We received two informative responses to our previous post (I try to replace grass with ground cover plants to save save energy & eco of mowing):
“Lovely Figure & Flowers, Living Forever Family”
Pink flowers are used as a symbol of love and awareness. For decades, pink flowers
have been used to decorate weddings as a symbol of love. They can also be used as a
display of love at funerals, as demonstrated at the funeral for Anna Nicole Smith.
More recently, pink flowers have come to symbolize breast cancer awareness.
They may also be used as an expression of thanks, or just enjoyed for their aesthetic
beauty.
Species of pink flowers include:
- Allium (flowering onion)
- Astilbe
- Azalea
- Begonias
- Butterfly bush
- Carambola tree (starfruit)
- Clematis
- Coneflower (Echinacea)
- Cypripedium acaule (lady’s slipper orchids)
- Dahlia
- Dianthus family (carnation, pink, and sweet william)
- Flowering plum tree
- Hibiscus
- Hyacinth
- Hydrangea growing in alkaline (acidic) soil
- Oriental lily
- Papaver orientale (Oriental poppy)
- Peony / paeony
- Petunia
- Rhododendron and Azalea
- Roses
- Sabatia angularis (rosepink or bitterbloom)
- Tulips
- Vinca
Flower language: Pure love, eternal love, innocence, chastity, sympathy, pretty/lovely girl (ナデシコの花言葉は純愛・無邪気・純粋な愛・いつも愛して・思慕・貞節・お見舞・女性の美・など女性的なイメージが強いが、才能・大胆・快活なども。ヤマトナデシコ（カワラナデシコ）の花言葉は、可憐・貞節である。)
Sempervivum /sɛmpəˈvaɪvəm/ eternal life, is a genus of about 40 species of
flowering plants in the Crassulaceae family, known as houseleeks.
Other common names include liveforever and hen and chicks.
They are succulent perennials forming mats composed of tufted leaves in rosettes.
In favourable conditions they spread rapidly via offsets, and several species are
valued in cultivation as groundcover for dry, sunny spots.
Houseleeks occur from Morocco to Iran, through the mountains of Iberia, the Alps,
Carpathians, Balkan mountains, Turkey, the Armenian mountains, in the
northeastern part of the Sahara Desert, and the Caucasus.
The name Sempervivum has its origin in the Latin semper (“always”) and vivus
(“living”), because this perennial plant keeps its leaves in winter and is very resistant
to difficult conditions of growth. The common name houseleek is believed to stem
from the traditional practice of growing plants on the roofs of houses to ward off
lightning strikes. The plant is not closely related to the true leek, which belongs to the
onion family. Other common names reflect the plant’s ancient association with Thor,
the Norse god of thunder, and the Roman Jupiter. Hence names such as “Jupiter’s
beard” and the German Donnersbart (“thunder beard”). (Wiki)
– Pictures sent by Erin taken in her home in Washington –
The following article with pics was forwarded for our readers by Gina (gina@morningchores.com):
29 Types of Succulent Plants for Your Terrarium, Indoor Decor, or Cactus Garden
29 Types of Succulent Plants for Your Terrarium, Indoor Decor, or Cactus Garden
1) The 10 Best Evergreen Ground Cover Plants that Grow Quickly
https://www.tipsbulletin.com/ground-cover-plants/
There is nothing like evergreen ground cover plants to fill a vacant space in your yard and minimize the amount of time that you spend maintaining your garden. Over the first few seasons, after you plant these fast-growing ground cover plants, your flat space will be transformed into a rich tapestry of colors, textures, and leaf shapes.
They are perfect for sprucing up challenging areas under and around trees, accenting transitional locations along a home’s foundation and pathways, and are perfect for adding visual interest to broad areas throughout your yard. Similar to our article on evergreen shrubs, one bonus that evergreen ground cover plants and perennials provide, unlike turf, is a seasonal show of colors, fruits, and flowers.
To begin transforming your yard, it’s best to plant ground cover plants in the spring or early summer. Planting during this time of year gives them the opportunity to get well rooted, reducing the chances that they will heave out of the ground come winter.
