Groundcovers

Spikes of light clear blue, 2" long, nectar-rich, tubular flowers are held against a foil of medium to deep green quilted, anise-scented foliage and are produced from spring into fall attracting hummingbirds and other pollinators. Argentina Skies Salvia or Anise Sage, a selection of Salvia guaranitica or now S. coerulea, is a vigorous rhizomatous and tuberous perennial Salvia slowly developing into a tall groundcover-like mass of upright stems, foliage, and flowers. Provide a full sun to partially shaded site in a rich, moist to average moist, fertile soil with average or better drainage for optimum vigor and flowering. Item# 9948

Masses of 1" wide, bluish purple daisies with a yellow-eye absolutely cover these plants for weeks in late summer and fall attracting bees and other smaller pollinators. The Aromatic Aster, Symphyotrichum oblongifolius, is a low mounding perennial that develops into a compact shrub-like plant by flowering time. Excellent fall color for the garden as well as drought tolerance and pest and disease resistance make this an excellent addition to the perennial or wildflower border as well as for additions to low maintenance landscapes. Provide a full to mostly sunny site in an average moist, well-drained soil.Caterpillar host: Field Crescent, Pearl Crescent, Texan Crescent, Roadside Checkerspot, Hoffman's Checkerspot, and American Lady. Item# 10075

2-3" wide, yellow sunflowers are born along the tall stems in summer on this durable native perennial. The Ashy Sunflower will spread and develop into a ground covering mass of plants with age. Contrasting soft, gray green foliage. Easy, drought tolerant, and reliable even for tough locations. Use it as a mass planting for large areas or in native gardens and meadows. Native to nearly all of the eastern half of the US. Caterpillar host: Milbert's Tortoiseshells  Item#10418.

An unusual bicolored Mexican Petunia, Aztec Pink and White™ Ruellia produces pure white trumpets with contrasting magenta throats that are born freely from late spring or early summer until first frost to year round under warm tropical conditions atop medium-sized sturdy stems. This Mexican Petunia is a relatively new, compact, seed and pollen sterile selection that can spend more energy on flowering instead of adding unwanted seedlings to the garden. It is a naturally evergreen, rhizomatous or spreading, tropical perennial that is grown as a die-back perennial in zones 8-9. It can be grown as a low maintenance container specimen plant, in mixed container gardens, as well as in the garden and landscape. It can also be used as a medium-sized groundcover in difficult sites. The flowers attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Provide Mexican Petunias with a full to part sun site in an average moist to wet, fertile soil for optimum vigor and flowering. Item# 12599

Medium height and sterile! Aztec Purple™ Ruellia or Mexican Petunia produces purple trumpets that are born freely from late spring or early summer until first frost to year round under warm tropical conditions atop medium-sized sturdy stems. This Mexican Petunia is a relatively new, compact, seed and pollen sterile selection that can spend more energy on flowering instead of adding unwanted seedlings to the garden. It is a naturally evergreen, rhizomatous or spreading, tropical perennial that is grown as a die-back perennial in zones 8-9. It can be grown as a low maintenance container specimen plant, in mixed container gardens, as well as in the garden and landscape. It can also be used as a medium-sized groundcover in difficult sites. The flowers attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Provide Mexican Petunias with a full to part sun site in an average moist to wet, fertile soil for optimum vigor and flowering. Item# 12780

Perfect for hanging baskets! The large rounded clusters of flowers open a sunny yellow and mature to creamy white creating a complimentary two-tone effect and attracting a variety of pollinators and all on a mounding to semi-trailing plant. BANDOLISTA™ Coconut Lantana was developed with container culture in mind, specifically hanging baskets, with its naturally spreading to semi-weeping and mounding habit it is sure to provide spring to frost color with minimal fuss. The flowers of this cultivar are sterile meaning the plants can spend more time and energy developing new flower buds instead of ripening fruit. Utilize BANDOLISTA™ Coconut Lantana as a spiller or filler in mixed container gardens, use it as a colorful, pollinator attracting groundcover in the garden and landscape, and as specimen container plants. Excellent for attracting a variety of pollinators including butterflies, hummingbirds, bees, and other garden beneficials. Provide a full to mostly sunny site in well-draining, average moist, fertile soils for optimum vigor and flowering. Images courtesy of Syngenta Flowers, Inc., all rights reserved. Item# 13630

The 2025 Industry Choice Award winner in UGA Trial Gardens and was selected as Best in Class Container Lantana in 2022 at CSU Trial Gardens! The large rounded clusters of deep golden yellow flowers are sure to attract a host of pollinators and all on a mounding to semi-trailing plant. BANDOLISTA™ Pineapple Lantana was developed with container culture in mind, specifically hanging baskets, with its naturally spreading to semi-weeping and mounding habit it is sure to provide spring to frost color with minimal fuss. The flowers of this cultivar are sterile meaning the plants can spend more time and energy developing new flower buds instead of ripening fruit. Utilize BANDOLISTA™ Pineapple Lantana as a spiller or filler in mixed container gardens, use it as a colorful, pollinator attracting groundcover in the garden and landscape, and as specimen container plants. Excellent for attracting a variety of pollinators including butterflies, hummingbirds, bees, and other garden beneficials. Provide a full to mostly sunny site in well-draining, average moist, fertile soils for optimum vigor and flowering. Images courtesy of Syngenta Flowers, Inc., all rights reserved. Item# 13630

