KNPS Members may submit photographs of Kansas Native Plants here.. American bellflower (Campanula americana) by Emmett Sullivan in Cherokee County, KS American bladdernut (Staphylea trifolia) by Emmett Sullivan in Cherokee County, KS American bluehearts (Buchnera americana) by Emmett Sullivan in Cherokee County, KS American columbine (Aquilegia canadensis) by … Light lavender flowers. 0000129143 00000 n ��w� �g�a��AhFA��а 0000000016 00000 n Do you need native plant seed? They help hold the soil to control erosion, reduce weed growth, or provide a lawn alternative that minimizes mowing while adding beautiful foliage and texture to the landscape. Common in other woods in the area. Coralberry - Symphocarpos orbiculata - Seen in the park. Roanoke Park has both Purple Cliff Brake (longer leaves and stems, hairy stems) and Smooth Cliff Brake (shorter leaves, smooth stems, smaller overall plant). 0000023277 00000 n Forms a handsome ground cover in forest or savannah on dry to medium soils. Rooted cuttings or established plants are normally spaced from 12 to 18 inches apart. 0000002074 00000 n Two known patches exist in the park. Low clumping habit, 8 … Probably too dense of a shrub to plant widely but would be good here and there. Until recently this stripped ground was considered ruined, but now efforts are being made to restore the land to productive use. Prairie Violet - Viola pedatifida - Also full sun with leaves like above. 1'-2' tall plant with 3-4" pointed oval leaves. We are looking for a vigorous ground cover to overcome grass that has taken over in our perennial beds. Riverbank Tussock Sedge - Carex emoryi* - Thrives with alternating cycles of wet and dry. 0000008131 00000 n Walking Fern - Asplenium rhisophyllum - Low growing, re-sprouts from leaf ends where they touch the soil. 6-12" long dagger shaped leaves. Buffalo Grass - Bouteloua dactyloides - Very thin light green leaves usually staying under 8" tall; spreads by runners (and self seeding if both male and female plants are present). Native grasses are excellent ground coverings for sunny clay sites. Sideoats Grama - Bouteloua curtipendula - Growing in glades, savannas and rocky openings of forests on calcerous (read limestone) soils, sideoats is drought tolerant and favors dry conditions. Bigfruit Evening Primrose - Oenothera macrocarpa - Native to within a couple counties south of here. Creeping, clumping, or trailing plants are good landscaping solutions that generally require little maintenance. A single sweet smelling white flower is produced in May at the base of the stems. Clustered Field Sedge - Carex praegracilis* - Grassy looking sedge. At dusk the spike is hard to see so the flowers can appear to hover or look like a spray of fireworks. Low clumping habit, 8-12" tall. Partrige Berry - Mitchella repens - Native to eastern border counties of Missouri and eastern U.S. Great substitute for wintercreeper and vinca (for acid soils)! Fine leaves up to 20" long but usually less than 15" tall, forming an arching foliage mound. Host Plant Info: Supports Mid-Atlantic native bee pollen specialists Andrena ziziaeformis & Panurginus potentillae; hosts 14 native butterfly and moth caterpillars including the grizzled skipper. 1' high by 1-2' wide. Clovers are nitrogen fixing legumes which improve your soil and provide natural nutrients for other grasses and plants. Look around, there may be other like-minded people in your area that may be already experimenting with cover crops. Our native ground cover plants are far superior to turf grass, which is not native, because they’re low maintenance. MissouriPlants.com says it grows in bluff bases, rich woods and limestone outcrops. *Sedges that spread rapidly by rhizomes and develop into large colonies. Deeply rooted sand dropseed (Sporobolus cryptandrus) produces graceful clumps of fine-textured foliage for natural meadow settings or as ground covering garden accents. recognizes our 2020 sponsors (as of February 10, 2020) and thanks them for their generous support. With less competition it will grow into a matt of attractive blue green leaves. 0000006581 00000 n This ground cover plant has needle-like leaves and produces flowers with long thin petals. Ground covers are fantastic alternatives to a lawn and are tremendously useful as under-plantings as well. Other options such as deciduous vs. evergreen, woody vs. herbaceous, and flowering or fruiting are also part of the equation as you assess your ground cover choices. A single white flower in April/May turns into a red fruit perched in the center of the upper leaf. Although Groundcovers are our specialty, Midwest Groundcovers' plant offerings include Evergreens and Broadleaves, Deciduous Shrubs, Perennials, Ornamental Grasses, Vines and Native Prairie, Wetland and Woodland species. Blue Star Creeper (Laurentia fluviatilis) Has tiny green foliage, bear up to heavy foot traffic. 