It is vital that before you do any planting that you adequately assess the conditions of the area and prepare the soil. It is also essential to sufficiently space the plants and maintains them until they’ve become established. Before you can enjoy the billowing waves of green leaves and foliage, you will have to take the time to care for the plants diligently, but it will be well worth it.
Assess the Conditions of the Area
The most important and first step in establishing your ground cover plants is to evaluate the area and the soil. You will have to determine the texture of the soil first to determine if it is sandy and dry or if it’s wet if it’s a soggy clay or a lovely loam. At the same time, you’ll need to test the acidity level and adjust the soil to raise or lower its pH.
You may also have to modify its texture by adding gravel or organic matter. Take the time to assess the shade and sun patterns of the area, as well as the degree of protection the area provides during the winter. Is it protected from the prevailing winds and sun, or is it exposed to the harsh winter elements?
Once you’ve come to understand the soil you have in the area, you can begin selecting plants that are best suited to the pH, drainage, texture, and degree of shade, sun, and exposure.
Best, Fast-Growing Ground Cover Plants
Fast-growing ground cover plants are great for filling underdeveloped areas of your yard with lush, green foliage and flowers when the season permit. As well as rose bushes, the following evergreen ground cover plants are great to use in areas of your yard that are underdeveloped or in an informal garden. With their capability to grow quickly and densely, you’ll have a beautiful yard in no time.
Trailing Periwinkle (Vinca minor)
This ground cover plant yields beautiful periwinkle blossoms that release a lovely scent. If it is left unattended, it will quickly spread throughout your garden. It is crucial that you carefully monitor its growth so that it doesn’t spread into other areas of your garden.
The periwinkle plant is great because it will grow just as strong and dense in full sun as it will in full or partial shade. This makes it an excellent plant to place around the base of your trees or on top of a rock wall where it will cascade down like a waterfall once it has become established.
Dragon’s Blood (Red Sedum)
A beautiful and bold ground cover plant, Dragon’s Blood loves the sun. It boasts a beautiful deep red color, and the more sun it absorbs, more brilliant color it will develop.
After several years, when it’s fully established, it can stand 8-inches tall and becomes a wonderful perennial. It grows quickly and will spread thickly throughout your yard. Dragon’s Blood is an extremely hardy ground cover plant and will tolerate dry soil and temperature variations.
Creeping Phlox (Phlox subulata)
This low-lying ground cover plant produces flower blossoms in an array of outstanding colors. This particular species of ground cover plant spreads faster than any of the others on this list, so it needs to be trimmed regularly, especially if you are using it along a pathway or as a border.
When the plant isn’t in bloom, creeping phlox has tiny green leaves, transforming into a blanket of color when it blooms.
Golden Creeping Jenny (Lysimachia nummularia)
This rugged, ground cover plant thrives in wet areas. While it will grow in partial shade, planting it in an area with full sun will provide you with more vibrant colors.
It has long trailing stems, round chartreuse leaves, and vibrant yellow flowers. It can quickly cover large areas, choking out weeds and pulling out roots along its stems.
>> Further Gardening Tips: Find out about 17 plants that repel mosquitoes fast.
Mazus (Mazus Reptans)
This is another perennial ground cover plant that’s low-maintenance. This is one of the shade perennials that performs best when planted in partial shade but will also grow in full shade.
If planted in mild climates, it will remain green throughout the year and will begin to bloom in early spring. If you live in a tropical environment, it’s essential to keep the mazus moist during hot weather.
Tufted Creeping Phlox (Phlox stolonifera)
Native to North America, the tufted creeping phlox prefers to be planted in partial sun and moist soil. It is part of the phlox subulata easy to grow perennials family. The needle-like evergreen leaves form a dense mat across the ground to efficiently suppress any weeds.
It produces small pink or white flowers in the early spring and can reach up to 12-inches in height.