The #1 Lantana in 2022 trials at Penn State Trial Gardens and ideal for hanging baskets! The large rounded clusters of flowers open a deep orangey yellow and mature through orange tones and finally to deep fiery red all on a mounding to semi-trailing plant. BANDOLISTA™ Red Chili Lantana was developed with container culture in mind, specifically hanging baskets, with its naturally spreading to semi-weeping and mounding habit it is sure to provide spring to frost color with minimal fuss. The flowers of this cultivar are sterile meaning the plants can spend more time and energy developing new flower buds instead of ripening fruit. Utilize BANDOLISTA™ Red Chili Lantana as a spiller or filler in mixed container gardens, use it as a colorful, pollinator attracting groundcover in the garden and landscape, and as specimen container plants. Excellent for attracting a variety of pollinators including butterflies, hummingbirds, bees, and other garden beneficials. Provide a full to mostly sunny site in well-draining, average moist, fertile soils for optimum vigor and flowering. Item# 13086

Spikes of 1" long, hooded, tubular, dark blue-violet flowers with a white bee-guide on the lower lip are produced beginning in about midspring and continuing into midsummer attracting mainly bees, occasional butterflies, and potentially hummingbirds. Barbat or Barbed Skullcap, Scutellaria barbata, is a clump-forming, herbaceous perennial growing to about 12-18" high and is cloaked in medium to deep green foliage. Provide a moist to average moist, fertile soil in a full sun to partly shaded site for optimum vigor and flowering. May reseed on exposed soils. Item# 13196

In late summer and fall the plants cover up in 2" wide, sunny yellow daisies, sometimes with an orange halo, attracting a variety of pollinators, especially bees and butterflies. The Bearded Beggartick, Bidens aristosa, is a tall, branching, herbaceous, native annual, that readily reseeds, growing to about 4-5' high and about 2' wide. It is native to the central and eastern US from eastern Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas to the Eastern Seaboard and as far north as southern Wisconsin, Michigan, and Maine. While it is among the Beggarticks, this species does not produce seeds that stick to clothes and fur. Provide a full to mostly sunny site in a moist to average moist soil for optimum vigor and flowering. This is easily one of our showiest wildflowers for the fall. Item# 13558

Tall long-lasting spikes of lavender and purple flowers are held on sturdy stems above the beautiful rich glossy green foliage in late summer and fall. Bear's Breeches is an easy to grow slowly spreading perennial that lends its form, flowers, and foliage to the shaded garden, landscape, and even as a container plant. The leaf pattern of Acanthus mollis was used extensively in Greek architecture. Provide good to average drainage, moderate fertility and average moisture for optimum growth and flowering. Item# 3003

Belle Starr Gold Lantana produces a endless display of deep golden yellow, nectar rich, rounded flower clusters on a vigorous mounding to trailing plant with deep dark green glossy foliage acting as a backdrop. A 2015 LSU Agcenter Plant with Potential, this hardy Lantana attracts loads of butterflies, bees, smaller pollinators, and other garden beneficials and flowers from spring to frost. Use Belle Starr Gold Lantana as filler/spiller for medium to large containers or as a groundcovering perennial in the garden or landscape. It was named for the famous outlaw queen associated with James - Younger gang. Item# 11146

Beautiful, deep blue flowers emerge from spikes of black calyxes on this exquisite perennial Salvia all summer and fall against a backdrop of rich deep green foliage. Black and Blue Salvia, an Anise Sage and selection of Salvia guaranitica, is a highly sought after nectar plant for hummingbirds and may also be visited by larger butterflies. This easy and reliable perennial Salvia slowly spreads by rhizomes to create a tall groundcover like effect up to about 3' high but may remain shorter in drier poorer soils. Provide a full to mostly sunny position in an average moist to moist, average to well-drained, moderately fertile soil for maximum vigor and flower production. Easy and reliable. Item# 808

2" wide deep blue to purple trumpets with contrasting yellow throats are produced freely beginning as early as mid-spring and continuing until frost, to potentially year round under warm tropical conditions. The large showy flowers attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. The Blue Glory Vine, Thunbergia battiescombeii, is a small to medium-sized, mounding to sprawling, multi-stemmed, naturally evergreen tropical, in frost free climates, to root hardy perennial in zones 8-9 and grows to about 2-3' high and 3-4' wide as a perennial and up to twice as large in frost free conditions. This has been a reliable, low-maintenance, pest free, long-lived perennial in our gardens and easily survived 8^oF and 12^oF winter lows and extended freezing temperatures. It is tolerant of full sun where it has adequate moisture but seems to benefit from midday or afternoon shade or an eastern exposure in regions with hot summer climates. The Blue Glory Vine makes an easy container plant or an easy addition to the garden or landscape and has the potential to be used as an informal groundcover. Provide an average to well-drained, average moist, fertile soil for optimum vigor and flowering. One of our longtime favorite root hardy tropicals. Item# 327

