" I don't know why folks use this as a houseplant though."

Perhaps because it is not winter hardy in colder zones? And does make a nice houseplant if given the proper growing conditions.

But I agree, if hardy for that area, it makes a far better groundcover!! I grow a number of creeping, groundcovering saxifrages and I like them all!!

“Perhaps becasuse it is not winter hardy in colder zones? And does make a nice houseplant if given the proper growing conditions.”

Okay!

And that is exactly why I have a little one rooting on my windowsill !!! Such a cute little plant!! And it is hardy in Tn. as a ground cover???? Lucky you!!!

I would much rather have it as a ground cover than a potted plant!

For us in S'east Michigan that is the only option for a lot of plants we would like to have. Rosie

Yep, easy and lovely if shaded and near moisture. It can spread to unwanted areas but easy to remove

Very hardy in middle TN. Not sure how far north it is hardy to though. Have you tested a small patch of it in MI, Rosie?

No, I haven't, but I don't think -10F would let it survive. Although it is said to be hardy from zones 6 to 9. hmmm Maybe I should!!!! Thanks for that thought!!!! Rosie

I would wait until spring to put it in the ground to give it time to put some deep roots down. Or protect it somewhat this winter if you wanted to do it now.

I only have one small, well, what do you call it at this point? One tiny single crown plant? That is what I have. It is small enough to fit in a Kcup to root. I think I will wait until it is larger and makes a couple babies, but I would like to try. Thanks! Rosie

I could probably round you up a clump in the spring.

I think that would be a good plan! Appreciate it. Maybe because yours are used to being in the ground all year that would be better than planting a pampered little itty bitty tiny plant. Thanks! Rosie

Once strawberry begonia (Saxifraga stolonifera) gets established in the ground they spread but not like some groundcovers that become a nightmare such as chameleon plant (Houttuynia cordata). I kept buying the tri-color Saxifraga and tried it as a houseplant but never had any luck with it but maybe I should've tried it in the ground.

Of course I love my 3 different variegated Asian jasmines (Trachelospermum asiaticum) but can be a bit weedy themselves.

'Summer Sunset' is spreading like wildfire but I love the color.

'Snow N Summer' competing with 'Summer Sunset'

The old 'Tricolor' (started with 3 one gallon pots 12 years ago)

Vinca minor may be as aggressive (the plain green form) but the variegated form is slow growing ('Illumination')

Then honeysuckle gets started in the Vinca patch and it is a battle chasing all its roots down.

at least it has nice blue flowers in spring
'Illumination' is very slow growing.

I have known Strawberry begonia as a house plant for so long I rather have my doubts about it surviving our winter. I just can't imagine that poor tiny thing under a blanket of frozen ground and snow. But I would like to try a clump and if it works, then YAY!

And the spot I would put it in is up by the house facing due east. Warm rays of morning sunshine til about 1pm or so. Kind of a micro climate! Hey,,,this may work after all!!!! Let's hope! Rosie

Rosie, did you research this plant at all? It will not be winter hardy for you in your zone so may be best that you just continue to grow it as a houseplant ;-)

Yes, from what I read, it is hardy in zone 6. We are zone 5/6 so I guess it could/could not happen. Being that I intend to put it in the little micro climate I have, it may/may not work. This particular area has kept some "iffy" things growing for me when the reality is they should not have survived.

Hey,,,,anything is worth a try, right? Rosie

Definitely worth a try. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

hc, apparently we have similar tastes in groundcovers.

Now, should we start a separate thread for 'treecovers'?

Thanks! Exactly what I think! Anything is worth a try. Rosie

Hey Kyle,

We have to have some ground cover but I try to keep vines off the house and most trees. I actively keep wild grapes, Virginia creeper, honeysuckle, and blackberry vines removed. English ivy is another matter - we learned at our last house about the old adage on perennials (vines in particular) is the first year it weeps, the second year it creeps, and the third year it LEAPS. We dug out buckets full of English ivy that were started from 3 little square pots of it a few years earlier. I may have violated that by letting florist ivy root into the ground at this home but it seems so much tamer compared to the green form.

