I never had that problem with the poison evy. My deer like to eat it. The Native American Seed Co. has a shade mix of wild flowers. Pigeon berry grows pretty quickly from seed and once established is fairly drought hardy. I collect them in the fall and plant them and they pop right up. I had tahitian bridal wreath cover a fair amount of ground quickly from cuttings. It can get way from you but it is pretty.

Here is a link that might be useful: Native American seed Co.

Interesting problem because you have to get something that grows in before the poison ivy comes back. Most of the groundcovers available as seed don't look tough enough to stand up to poison ivy.

This really sounds like a job for asian jasmine. It grows dense in shade or sun and is drought tolerant when established. It is planted from cuttings, but does grow fast. You might even find cuttings free from someone or look at the new, more colorful "salsa." Have never used it to control poison ivy, but it does take over wherever it is planted.

Lou, You might try Horse herb. You may have to buy some plants first. They will self seed after that. You can mow it every now and then.

Good luck on the poison ivy. I just got rid of a bad case of it.

I have a steep drop to a creek where poison ivy has been a problem. It is completely shaded. It's taken a few years but the vinca and, I think,, boston ivy and asian jasmine are fighting it out now. I planted the vinca. The neighbors planted the others and they have spread. I never water that area. They might have taken over faster if I had.

I walk around two to three times a year and round up any poison ivy that I see. I don't expect to ever completely get rid of it. That would require the neighbors also getting rid of theirs. I mostly want to keep it out of the yard and so far that is working.