Creeping Thyme (Thymus Serpyllum coccineus)
Red creeping thyme is tolerant to heat as well as being drought tolerant. It grows close to the ground and thrives in full sun. It is like the deer resistant shrubs and is great for planting around stepping stones, or along borders.
In the spring it enhances your yard with a deep green color, erupting into gorgeous crimson flowers in the summer. Because it grows close to the ground, it chokes out weeds.
>> Further Reading: 28 Fantastic Ways To Use Neem Oil For Plants and in Your Garden
Big Root Geraniums (Geranium macrorrhizum)
The big root geraniums need to be planted in well-drained soil which also helps to kill fungus gnats and thrive in dry to medium moisture and full sun. They can grow to 12-inches in height and form a thick, weed-resistant ground cover.
In late spring and early summer, the otherwise grayish-green plant transforms into a beautiful array of purple-pink flowers with inflated red calyces blooms. Sidenote: As a variety of the big root geraniums, try apple geraniums as they are very drought tolerant ground cover plants for hot areas.
Bearberry (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi)
A low growing evergreen shrub, the Bearberry can be planted in dry, sandy, and rocky soils. It is a hardy winter plant, that is slow-growing. It typically grows between 6 and 12-inches high, and 3 to 6-feet or more in width.
The bearberry plant begins to bloom in early spring with miniature, drooping, white or pink flowers, transitioning into rounded, berry-like fruits in August and September.
Sweet Woodruff (Galium odoratum)
Sweet woodruff flourishes in densely shaded areas, making it the perfect perennial and ground cover plant to have under trees and shrubs. It will add interesting textures to your yard with its star-shaped whorls of leaves and fragrant lacy white flowers.
Once the woodruff plant becomes well established, maintenance is simple. Add some Epsom salt but generally speaking, You won’t need to fertilize it and will only have to water it in times of drought.
If you’re trying to figure out how to add color and texture to your undeveloped areas in your yard, you should consider planting ground cover plants. They will fill your yard with an array of beautiful colors and rich textures, with little maintenance required.
We hope you enjoyed learning about the best ground cover plants to bring into your yard. If you found this information about evergreen ground cover plants useful, please feel free to share it with everyone you know.
2) Pink Plants
a) Pink Muhly Grass
https://www.gardenlifepro.com/pink-muhly-grass-muhlenbergia-capillaris/
Pink Muhly Grass – Muhlenbergia Capillaris
When searching for the perfect bloom that brings both color and whimsy to the garden, consider a plume bloom! Muhlenbergia Capillaris, commonly known as Pink Muhly Grass, is an ornamental perennial grass famous for wispy, pink plumes peeking above dense, green foliage, adding an unexpected flair to landscaped beds.
Do not be deceived by its delicate appearance, though. Pink Muhly Grass mounds are quite hardy, requiring little maintenance or extra watering.
They can grow almost anywhere in the U.S., stay green throughout the winter, and bloom each fall.
Let’s look at Pink Muhly Grass and how to incorporate it into the garden.
Pink Muhly Grass Key Facts
| Fact Sheet | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Plant Type | Grasses | Flower Color | Pink |
| Plant Height | 4 ft | Flowering Season | Summer to Fall |
| Plant Width | 4 ft | Dormancy | Evergreen |
| Growth Rate | Fast | Water Requirement | Low |
Pink Muhly Grass is native to the North American Continent, particularly California and the eastern United States. It is a fast-growing plant, reaching a maturation height of four feet in just a couple of seasons, and its thick foliage can reach three feet in width.
Blue-green blades will brighten in the spring, with its notorious pink plumes debuting in late summer or early fall.
Pink Muhly Grass likes plenty of sunshine and thrives in areas that receive partial to full sunlight. It can grow in nearly any type of soil that is well-drained and can even withstand moderate droughts.
Every 2 to 3 years, the plants can be divided and shared with other areas of the garden.
Caring for Pink Muhly Grass
When to plant Pink Muhly Grass?
