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California Gardening

what to plant in this situation?

15 years ago

I have two ornamental cherries (with the deep burgundy leaves, preceded by pink flowers) in my community garden. They are in full sun, and have daffs planted under them.

What other plants would be good for evergreen ground cover under the trees? One side is in sun almost all the time, the other in shade. I water by hand once a week, but prefer something drought tolerant.

Thanks!

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Comments (5)

hosenemesis
15 years ago
I have only ever heard of ornamental plums with the burgundy foliage.
Anyway, I like Santa Barbara Daisies. I have them in full sun and in part shade-part sun.
iris_gal
15 years ago
My Santa Barbara daisies reseed prolifically and form a very tight mass.

I would like Iberis (candytuft) or Campanula portenschlagiana - lav. bell shaped flowers (NOT poscharskyana-lighter star shape flowers) with your pink cherry.

Geranium endressi is my favorite hardy geranium and doesn't become invasive. I also like Campanula rotundifolia - slender stems with nodding lav flowers. Dianthus deltoides may become too thick of a mat?

And the petite violas that reseed would be terrific - King Henry?

I have a bright blue Veronica 'Waterperry Blue' that doesn't have spike bloom - it's under 6 inches and not sure if suited for your zone (I'm Sunset 15-16). It blooms under 'Ice Follies' daffodil - great combo. Only spring bloom.
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xanthoria
Original Author
15 years ago
When you say the Dianthus may form too thick a mat, do you mean too thick for the daffs to push through? (is that possible?)

Ideally I guess I'd like something that will flower at opposite times to the daffs (which are just ending for me) so the daff stalks aren't so ugly as they die down.

I get cherry blossom in February, daffs from Feb-May, then bareness under the dark, burgundy trees from now til next Feb.

I planted a vinca minor on the sunny side and it died - the one on the shade side is OK, but not exactly loving the heat and relative dryness. I like the idea of Iberis - that seems to go on and on.
iris_gal
15 years ago
You can loosely braid the daff foliage and bend it in half --- tie together with a length of leaf. It's a charming look.

Geranium endressi Wargrave Pink blooms off and on. Other hardy geraniums also but you need to check on zones (mild winter one needed).

Dianthus deltoides would take a few years to mat and not sure if it could impede daff shoots? I know it's not like the SntBarb daisies. My 8 year old SntBarb daisy clumps force any bulb to go around. I have to use a rake to thin them.

Sorry I can't think of any low-growing, summer-blooming perrenials. Bedding dahlias and Shasta daisies are probably not what you have in mind. Perennial Nemesias flop so act as sort of a ground cover. Shear them after bloom for repeats.
BecR
15 years ago
I was going to recommend vinca minora---it's drought tolerant, once established. Another idea is mums, which are not evergreen (they die back in winter but return in spring), but very easy to grow. They come in a variety of colors and sizes, there are early bloomers, mid-season bloomers, and late bloomers. The European mums such as 'Ursula' are short and rounded (under 2 ft.), my Ursulas are coming into bloom in a few weeks, then will bloom on and off all summer long, with a heavy fall bloom period. Another idea is bearded iris...fairly drought tolerant once established, evergreen for most of the year (not in winter)...some are remontant like "Immortality". Star jasmine is evergreen and does well in shade or sun...

I hope this helps.:) Becky

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