Special Feature — Midwest Plant Talk

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Salt Tolerant Gound Covers for Medians & Borders:

Delosperma ‘Psfave’ -

Lavender Ice Ice Plant – not only does this plant look somewhat tropical with its sedum like foliage, it produces purple blooms all summer long. It likes it dry and can handle areas that get salt.

Veronica ‘Waterperry Blue’

– A groundcover for full sun, this plant will form a dense carpet that gets blue flowers in spring and summer, with a bonus bloom in the fall. Great for border plantings.

Dry Shade:

Carex pensylvanica – Common Oak Sedge – Also a great lawn substitute, this Carex performs very well in dry shade areas once established. Can be mowed down to 2”.

Iris cristata – Dwarf Crested Iris – an underutilized native plant. Mini purple Iris flowers come on early in the spring and the mini Iris foliage persists all season, even getting rich gold fall color.

Designing a landscape often poses challenges, particularly in creating a plan. Proper plant spacing is fundamental for a successful garden. There’s no universal answer when it comes to plant spacing as it depends on your specific landscape goals. Generally, if you desire a garden that fills out more quickly, closer plant spacing is recommended. However, for a long-term vision, leaving more distance between each plant allows for future additions. As a starting point, a good aim is to plant groundcovers approximately 8-12 inches apart at the centers, allowing them to naturally fill in over time.

Remember, groundcovers serve a purpose beyond weed control. They can significantly transform your landscape, particularly along bed borders, giving it a more natural appearance. Don’t hesitate to introduce variety to your design by exploring groundcover options beyond the traditional choices. For planting inspiration, consider visiting the Midwest Groundcovers Hocus Pocus Groundcovers display garden in St. Charles or explore the ‘Our Gardens’ section on midwestgroundcovers.com.