Pink Muhly Grass is a relatively low maintenance ornamental grass that anyone can maintain. It is best to plant Muhlenbergia Capillaris in the spring. As the seasons progress into summer, the blue-green mound of grassy foliage will begin to take shape and spread out over 2 feet in diameter.
The feathery, pink blooms will make their dramatic debut by early fall just when most other flowers are beginning to fade away.
Where to plant Muhlenbergia Capillaris?
Pink Muhly Grass thrives in zones 5-9. As far north as New England and as far south as Florida, Pink Muhly can flourish and brighten almost any landscape.
When to water
Ideally, the plants will receive a weekly rainfall, but mature plants do not require extra watering unless they have experienced a particularly dry season.
For baby Pink Muhly Grasses and newly transplanted mounds, be sure to give them several good drinks of water for the first few weeks while their roots get established.
Soil
Pink Muhly Grass can naturally grow in rocky soil, forests, or on coastal dunes. It is not picky about where it takes root.
For best results, though, make sure that the soil is well-drained and that the grass mound will not have to sit in standing water.
Pruning the Pink Muhly
Pink Muhly Grass is considered an evergreen, but there may be some grass blades that turn brown over the winter months. Cut these dead blades off in early spring with scissors or small pruning shears.
Other than that, they do not require regular trimming unless the gardener wishes to give them a new shape.
Division
Another appealing aspect of these hardy perennials is that they can be divided once they are mature. Every 2 to 3 years, gently pull up the plant mound and divide the root ball into two pieces.
Be sure to include plenty of green foliage on each half of the divided plant. Transplant the divided pieces into well-drained soil in an area that gets plenty of sunshine.
Give the new transplant several good drinks of water over the first few days, and anytime it experiences a dry spell over the next few weeks.
Planting and Cultivating Young Pink Muhly Plants
It is always a good idea to add fertilizer or compost to soil before planting. If using a pre-packaged fertilizer, look for one with an NPK (Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium) ration of 10-10-10.
Spread the fertilizer evenly over the ground and work it into the dirt. Cultivate the fertilized soil 8 to 10 inches deep with a tiller, spade, or garden hoe.
Dig a hole deep enough to cover the root ball and place the young or newly divided muhly grass inside.
Make sure that the plant’s crown – the bottom of the plant where the grass emerges from the roots – is slightly above the rest of the soil. Once the plant is in the hole, fill it with water to give the roots a good drink and jumpstart growth.
Once the root ball has absorbed the water, fill in the hole with soil.
Throughout its first growing season – especially in the first few weeks – water the muhly grass frequently enough to keep the soil moist, but not soggy.
Remember, muhly grasses appreciate water but must have well-drained soil.
At the end of its first growing season, the muhly grass will be mature and well established, so it will not require any extra watering unless it has experienced a particularly dry and hot season.
Where to Buy Pink Muhly Grass
Pink Muhly Grass is not only easy to grow, it’s also easy to find. Local nurseries or the lawn and garden section of many major retailers will have them available in the spring and summer.
They can also be ordered online and delivered to the front door, ready to plant.
Wayside Gardens offers baby Pink Muhly Grass in a 1-quart container for just $8.95, but if purchased in sets or 3 or more, each grass plant is discounted.
The Daylily Nursery also has a wide selection of muhly grass plants on Amazon. Ten live plants are just 34.98, or a set of three plants in 2.5-quart containers for just $17.95 with free shipping available on certain purchases.
Other Ornamental Grasses
Ornamental grasses are easy to grow and can add height, movement, and contrast to simple landscape designs. Typically, ornamental grasses refer to any grass plant that grows in dense mounds of upright blades with tips that billow outward in shades of deep green.
There are a wide variety of grasses, however, and many of them differ dramatically in shape, size, and blooms.
Before choosing the right ornamental grass, consider where it will be planted. How big does this plant get? Will it be near a walkway? Will other plants or structures be within a couple of feet? How many hours of sunlight does the site average each day?
A muhly grass that grows three feet tall and two feet wide may not be the best option for lining a narrow sidewalk.
A shady site on the northern side of a house may not be the best place to try to grow a large, full muhly grass mound because of lack of sunshine.
