What's a perennial, low-lying groundcover that isn't invasive and grows in Pennsylvania?

Question

We have ivy growing under/in the hedge between our house and the neighbors house. It's killing the hedge and the flowers, and it's hard to weed out the baby trees (the only thing that grows through it). It's also ugly. However, the ground slopes to the neighbors driveway, so we need something to prevent the dirt from eroding onto their driveway.

It should look reasonable year round, stay low and not choke the bushes, hold back the dirt well, and allow bulbs to bloom through it.

Answer 1

I agree...Ivy is a pain in the neck. English ivy (Hedera helix) rapidly invades forests in the East and Northwest, creating "ivy deserts" that smother and displace native understory flora.

A good plant to start with is Allegheny pachysandra (Pachysandra procumbens). Like its popular Japanese cousin (Pachysandra terminalis), this native produces rounded, coarsely toothed foliage on low fleshy stems, but it has a much greater flair for the dramatic, changing its look as the season progresses. In early spring, short spikes of small, fragrant white flowers appear amid the previous year's foliage and last for a week or two.
Two native phloxes that make great groundcovers in sunny situations are Phlox pilosa and P. subulata. Some gardeners label P. pilosa a garden thug, but I think that's because they mistakenly expect it to behave like a classic garden phlox. If you're looking for year-round cover for open areas, this vigorous plant will provide it and also throw in the bonus of dramatic pink flowers in late spring and summer. Phlox pilosa grows a little taller than P. stolonifera, about one foot, producing softly hairy stems and three-inch-long leaves. It prefers a medium to dry, well-drained soil. A full-sun plant, it works well as a groundcover under shrubs.

Answer 2

I would suggest Myrtle which is a very hardy plant and will do well in your area.

It does spread at a slow pace but if going too far it can just be mowed right over or you can dig out the overgrowths for transplanting. It is especially good in areas that have little sun such as around fir bearing trees and shrubs.

There are some varieties that have silver streaks on the green leaves and these are especially attractive when sunlight reflects upon the silver.

They work well for reducing weed growth even in small clusters amongst other plants.

My choice...

Answer 3

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RE:
What's a perennial, low-lying groundcover that isn't invasive and grows in Pennsylvania?
We have ivy growing under/in the hedge between our house and the neighbors house. It's killing the hedge and the flowers, and it's hard to weed out the baby trees (the only thing that grows through it). It's also ugly. However, the ground slopes to the neighbors driveway, so we need...

Answer 4

I use a cute little ground cover in my lilly beds called kitty { ok it`s not kitty it`s the other word cats are known as but apparently yahoo thinks it`s a bad word}toes. It`s very low growing with a pale clover like pink and white flower. It allows my bulbs to come through in the spring but also shades the roots. It does not turn brown even in North Dakota winters but stays a soft sage green color.

Answer 5

Arctostaphylos uva-ursil-Bearberry 3-8” this is not a tight plant so easily allows bulbs up. Very hardy as it is a type of Manzanita. It has edible bland berries in fall. Really good with moderate scale planting.

Wire vine (Muehlenbeckia axillari) needs to be sheared in spring to refresh and thicken the plants.
Abelia x grandifolia or glossy abelia is a very dark green
Teucrium chamaedrys prostrate ground germander. Bright green mint-like foliage.
Acacia redolens ‘Desert Carpet’ though this is taller at 1.5 -2 feet tall.
What about herbs?
Rosmarinus 'Lockwood deForest', dwarf rosemary
underplant this with Origanum vulgare 'Aureum' - golden oregano, Origanum vulgare 'Hot and Spicy Greek', Thymus praecox subsp. articus - mother-of-thyme, Creeping Thyme Thymus serpyllum, & Chamaemelum nobile Roman camomile

A bank of sedums mixed with Sempervivums or Hens & Chicks. They come in many colors and textures, are easy to care for and tolerate very dry conditions.

For something unusual dwarf bamboo Sasa veitchii 'Nana'

Sarcococca hookeriana dwarf himalayan sarcococca. Fragrant in the winter and evergreen. Interplant with Sweet Woodruff Galium odoratum scented but blooms in spring.

Answer 6

I would suggest using phlox. It blooms beautifully and you can control the spreading of it.