover Plants in Texas
The U.S. Department of Energy notes that using ground cover plants can increase energy efficiency. Plants and shrubs help cool the air by shading the ground and reducing heat radiation. Ground cover can also hide imperfections in your yard or garden as well as accentuate the landscape. Texas residents have a range of attractive ground cover plants from which to choose. Does this Spark an idea?
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A Plant with Soft Texture
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If you like plants with fine, soft texture, consider using creeping juniper for ground cover. This plant is hardy in USDA zones 3 through 10 and tolerates warmer climates that exist in some parts of Texas. Long branches form the base of the plant and cover an area of up to 10 feet in diameter. Short twigs combine with the branches to create a plant that sits about one foot above the ground. The creeping juniper is an evergreen that would contrast nicely with lighter colored, contrasting plants in a garden or yard. When colder weather arrives, the creeping juniper may change colors, giving it a purplish hue. This plant grows best in full sun, but you can also place it in partial shade.
A Fast Growing Ground Cover
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The Ladybird Wildflower Center at the University of Texas considers Texas frogfruit to be excellent ground cover. This semi-evergreen plant with white flowers is a member of the verbena family. That family consists of 3,000 plants that thrive in warm temperatures. Frogfruit grows in partial shade or sun, and its water requirements are low to medium. If you plant it in shade or give it more water than usual, it may reach 8 inches in height. Otherwise, it grows to between 3 and 6 inches. Frogfruit prefers moist or dry soil and blooms from May through October.
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A Splash of Color
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Another hardy ground cover is Texas befony. Blooming all summer, this drought-tolerant perennial does not need much water once it establishes itself. This perennial thrives in the sun, but you can also place it in shaded areas. Skip RIchter of "Your News Now," a Central Texas news outlet, notes that the plant does well in Texas because it's native to the state. Colorful reddish blossoms appear on the Texas befony in the spring and continue throughout the summer.
A Touch of Asia
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Drought resistance, low maintenance and adaptability make monkey grass a favorite in Texas and other parts of the South. Monkey grass is native to Asia. It also goes by other names, such as snakesbeard and mondo grass. The plant consists of a center clump and long, green foliage arms that radiate outward, creating a fountain effect. Linope muscari, the most common monkey grass variety, reaches a height of up to 15 inches. It makes an effective ground cover and produces flowers and berries in the summer.
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References
- Floridata; Juniperus Horizontalis
- Natural Resources Conservation Service Texas; Texas frog-fruit
- The University of Texas at Austin Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center; Phyla Nodiflora (Texas Frogfruit)
- "Your News Now"; Tough Texas Ground Cover
- Gardening Know How; Monkey Grass: A Spectacular Groundcover for the Lawn
- Energysavers.gov; Stay Warm, Save Money: Long-Term Investments for Energy Savings
Resources
- Photo Credit ilex bush image by Sunshine Photos from Fotolia.com