Fuzzy flat topped clusters composed of blue to purple Ageratum-like flowers are produced atop sturdy stems beginning in early to midsummer, continuing into fall, and often until the first hard frost or freeze. The flowers attract a variety of pollinators, especially native bees and late season butterflies. The Blue Mistflower, Cononclinium coeslestinum, is a rhizomatous colonizing native perennial that makes an easy tall groundcover where it can wend its way around larger growing plants in the garden or landscape. It also makes an easy addition to more naturalistic settings like roadside plantings, meadows, and prairies. The Blue Mistflower generally prefers an average to moist, fertile soil in full to partly sunny sites for optimum vigor and flowering. This species was selected as the 2024 Plant of the Year by the Georgia Native Plant Society. Item# 10458

Large clusters of lightly fragrant lavender-blue flowers are produced in early spring and are held well above the deep dark green foliage. Blue Moon Phlox was selected for its clusters of large full flowers and vigor. This is an excellent choice for lightly shaded gardens or as a groundcover under deciduous trees. Provide shade during the hottest portion of the day in hot summer climates and well-drained soil rich in organic matter. Easy and reliable once established. The flowers provide early spring nectar to butterflies and other pollinators. Blue Moon Phlox along with the straight species Phlox divaricata tied for the Top Performer in Mt. Cuba Center Phlox for Shade trials. Item# 11217

Light blue to blue-purple 1/4" wide nectar-rich flowers adorn the tall narrow indeterminate flower spikes from spring to frost to year round under warm tropical conditions. Native to Florida and much of the tropical Americas, Blue Porterweed, Stachytarpheta jamaicensis, has smoother lighter green foliage and generally grows wider than tall whereas the other Blue Porterweed, Stachytarpheta cayennensis or S. urticifolia, has more rugose or quilted deeper green glossier foliage with a typically upright habit. Porterweeds are excellent pollinator plants where they attract a continuous menagerie of aerial acrobats from spring until frost. This a heat and sunloving tropical to tender perennial that can be added to gardens and landscapes or plant them in containers to draw the pollinators in for upclose viewing. Blue Porterweed is also a caterpillar host plant for the Tropical Buckeye butterfly. Item# 12046

Pale blue frilly 1 to 1-1/2" wide daisies with a nicely contrasting yellow center are produced beginning in late spring and through summer often continuing into fall atop a neat mound of deep green foliage. The Blue Star Japanese Aster is a tidy under-used clump-forming perennial selected for its exceptionally long flowering season that is sure to add delightful color to the garden and landscape but it also makes easy and exceptionally long-flower container specimens. The flowers are sure to attract a multitude of pollinators. Provide a full to mostly sunny site with a well-drained soil for optimum vigor and flowering. Heat, sun, and humidity tolerant. Images courtesy of North Creek Nurseries, all rights reserved. Item# 11682

Spikes of 1/2" long, tubular, two-lipped, deep azure blue flowers have a contrasting bright white bee-guide and throat are produced in late spring or early summer and continue into fall atop the tall wispy stems. The nectar rich flowers attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Bog Sage, Salvia uliginosa, is a rhizomatous, herbaceous perennial producing a multitude of tall thin wiry stems that can reach 5-6' high in rich fertile moist soils but tends to remain shorter, 3-4' high or so, under average moist garden conditions, which it can tolerate quite well, despite its name, once fully established. it tends to be more restrained under drier conditions as well. Its long flowering season and ease of care have garnered Bog Sage the RHS Award of Garden Merit. It can tolerate full sun in the cooler portions of its range but may be at its best where it receives a little midday shade in areas with hot summer climates. Item# 12906

The narrow deep green to bluish-green foliage is adorned with broad creamy white vareiegation down the center of each recurving leaf. In typical Airplane Plant fashion, Bonnie produces a multitude of miniature plantlets along creamy white arching stems eventually developing into a dense mass of foliage that is perfectly suited for small to medium-sized hanging baskets and containers. It will do best where it receives bright indirect sunlight in an average moist, fertile soil. We have long been in love with this cultivar not only for the name it shares with our mother but also for its neat dense and unusual habit. Easy and carefree and perfectly suited for shaded porches, patios, atriums, and gardens or enjoy it indoors with bright to medium indirect sunlight. In warm tropical climates Airplane Plants may be utilized as shady groundcovers. Item# 12461

Clusters of upward facing, soft lavender pink, nicely fragrant flowers are produced in loose clusters on 12-16" high stems in mid to late spring attracting mainly butterflies. Bonnie's Pink Prairie Phlox, a selection of Phlox pilosa and appears to match the description of ssp. ozarkana, is an evergreen to semi-evergreen, rhizomatous, native perennial adorned in narrow medium to dark green foliage. It makes a vigorous ground-cover once well-established and can be allowed to wend in and around larger shrubs and perennials. Provide an average moist, fertile, average to well-drained soil in a sunny garden or landscape. Item# 3062