Ground cover help

4 years ago

last modified: 4 years ago

We have planted the Baby Sun Rose Red Apple in a west facing area more than 5 years ago. However, it has failed to cover the ground completely. We are in the Southern California region. As can been seen in the attached pictures, the left side is growing better then the right side. The right side is shaded by a Loquat tree which could be causing the stunted growth. I have tried giving it more water but that hasn't helped either. The soil has eroded quiet a bit over the last few years as it's not covered.

Any ideas on what I can do to improve the growth? I am willing to try a different ground cover if it will be better for my zone/sun shade. Thanks.

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Comments (4)

gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
4 years ago
last modified: 4 years ago
Where are you and what kind of groundcover? At first glance, I'd say lack of water/inconsistent soil moisture could be the problem.
bitmaster20
Original Author
4 years ago
Sorry @gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9). For some reason my original text didn't come over. I have updated the post.
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mojavemaria
4 years ago
With a west exposure in SoCal a heat loving drought tolerant plants would be great. Myoporum parvifolium would be a lower ground cover and germander, teucrium chamaedrys and greek germander, teucrium cossonii would be a little taller but look great year round. Heres’s a pic of greek germander in bloom and it easily gets 3 ft wide.
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gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
4 years ago
The Baby Sun Rose/Red Apple (Mesembryanthemum cordifolium, formerly known as Aptenia cordifolia) is a drought tolerant succulent groundcover from South Africa. Once established, it should subsist with minimal irrigation. But it won't do well with much shade and that's probably why yours is looking very patchy in that area. It is also a listed invasive species in CA so replacing it with something more appropriate to the site is suggested. Visit your local garden center (not box store) and see what they suggest. Maybe a California native.
bitmaster20 thanked gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)