Consider the differing sizes of muhly grass varieties before purchasing young grasses to plant.
Muhly Grass Variations for Landscaping
Here are some of our favorite muhly grass varieties that can give any landscaped area a professional look:
- Pampas Grasses
- ‘Gracillimus’ Maiden Grass
- Little Bluestem
- Small Fountain Grass
- Blue Oat Grass
Muhly grasses also feature different colored plumes designed to dazzle.
Pink Muhly Grass Alternatives
Consider some of these alternatives to the Pink Muhly Grass:
- Ruby Muhly Grass
- Purple Muhly Grass
- White Cloud Muhly Grass
- Deer Grass
Conclusion
A professional-looking landscape does not always require a professional landscaper. Muhly grass varieties are a great way to add contrast and bring an element of whim and interest to a yard or garden. Consider adding muhly grass to the spring planting list and enjoy bright, feathery plumes into the fall!
b) Muhlenbergia Rigens – Deer Grass
Muhlenbergia Rigens – Deer Grass
Muhlenbergia rigens, more commonly referred to as deer grass, is a warm season perennial native to the dry, sandy soil of southwestern North America. Known for being low-maintenance, drought tolerant, and deer resistant, it is a popular garden and landscape staple for many homeowners throughout the country. Let’s take a look at deergrass and some of the ways it can be incorporated into personal or commercial landscaping.
Muhlenbergia Rigens Key Facts
| Fact Sheet | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Plant Type | Grasses | Flower Color | Yellow |
| Plant Height | 4 – 5 ft | Flowering Season | Spring |
| Plant Width | 4 – 5 ft | Dormancy | Evergreen |
| Growth Rate | Fast | Water Requirement | Low |
Deer grass is a plant consisting of dense, dry foliage growing in clusters of pointed leaves that can reach up to three feet in length. When in bloom, its flowers cream-colored flowers can increase its length up to five feet.
Young deergrass plants can act as a food source for many different types of animals, including deer. But once mature, the plants’ stalks harden and become inedible. Deergrass is so sturdy, Native Americans in the southwest regions used to use its mature stalks to weave baskets!
Since deer like prancing about lawns and gardens, grazing on the plants they find along the way. For this reason a plant that is deer resistant is a welcome addition for many gardens. It is the deer’s aversion to Muhlenbergia rigens that earned its name.
Further information can be found in the USDA Plant Fact Sheet for Muhlenbergia Rigens
Natural Setting
Muhlenbergia rigens is indigenous to the southwestern soil of North America. It only grows wild in elevations below 7,000 feet and home to the vast prairies of California, Texas, New Mexico, and Mexico.
| Natural Setting | |
|---|---|
| Locations | Southwestern United States and Mexico |
| Soil | Sandy or gravely well-drained |
| Max. Elevation | 7000 ft |
Deergrass is not a picky grower, though. It is drought resistant, yet can tolerate heavy rains and some flooding; it prefers full sun, yet can also tolerate shade.
How to Cultivate Deergrass
Because Muhlenbergia rigens is such a hardy variety – and deer resistant! – it is a popular garden and landscape option for many homeowners. Deergrass can adapt to almost any climate in the U.S. and reaches maturity in just two growing seasons. With its tall stalks reaching out in striking array, it is an attractive staple piece to anchor other smaller plants in a landscaped bed. Its sprawling width covers large areas of ground, cutting back on weed growth, as well.
To incorporate deergrass into the garden, consider purchasing it as a young, potted plant from a nursery. Transfer it to the ground in the fall months of late September to mid November. Deergrass thrives in zones 5 to 11, showing off the full extent of its silvery tufts and blooms in the spring.
Deergrass is easily mistaken for pampas grass. The former is a better alternative to other common California grasses due to its hardiness and deer resistance.
Deergrass Maintenance
A few years after planting, it may be time to bring new life into a deergrass plant with some simple maintenance. After several seasons of sun, the grass can become brown instead of its healthy silver-green hues. The time to prune is in the winter, when the plant is dormant. Consider cutting the stalks down to the ground in December or January to remove old grown and make way for some new life.