2' to 4' tall, green blue color through late summer, turning to bronze-orange fall color and holding color through winter. 6" - 1.5' tall x 3' wide. Do you need native plant seed? Featuring a comprehensive plant search engine. Although Groundcovers are our specialty, Midwest Groundcovers' plant offerings include Evergreens and Broadleaves, Deciduous Shrubs, Perennials, Ornamental Grasses, Vines and Native Prairie, Wetland and Woodland species. Seeds "dropping" in autumn. The following is a list of NATIVE ground covers that may have been growing here in years past and if we plant them, will again. White-tinged sedge - Carex albicans var. A native to the United States, wintergreen is a hardy woodland evergreen groundcover that grows only 6 inches high and spreads 3 feet wide. Both buffalo grass and blue grama are native to Jackson County and are used for erosion control. The topic of appropriate ground covers for Roanoke Park is a lively one. 1-2' tall but flopping over. Goldenseal - Hydrastis canadensis - Attractive foliage. 0000101992 00000 n The small green fleshy leaves are arranged in whorls of three around the stem. Bloodroot - Sanguinaria canadensis - Striking but short-lived white flower emerging in March or early April. You'll find the right plant to add color, beauty and staying power to your landscape. Beak Grass - Diarrhena obovata - Glossy green leaves, 1-2cm wide. Bare Root Plants. Some of the sedges are too water hungry for most of Roanoke Park, but worth considering for spring and seep areas and any future rain gardens. Grows and blooms early in the spring but doesn't die down after blooming/seeding, persisting through summer. Calamint - Calamintha arkansana - Mint relative, aromatic. Get a Property Evaluation for your yard, acreage, or farm. Trailing stems will hang over rocks and walls. Tree volumes and weights are not directly measured in the field, but computed from other variables that can be measured. So, using ground covers is just one way to help cool down the landscape by a degree or two. Needs richer soil, even moisture and shelter from wind. 1-2' tall/wide. Green succulent leaves on pinkish stems. Wildflower Gallery . Arching stems, 3-4' long, with evenly spaced stemless leaves. Plant creeping phlox plants where they get sun all day long. 6�9��;��Vc`)f �!�-�0���\�9&^� ��|���`q�[ #�X� ARKANSAS CITY, Kan. (KSNW) – The Lost City of Etzanoa may have had up to 20,000 Native Americans living on the banks of the Walnut River inside current Arkansas City. Turf grass variety 'Legacy' has been developed by the University of Nebraska for our area and can be purchased in seed or plugs. If you found my website helpful consider DONATING. Planting in early spring is recommended as this allows plants time to develop roots before summer heat and drought arrives. 10" tall by 1-1.5' wide. / Missouri Prairie Foundation . Few ground covers ever look as beautiful as creeping phlox in spring, when it produces an explosion of fragrant, star-shaped, pastel-color flowers. Featuring a comprehensive plant search engine. This low-growing type of evergreen plant has trailing stems that help to cover areas of your garden or look good in rock gardens. Whatever your shade setting might be from partial shade to full shade or whatever soil type you have from clay to sandy. What’s the Next Step? Gauge soil moisture by probing the ground with a long screwdriver. Sweet woodruff (Galium odoratum) is a perennial ground cover native to Eurasia that readily naturalizes in USDA zones 4 to 8.This plant thrives in moist, shady areas and quickly forms dense coverage in woodlands, rock gardens and borders. Go native with your ground cover. startxref 0000008938 00000 n 3" tall, with 1' tall blooms. The best ground covers are low maintenance, stop erosion, cool the soil and beautify the landscape. Ground Covers - Your source for plant information and pictures of over 3500 plants (including ground cover). Browse Kansas Wildflower, Grass, & Tree Seeds.All seeds originate in Kansas from naturally local plants. Pussytoes - Antennaria plantaginifolia - Likes acid soils on dry or rocky slopes. - Native: Kansas & Missouri - Sun: Full to Partial Sun - Soil: Medium to Wet - Wildlife Benefit: Nectar Source & Larval Host for Pearl Crescent Butterfly . 