Hi Mo - wow...I've lived in several places that I had a LOT of shade....thanks goodness those days are over for me, but maybe I can throw out a few ideas.

I had great success once with a "creeping thyme". I got it at Lowes in the spring. I planted it randomly in my courtyard area in the front of my house, which faced the west, but because of structure and large bushes was quite shady. Although I had tried to designate traffic areas, someone was always cutting across it and this really held up well. It was a perrinial so it came back every year and took winter quite well also. The added plus, I could step out my front door anytime I needed the herb (great around the fall and winter holidays) to snip off what I needed! The blooms were pretty, it could suffer thru me forgetting to water and was very low growing.

I also had good luck with alyssium (sp?). Although you'll have to plant more often...it does look nice. There's also a spreading moss and I can't remember the name, but it resembles rose moss somewhat in the leaves and is a lighter green, only has yellow blooms. Dang it...my kid's dad's grandmother had it growing all over and I can't remember what she called it. I've seen it recently at my local garden center and since I'm stopping by there frequently, I'll see if I can come up with the name. We just always called it "Grandma Frieda's moss". It also came back every growing season.

Good luck. If I had it to do over, I'd plant the creeping thyme again without reservation.

Paula

Hi Mo,

I liked Paula's suggestion of creeping thyme, and there are several versions of creeping thyme so you could mix some of them together if you wanted to vary the look a little bit.

Most of the native groundcovers in our woodland area, while very hardy and quite lovely, do not tolerate foot traffic either because they are vining types and your feet get tangled in the vines or because they get too tall.

I have used Ajuga in shady areas and there are several varieties available.

I've linked a previous thread on ground covers and you might get some ideas from it too.

Dawn

Here is a link that might be useful: Previous Thread on Ground Covers

I like ajuga. It grows under my walnut tree. In spring it has a purple/blue spike of flowers. It will creep out into a lawn but I don't consider it a bad thing. It takes some moisture. I wouldn't think it would do well in a really dry location. It is hard to grow anything under some trees. I wouldn't walk on it much. I have tried the various colors and they always die out for me. The purple bronze one is the one I can grow.

I have vinca minor in shade under oak trees where I never water. It spreads but I want it too. I love it because it stays low and can take a lot of cold without tip burning. Always looks green, unlike the vinca major which is taller and browns. Can take some foot traffic.

I bet Paula was talking about one of the sedums which are perrenial and also never need supplemental water--in fact suffer in too wet years such as 09 here in our area. Can't take much traffic though as they are so succulent.

Ajuga can also take some shade and some foot traffic. Liriope is great, doesn't spread fast, doesn't need watering and blooms in August, but gets too tall to walk on. Mondo grass is lower but it would take a lot and it would be expensive to put in much. It doesn't spread much.

Thanks for all your input. DIdn't know if the creeping thyme could take our crazy weather. I liked the look of vinca minor but was afraid we would get tangled up in it. THanks for the link to the thread Dawn. Thought about dwarf mondo but I do have a rather large area to cover. sounds like the thyme or ajuga or vinca might be the best. anyone regret the vinca? seems like it would be hardier than the thyme. I have some woodland violets that I try to pull out as much as I can. My dad told me they would "take the place" and he was right.
thanks
Mo