Transcript FROG FRUIT, Lippia nodiflora Plant Type: Deciduous

• Texas AgriLife Extension Service
– Established in 1915, the Texas AgriLife Extension Service provides
Texans with continuing education programs and services related to
the food and fiber industry, environmental and natural resources
conservation, family and consumer sciences, youth development,
nutrition and health, and community economic development.
– More than 900 professional educators and some 90,000 volunteers
team up throughout Texas to serve families, youth, communities and
businesses in all 254 counties. The agency was previously known as
Texas Cooperative Extension.
•
•
•
For Horticulture information and services please contact the Collin County Master
Gardeners at 972-548-4219, http://ccmgatx.org, or [email protected]
For more information on Extension Programs offered in Collin County please contact
the Texas AgriLife Extension Office at 972-548-4233, http://collin-tx.tamu.edu, or
[email protected]
Extension programs serve people of all ages regardless of socioeconomic level, race,
color, sex, religion, disability, or national origin. The Texas A&M University System,
U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the County Commissioners Courts of Texas
Cooperating. A member of the Texas A&M University System and its statewide
Agriculture Program.
Presented by the Collin County Master
Gardeners
Consider reducing turf areas to
conserve water and improve its
quality
• Use turf as an area rug
instead of a carpet.
• Use groundcovers where
grass will not grow.
• Widen pathways and
walks.
• Enlarge patios and decks
to suit your needs.
Benefits of Groundcovers:

Well suited for shady areas where
other plants and turf won’t grow.

Excellent choice for narrow or
isolated areas difficult to maintain.

They minimize erosion.

Some are very drought tolerant.