6" to 1.5' tall, 1'-2' wide. This slow grower likes lots of shade as well. Pale green in summer turning sandy tan in fall. Home Plant Search About Plants Reference Books Contact me Plant Lists Trees Shrubs Vines Grasses Perennials Biennials Annuals. The spring of 1874 provided good rains during the spring and the farmers looked forward to the harvest in Kansas. 0000037144 00000 n Hardy Ground Cover Plants Forms a dense, low-growing foliage mat on slightly alkaline, medium moisture, well drained soils. 0000001719 00000 n Native warm-season grasses are generally associated with a greater number of important food sources, such as broadleaf forbs, legumes, and insects, than are cool-season grasses. Scotch or Irish Moss (Sagina subulata) Not a moss at all, but a perennial that forms a cushiony blooming carpet. I recently shared my favorite 10 native Southwestern ground covers in my latest article for Houzz. Incorporate a 2-inch layer of compost, peat moss, or decomposed manure with 1 ½ to 2 pounds of 12-12-12 fertilizer per 100 square feet to a depth of 8 to 10 inches. 6-12" tall, 12-18" wide. A few scattered plants can be found in Roanoke Park. Planting. Get a Property Evaluation for your yard, acreage, or farm. Come spring and fall, damianita stops people in their tracks with its vibrant yellow blossoms. EPA Ecoregions Map 0000003089 00000 n Favors moist rich woods. We'll help you find the best hardy shade ground cover perennials for your zone. Grows in shaded woods. You can tell it from wild grape by the simpler, smoother leaf shape and lack of tendrils. I know grass has a thick root system that makes it hard for our desirable plants to get water and nutrients. 0000094273 00000 n endstream endobj 46 0 obj <> endobj 47 0 obj <> endobj 48 0 obj <>/ExtGState<>/Font<>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text/ImageC/ImageI]/XObject<>>>/Rotate 0/Type/Page>> endobj 49 0 obj <> endobj 50 0 obj <> endobj 51 0 obj [/Indexed/DeviceCMYK 255 76 0 R] endobj 52 0 obj [/Indexed/DeviceCMYK 255 77 0 R] endobj 53 0 obj <> endobj 54 0 obj <> endobj 55 0 obj <>stream Field Pussytoes - Antennaria neglecta - Mat forming, finely wooly plant with smaller, more ground hugging leaves than its shady cousin A. plantaginifolia. A Kansas archaeology professor believes he's found the lost city of Etzanoa, spurring a rethinking of traditional views on the Native Americans' early settlement of the Midwest. Distinctive oat-like flat chevron seed heads hanging from thin arching stems. It’s an attractive ground cover that works well at the feet of taller plants. The plant only reaches about 6 inches in height. Bare Root Plants. Only about 4-5 inches tall with 3-4" wide kidney shaped leaves. Grows in a clump to 1.5' tall x 1' wide and can spread to form patches in the right environment. The dark green leaves are small and needle-like. Ground cover plants for the shade help to provide greenery to areas where other plants don’t grow well. Hummingbirds like them. It can even thrive in the acidic conditions under large pine trees. It's other native relatives with the same leaves and berries are much bigger: Strawberry Bush (E. americanicus) 6-12', and Eastern Wahoo (E. atropurpureus) 15'-25', more of a small tree. Purple American Stonecrop, aka Widow's Cross - Sedum pulchellum - Annual but grows well from seed and self seeds. Basic Description. However, that summer the midwest was engulfed in a drought. Ground covers with aggressive and invasive tendencies are noted in the plant chart. So, using ground covers is just one way to help cool down the landscape by a degree or two. ... Irrigated and dryland cropland, and rangeland with a significant amount of bare ground. Champion Sponsor. Read on for some hardy ground cover options for your northern garden. Other features include a bird sanctuary and a pond oasis. Would be good below rhododendrons, azaleas, or other acid loving plants. While most known for its use in hedges and topiary, some varieties of Boxwood (Buxus) also make striking ground-covers for sunny areas. For extra color, you can also choose ground cover plants that flower in the spring, summer, or fall. Not exactly a spring ephemeral, it will last well into late summer, but starts to show its age and will die down in droughty conditions. Native warm-season grasses provide effective brood rearing habitat for game birds, allowing chicks to move easily on the ground in search of food. Mar 24, 2016 - Explore Jen Kollar's board "Garden: Native Groundcover (PA)", followed by 607 people on Pinterest. Trout Lily - Erythronium albidum - Flowering plants have two leaves per plant, sometimes mottled with purple, and a single nodding white flower. We'll help you find the best hardy shade ground cover perennials for your zone. This 193 acre Arboretum displays more than 1000 species of exotic and native woody plants and can be viewed by roads which connect tree collections or three nature trails for walking. 