Then I may have made a mistake by planting cross vine (Bignonia 'Tangerine Beauty' and the native one as well).

The native one does not bloom as heavy as T.B. but it is still a charmer.

My Mina Lobata started blooming this week so I was worried I got it out too late to put on a show. I will have to download those photos from yesterday.

But my volunteer Moon Flowers have been putting on a show for weeks now.

Along with volunteer coleus and Jewels of Opar. Now if winter would just be canceled this year, I would be happy.

I'm ready for winter (and then spring)...let summer finally END! (note it's hot and humid here for too much of the year)

I look forward to autumn crocuses, cyclamen coum, winter aconite, hellebores, as well as the ever present lonicera sempervirens major wheeler (typically flowers every month of the year here..amazing). Then the spring bulbs like crocuses species, botanical tulips, narcissus before I marvel at the summer flowers again (then start bitching about never-ending summer by August).

I admit, I think I just like change and something new coming into bloom.

Never winter is my mantra. Fall and spring forever would be great. Not much blooming in winter here. Okay, mahonia, hellebores, winter honeysuckle, Okame cherries, and camellias can bloom here in late winter. Spring bulbs are nice too but soon gone. A late freeze can always hit the once a year plants such as azaleas, magnolias, and camellias - boo...

I thought you might be in southern Florida or some other tropical zone around the world but I see you are in Arkansas? If you are "bitching" about summer, there is always Alaska - HAHA!

Mina lobata from last evening

a pot of some canesB. 'Big' bronze form
B. 'Dragon Wings'
3 red rexes in bloom and fungal spots are showing from the cool nights we've experienced since early September.

B. platanifolia big leaf with moon flowers showing off
Proud Marycoleus potsome Walmart rexes I started from wedge cuttings back in June. Just moved four of them to a five inch bowl.

I love all 4 seasons! My favorite holiday is Halloween. I do love fall with the changing colors etc.

But wait.....you plant normal ivy in the ground???? Just like the strawberry begonia???? Noooooo. Hedera Helix???? Wait,,,,let me google. I'm back now.

Did anybody know that NASA lists an English Ivy Plant as one of its top 10 Clean Air Plants?

************************************************************

Hedera helix is a vigorous and dense evergreen landscape groundcover or vine, hardy to zone 4 (a minimum of -20 degrees Fahrenheit in average Winters) if the cultivar 'Thorndale' is utilized.

Hedera helix - The Ohio State University

hvp.osu.edu/pocketgardener/source/description/he_helix.html

************************************************************

Then the Monrovia site says: English Ivy/Hedera helix/USDA Hardiness Zone: 5 - 11

If this is the case,,,,,then I can plant ivy with my begonia outside and it will survive????? Oh my,,,,,Will wonders never cease????

I think I am going to post this info over in the Ivy site. See what they say. Wow!!! Rosie

Cyclamen neapolitanum surrounded by Jasmine:

Ivy pics planned for later today.

Rosie, I would discourage you from planting species ivy. The cultivars aren't nearly as rambunctious. Hope to post some pics later.

I am still reeling over the fact that they are hardy in my area! Or at least they are supposed to be! I always thought they were houseplants!!!!! Rosie

I used to love winter when I was young/younger but as I age, it gets worse every year. I understand why so many folks retire to FL/AZ these days - HA!

Yes, do take care on planting English ivy as it is very invasive. Not as bad as Kudzu though (understatement).

some variegated ivy I gave my parents years ago is allowed to grow up this redbud tree but only so far.

As you can see it is going to town in this photo.

My mother keeps it trimmed back to as far as she can reach.

at my daughter's house and this is after trimming it back. The other side is in the trees and was attached to the house as well.

You are zone 7. I am 5/6. hmmm I just wonder. So much to think about! Rosie

Rosie, I think any ivy cultivar should be hardy to at least z5.

I am going to try a little patch next spring! Stawberry begonia and ivy!!! Rosie

You go, girl!

Ivy (lost ID) growing on Korean Sawtooth.

Thanks!!! Will do!!!! Rosie

Glacier preparing to colonize a Carolina Buckthorn:

I'm hoping this turns out to be a stable sport. Keeping my eye on it. Parthenocissus henryana in the background.