They provide a cooling effect.
Where less maintenance is desired
or grass won’t grow, use
groundcovers.
USE PATHS IN FOOT
TRAFFIC AREAS
WHERE TURF WON’T
GROW
STEPPING STONES AND MULCHED
PATHS COMBINED WITH GROUND
COVERS ACCENT THE LANDSCAPE
SLOPES ARE EXCELLENT
LOCATIONS FOR GROUNDCOVERS
GROUNDCOVERS MAKE
SENSE UNDER TREES
REDUCE TURFGRASS TO
ENHANCE THE LANDSCAPE
DON’T FORGET. . .
 Choose groundcovers native to our area or
well-adapted to our tough growing
conditions.
 Prepare and amend the soil appropriately.
 Know the mature size of the plants and
space them to allow for optimum coverage.
 Do not allow the new plants to dry out.
Keep them adequately watered so they
become well-established.
DECISIONS, DECISIONS. . .
Evergreen or Deciduous?
Woody or herbaceous?
Temporary or Permanent?
Speed of establishment
Is weed suppression important?
ASIAN JASMINE
Xeriscape Garden -- Austin, Texas
ASIAN JASMINE
Woody evergreen groundcover/vine in USDA z. 8,
can be used as herbaceous groundcover in z. 7
Height: 6-12 inches
Tolerates full sun to dense shade, soil adaptable,
moderately drought tolerant.
Hard to beat in adverse situations.
Asian Jasmine can be planted on 2 foot centers.
Using 4 inch pots, can be planted on 10 to 12
inch centers. If using smaller pots, close up the
distance to 8 inch centers.
LIRIOPE
Two major species:
Big Blue Lilyturf
Creeping Lilyturf
LIRIOPE
(Lilyturf)
Dense evergreen groundcover with a grasslike
appearance.
Clump forming, spreads rapidly by underground
stems.
10-12 inches tall x 12-18 inches wide
Liriope can be used as a groundcover under trees
and shrubs and as a massed planting on slopes
and banks. Can be used as low edging plants
along paved areas or in front of foundation
plantings. It will grow in deep shade or full sun,
sand or clay. Drought resistant and will not take
"wet feet"; it prefers moist, well-drained soil.
ENGLISH IVY
ENGLISH IVY
Vigorous clinging evergreen vine with dark green
lobed leaves. Use on arbors, trellises, fences or
as a ground cover.
Part sun to Shade
(protect from afternoon sun in Texas)
6-10 inches high x indefinite spread
Provide air circulation by regular trimming once
it reaches maturity and minimize overhead
watering to avoid fungal infections, bacterial
blight, scale insects, aphids, and spider mites
which can be problems.
MONDO GRASS
MONDO GRASS
Compact narrow dark green grass-like leaves
with spikes of flowers followed by blue berries.
Spreads by underground rhizomes.
Tough, versatile evergreen ground cover.
12 inches tall
sun/ partial sun/ shade
spikes of lilac colored flowers in late summer
Mondo Grass ‘Nana” is a dwarf cultivar growing
to 6 inches. Also varieties available with white
and green leaves 6-12 inches tall.
WINTERCREEPER
EUONYMUS
‘Coloratus’ or purple wintercreeper has leaves
which turn dark purple in fall and winter.
PURPLE WINTERCREEPER EUONYMUS
Evergreen ground cover or high climbing
vine.
2 Ft. tall x 1 Ft. wide
Part sun to Shade
Glossy, evergreen foliage which turns
bronze in fall.
Requires a protected site away from winter
wind and hot afternoon sun.
May be trimmed for a more uniform
appearance.
JUNIPER
BLUE RUG JUNIPER
‘Wiltonii’
Low spreading evergreen ground cover with
dense silver-blue foliage.
Height: 6-8'' x 6'
Also available:
Dwarf Japanese Garden Juniper ‘Nana”
(Green Mound)
Fast growing ground cover with compact foliage
and curved branches that radiate in all
directions.
1’ x 4’
FROG FRUIT
FROG FRUIT
Spreading Deciduous Groundcover
Full Sun, Partial Shade, Full Shade
6 inches tall x 1 foot spread
Ornamental Value: White Bloom, Apr - Oct
Native Texas Plant
Notes: Tough as a boot and extremely drought
tolerant. Good between stepping stones. Low
creeping or trailing perennial.
HORSEHERB
HORSEHERB
Semi-evergreen groundcover that out
competes grass in the shade. Forms
a dense mat with little or no water
and takes moderate foot traffic.
Shade, dappled shade, part shade
8-10 inches high
Ever blooming
but not visually significant
Native Texas Plant
PERIWINKLE
PERIWINKLE
(VINCA MAJOR and VINCA MINOR)
Trailing evergreen groundcover
full to part shade; handles part sun but not hot
afternoon sun
12 inches high, spreads readily
Purple flowers, usually five petaled, bloom in
spring
requires regular irrigation, 1-2 times per week
well prepared soil
AJUGA or BUGLEWEED
AJUGA or BUGLEWEED
Evergreen, dense groundcover
3 to 4 inches high; spreads by stolons
Partial shade to shade; prefers sandy, welldrained soil but tolerates clay
Blue-violet flowers in spring on 4 to 6 inch
spikes;
Excellent for moist areas
Cultivars: Bronze Beauty; Jungle Beauty;
Rubra
MONEYWORT
(Creeping Jenny)
MONEYWORT
(Creeping Jenny)
Small round light green leaves on
trailing stems.
Herbaceous (dies to the ground and
comes back)
2-3 inches tall
Shade or early morning sun
Attractive between stepping stones
GROUND IVY
GROUND IVY
Evergreen spreading groundcover
6 inches x 1 ft.
Partial shade to full shade
small blue flowers May and June
Variegated green/white leaf variety is also
available. Excellent for shady areas.
HARDY PLUMBAGO
HARDY PLUMBAGO
Deciduous Spreading Groundcover
Full Shade, Partial Shade, Full Sun
1 Foot x 1 Foot
Blue Flowers May – Oct.
Wildlife Value: Butterfly nectar source; attracts
hummingbirds
True blue flowers. Purplish foliage in the fall.
Blooms best with some direct light.
DWARF MEXICAN PETUNIA ‘Katie’
DWARF MEXICAN PETUNIA
‘Katie’
Spectacular, low-growing, heat-tolerant
perennial with profusions of violet, light
pink or white flowers summer through
fall.
(herbacious)
Full sun or partial shade
1 ft. x 1 ft.
Spreads quickly by self-seeding.
GRAY SANTOLINA
SANTOLINA
(Lavender Cotton)
Spreading evergreen groundcover
both green and gray-green
Full Sun
1-1/2 ft. x 2 ft
Used for its attractive foliage, both
colors are equally drought tolerant
needing well-drained soil.
SEDUMS
LOW GROWING SEDUMS
Spreading perennial
groundcovers, many varieties
(herbaceous)
Full Sun to Partial Shade
6 inches x 1 ft
Nice between stepping stones
Flowers are nectar source for
Butterflies and Bees
WOOD VIOLETS
WOOD VIOLETS
Spreading groundcover perennials
that goes dormant in the heat of
summer and in the winter.
(herbaceous)
Partial Shade, Full Shade
6 inches x 1 ft.
Flowers February - May
Native Texas Plant
HERBAL GROUNDCOVERS
Thyme
Oregano
Rosemary
HAVE A PLANT QUESTION?
Call our Horticulture help
line at 1-972-548-4232
Collin County Master
Gardeners Association
E-mail us at: [email protected]
Collin County Master Gardener Association
• Our Master Gardener program in Collin County
is an educational and volunteer program
affiliated with the Texas AgriLife Extension
Service of the Texas A&M University system.
• The 130 members of the Collin County Master
Gardener Association are citizens of the local
community who not only take an active interest
in their own lawns, trees, and gardens but also
strive to promote sound horticultural practices in
the community. Members receive invaluable
training and continuing opportunities for
education, then share their horticultural expertise
through a wide variety of projects benefiting
Collin County residents and organizations.