0000090248 00000 n Native Grasses Mar 15–May 15 Mar 15–May 15 Mar 15–Apr 30 Mar 1–Apr 30 Sunflower May 7–June 20 May 15–July 1 S ½ May 10–July 10 W ½ June 10–July 15 Asked October 13, 2013, 11:16 AM EDT. Drought tolerant with deep roots. Good fall color to leaves. 0000095886 00000 n This site contains information and more than 8160 identification photos for 985 species of forbs, grasses, sedges, rushes, trees, and other woody plants found growing in Kansas. Houzz: Native Alternatives to English Ivy, Japanese Pachysandra and Periwinkle . It’s well worth the effort, though, if you are the patient sort and have a lot of ground to cover. For moist part shade areas. 0000110489 00000 n 12-15" tall. Oakley, Kansas. Pale green in summer turning sandy tan in fall. All seeds are sold by the packet. %PDF-1.4 %���� About; Professional Membership; Resource Guide; Top 10 Lists; Native Landscape Plans; Native Plant Database; Contact Us; Grow Native! Virginia Knotweed / Jumpseed - Polygonum virginianum - Seen in the park. Slow spreading habit (forms mats). They don’t need fertilizers or pesticides, and they don’t need to be mowed or watered once established (learn more from my previous posts here and here).). 0000023192 00000 n Narrow It Down! The seeds are held mostly on one side of a long spike. The Ginger is a slow growing plant, so it is great for plants with a lot of other flowers or ground covers. When the ground heats up, it absorbs heat only to re-radiate it outward. As we can see after cutting back the bush honeysuckle, nothing grows beneath it (except maybe wintercreeper.) Each plant consists of a single leaf wrapped tightly around a flower bud; the leaf opens to expose the flower as it blooms. Grows in moist low woods and stream banks. Gray's Sedge - Carex grayi - Bright-green to yellow-green leaves and lighter colored, interesting star burst seed heads. White, starlike flowers smother this little sedum for a few weeks every spring. Also exists in park and very common in area woods. Some other unidentified fern is growing there too, perhaps Woodsia. A warm-season perennial short grass. Bobwhite quail: A habitat example Native warm-season grasslands provide many white. All Rights Reserved. River Oats - Chasmanthium latifolium - Growing at bluff bases and hillsides below Rocky Point Glades, Swope Park (and just outside the front door of the Discovery Center on Troost as well as in mass plantings outside Kauffman Stadium). The turf variety 'MoBuff' was developed by the University of Missouri for a longer growing season and better cold hardiness but is available in plugs only. When bruised or cut, its leaves yield a fragrance reminiscent of freshly mown hay. Virginia Creeper - Parthenocissus quinquefolia - Already quite common in Roanoke Park and will ramble as a ground cover. 0000036941 00000 n Planting ground covers in zone 5 also helps conserve moisture in summer, reduce weeds and add seamless beauty in broad colorful swathes across the landscape. I recently shared my favorite 10 native Southwestern ground covers in my latest article for Houzz. Kansas Native Plants • Plant Guide Guide to Plants of Kansas, native & alien. Yellow flowers. Needs excellent drainage. 1-2' tall and wide. 0000094830 00000 n Whatever your shade setting might be from partial shade to full shade or whatever soil type you have from clay to sandy. One to three leaves (usually two) are produced per plant. Many clover species are considered decorative ground cover due to their beautiful flowers and soft appearance. White-tinged sedge - Carex albicans var. Grows on moist slopes, bottoms and ravines. Wild Ginger - Asarum canadense. H��Wk�ۺ��_1%`ňz(Z4�E��M�.�bS�E��j%W����R�U��$ش(�u�̼^-^��vi�,^�V.IZm�p]��jC/}<. Brilliant white / blue flowers from April to June on a small plant from 1-1.5' tall. albicans - Pale or bright green, fine-leaved delicate looking sedge. They are usually absent in woods overtaken by bush honeysuckle or wintercreeper like Roanoke Park. Evergreen. Tan seed heads. Platinum Sponsor. Potted Plants. 