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Plants for Difficult Places

foundation planting

23 years ago

I am looking for something (low ground cover up to 2' tall), to fill in two spots on either side of my front porch. This faces east and receives winter and early spring sun 6 hours/day. During the summer, one side receives partial sun, while the other side (only about one square yard) receives mostly shade. What is there now are some scraggly old evergreens, several florist azaleas (which can quickly disappear), and some sweet woodruff, which I was hoping would fill in the bare patches. This only worked on the shadier side. The site is also fairly damp, but does not have standing water. Clay soil. Open to suggestions.

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Comments (4)

Elmore
23 years ago
Maybe a prostrate Japanese Plum Yew, Cephalotaxus harringtonia 'Protrata'.
Tiffy_z6aCan
22 years ago
I have a plant which I term a wild bleeding heart. It blooms all summer long in pretty pink nodding flowers. There are also red ones and white ones. Unlike the 'cultivated' bleeding heart, they keep their foliage all summer as well. I've seen them in full sun, and mine are in part shade/dry soil, but where they came from they were in very moist soil with morning sun. This plant takes everything and is not a bully.
Nicole.
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amf55nj
Original Author
22 years ago
Thanks for the ideas, Elmore and Tiffy. I like the yew idea for the corner of the hosue where the electric meter is. The touch of color from the bleeding hearts could also be nice.
oogy4plants
22 years ago
New Jersey tea would be great! Especially since you're in NJ. Check it out.

Here is a link that might be useful: New Jersey tea

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