Another lost ID. Anyone know? Creeping Jenny peeking through.

I like that nearly white one Kyle. I bet it is a slow grower with very little green in it.

Here is one I got at WM back in Feb. I haven't put it in the ground yet. Maybe next year.

End of August it was twice the size but I cut the stems out of this photo. It has been in fairly full sun all summer.

I just noticed it this year. Not expecting much from it. Hopefully it survives the winter and grows a little next year.

Love that ivy. Seems similar to this one I also bought this year. Can't remember where and it was mislabeled as Yellow Ripple.

That last photo is stunning! Rosie

Lost the ID on this one also. Any idea anyone? It has reached 20+ ft. on this Pin oak.

No idea at all Kyle. I usually never remember the names of my ivies or other plants except begonias and then I'm still pretty forgetful.

That looks similar to this but darker. I've had this one under lights for a while now. Could they be the same? What's the name of yours?

Could be. That is 'Big'. Really dumb name to give to a plant. I name a lot of my photos with "big X", "big Y" so if I go searching for a begonia called 'Big', I get a lot of hits. UGH! There are many forms of it today - mostly green and bronze foliage and pink or red blooms but the blooms are so large is why the plant is called 'Big'.

Dragon Wings came out years ago and is a wonderful bloomer and takes full sun. The leaves are more elongated than 'Big' which is to the right of DW. Big came out later on but I don't know if the blooms are any larger, the leaves are bronze and round.

Here is the full pot - it has two different Kong coleus in it plus a green form 'Big'. The older leaves are starting to look ugly so time to cut it back.
They will winter over and are easy to start from cuttings. This is one from last year. I would seriously cut it back hard on water during winter though.

Despite all the flowers I think these are all sterile flowers. The owners of the patents (if there are any) probably produce millions of seed from the parent plants.

There is one begonia that looked even bigger than these. It looked like a wax begonia on steroids but I never had any luck keeping it over a winter. B. 'Stephen Brigham' showed a lot of promise but I wonder if it is in the dustbin of begonias today.

Wow. I like that last one. Is that an old pic? You no longer have it?

I had the red dragon wing and lost it. I have the pink one still though. For several years so far.

Yep, that is an old pic of S.B. (probably a Kodak digital) I had two of them a year or two apart and lost both. Loved the outdoors but didn't like the basement.

At least we an get Dragon Wings each year and treat it as an annual if we want to.

It combined well with Caladiums.

This was six D.W. in all day sun a few years back.

Another year it was the sole occupant of this big pot
Red and Pink this year in more shade. They do a lot better with lots of sun.
12 inch pot
This is full sun on the deck where temps can get 110 but as long as I kept it watered (every day), it did great.

hc, I mentioned my sikkimensis seedlings above. They are still doing well. I'm thinking of using a fungicide to prevent damping off. Have you ever used fungicide? I have Agri-Phos.

Kyle, I think your mention of sikkimensis was on another thread as this is the only mention of it on this thread. Yes I use fungicide. I've used Neem oil, Milstop, and this year Orchard Spray. I have not heard of Agri-Phos before. What are your thoughts on it?

Oops. None so far. Trying to find info for use on tiny seedlings. Label has wide-ranging amonts per gallon for 'bedding plants'. Just wondered if you'd ever used it.

edit: another oops...I spelled it wrong. It's Agri-Fos.

No, never used Agri-Fos. Let us know how it goes.

I used 1 tsp/qt. sprayer. At least I hope I will be able to report I didn't kill them.

The joys of gardening, huh? I remember using nicotine spray for fungus gnats on seedlings long ago and if I remember correctly, it may have killed a lot of the larvae (but didn't break the cycle of the gnats much at all) and lost the seedlings. Sometimes the cure is worse than the disease?

B. sikkimensis seedlings bit the dust. Could have been the fungicide but I don't think so. Just me. Drats!

HC, what is the perfect way to start begonias from seed? Details, please. ;)

I've successfully raised Nonstops, the hardy one and maybe a few others. Memory fails at the moment.