Since older plants are very tough, try using lopping shears to prune the plant down. Since the plant’s base consists of several feet of very dense foliage, it is not uncommon for it to be full of natural debris, such as acorns, leaves, and small wildlife. Rake through the foliage with a garden rake in between snips to reach the bottom of the stalk. It can be pruned all the way to the ground.
Within two to four weeks of cutting down the deergrass stalks, the perennial will start producing small shoots of yellow and green blades. The deergrass will reach a healthy maturation in two years!
Unless experiencing a particularly severe and lengthy drought, deergrass doesn’t need extra watering. It can tolerate a wide range of annual precipitation amounts, from as little as four inches a year and up to 61 inches of rainfall. This remarkable ability to acclimate among diverse climates is part of what makes the Muhlenbergia rigens so appealing for many homeowners.
Where to Buy Deergrass
As we mentioned before, it is usually best to purchase young potted plants from a nursery and then transplant them in the ground. Try a local nursery to see the varieties available, or check out some of these links to purchase deergrass plants ready to go in the ground:
Greener Earth nursery – deergrass available for purchase online starting at just $19.99 for a one-gallon container. This company has high ratings and a 100% money back guarantee. Since the plants are established in potted soil, they can ship anytime of the year. Free shipping may be available for purchases over $70.
Monrovia.com also sells deergrass plants online. If the a particular variety is out of stock, they offer the option of pre-ordering. Some of Monrovia’s prices may be higher than other online garden retailers, but they do offer free shipping and a satisfaction guarantee.
Deergrass Seeds
Deergrass seed is also available online. If planting deergrass from seed, do not attempt to just scatter the seed by hand. Sow the seed in pods or flats and then transfer them into the ground at least two to three feet apart. The seeds will require exceptional heat to germinate.
Larner Seeds is a California company specializing in seeds well suited for arid California climates. They offer packets of deer seeds for just $6.50, and quantities up to one pound of seed for $195.00.
Rare Exotic Seeds offers free shipping on all orders over $50 and has a wide range of seed quantities available for online purchase.
Other California Native Grasses
The California Native Plant Society (CNPS) boasts of the many benefits native California grasses have to offer. They focus on landscapers and homeowners alike.
California grasses have low water requirements and do not need frequent maintenance. They are not typically a food source for insects, and therefore do not require pesticides. These grasses are also a striking addition to any landscape.
There are over 300 species of grasses native to California. Here are 5 of the most common:
- Bouteloua gracilis is a low-growing variety that thrives in dry, arid climates.
- Festuca californica is lush, medium-sized bunch grass with vibrant green foliage and stiff stalks. It does well in shaded areas.
- Leymus condensatus, or “Canyon Prince” is characterized by blue-green blades that can tolerate both sun and shade.
- Calamagrostis foliosa is a full bunch grass that can grow up to two feet tall.
- Carex tumulicola is a wispy grass that does not grow in bunches. It grows in Northwestern North America, all the way up to British
- Columbia in meadows and open plains.
Some may also be great as a dog friendly grass in the garden.
Arizona Native Grasses
In addition to Muhlenbergia rigens, Arizona landscapes can be accentuated with several attractive bunched grass plants that thrive within the desert climate.
Here is a short list of Arizona native grasses:
Pink Muhly Grass
Pink Muhly Grass has a whimsical pink hue, grows up to four feet tall, and needs water once a week. Very common grass in Arizona.
Mexican Feathergrass
Mexican Feathergrass is a small, ornamental grass that grows up to 18 inches tall and needs watering 1 to 2 times a month.
Bear Grass
Bear Grass blooms white flowers late in the spring and displays unique, curly strands. It can grow up to four feet tall and needs water once or twice a week.
Conclusion
Deergrass is an excellent option for gardens and lawns. Low maintenance, low water requirements, affordability, and deer resistance will continue to guarantee its popularity among American lawns for years to come!