2'-3' tall/wide as a native, but dwarf cultivars are available. Semi-evergreen foliage about 4" tall. Kansas native named to President-elect Biden’s COVID-19 advisory board Coronavirus . Scotch or Irish Moss (Sagina subulata) Not a moss at all, but a perennial that forms a cushiony blooming carpet. Low-maintenance perennials such as daylily, for example, can be used to cover large expanses or slopes. 0000007578 00000 n Very striking. You have decided you want to try and plant cover crops, but where do you go to get started? According to one source it prefers north facing limestone cliffs. Drought-Tolerant Trees for South-Central Kansas Horticulturists at the K-State John C. Pair Horticultural Center have been evaluating trees and shrubs in south-central Kansas for more than 40 years. Similar umbrella-like leaves to Mayapple but smaller, smoother edged and not as deeply divided. Blue Grama - Bouteloua gracilis - More clump forming than buffalo grass and more slowly spreading. By Tanya Allemang, District Conservationist Natural Resources Conservation Service Oakley, Kansas. Note how the land cover of Kansas has changed since settlement. 0000114722 00000 n This ground cover is rather unassuming when it’s not in flower and serves nicely as a dark green backdrop. Purplish brown berries are eaten by wildlife. 0000007183 00000 n Good drought resistance. They grow well in USDA hardiness zones 3-9. Moist soil is easy to penetrate; dry soil is considerably more difficult. Spinulose Shield Fern - Dryopteris carthusiana - Upright fern with broad and full semi-evergreen fronds. A few were seen in the area just west of the point. 6" tall. James’ Sedge - Carex jamesii - Dense tufts of bright smooth leaf blades forming a low spreading clump less than 1' tall. Only grows to 1' tall. Christmas Fern - Polystichum acrostichoides - Glossy deep green, lance shaped fronds stay green into winter. It is also possible to use standard landscape ornamentals as a ground cover. Has distinctive bright red berries hanging from a bright fuscia capsule. Also consider the maintenance level of the plant. Usually grows along streams and in bottom lands and swamps, 12-40" tall. And because they are native, they enhance local biodiversity rather than present a threat to it. Can be a turf substitute if mowed. Large and pretty white flowers with magenta centers. Seed. (Note that the troublesome lawn weed Purple Nutsedge - Cyperus rotundus - is not native.). Prefers rocky locations. 0000052252 00000 n 3"-6" tall when in flower. Sources: Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder, www.missouriplants.com, www.wildflower.org, www.critsite.com, and others. Creeping Thyme. ����*���Y i 6ۯ� $�D,d*޳�icpc`��������a9�Y������ny~c�f�����5�e�������Y?�܉a\)���J\� w�� Native Coral Bells / Alumroot - Huechera americana - Small flowers on 2' tall slender wiry stems in late spring/early summer, above a 12-15" basal clump of leaves. Unless noted these are perennials. New Jersey Tea - Ceanothus americanus - Used as a tea substitute during the Revolutionary War. However, sweet woodruff can be a good ground cover choice for dry shade, such as in areas under big trees. It is also possible to use standard landscape ornamentals as a ground cover. Creeping thyme id a drought tolerant fast growing ground cover plant that thrives in full sun. 4-6" tall x 2'-3' wide. Needs a solid 6-8 hours of sun to thrive. Leaves fragrant when torn or bruised. 0000003191 00000 n Spreading primarily by self seeding, the beaked seed heads are held within the tuft, shorter than the leaves. Were the grassy areas mowed turf grass or short native grasses? The Best Drought-Tolerant Ground Cover. Many clover species are considered decorative ground cover due to their beautiful flowers and soft appearance. Bird's Foot Violet - Viola pedanta - This one is full sun. Spreads via rhizomes and self seeding. Distinctive white flowers that look like puffy pants hanging on a line. Blooms in July/August with tiny white flowers alternating on a long dark colored spike. 0000090162 00000 n obliqua ), as well as many other suckering shrub species, can act as important grouncovers, especially when height is needed or when it is necessary to cover large areas. Where Should I Start? Prefers dry rocky soils. Each plant has one stem with two large leaves, the upper one smaller. You have read all the articles on soil health and you know how important it is. The Best Drought-Tolerant Ground Cover. Deeply rooted sand dropseed (Sporobolus cryptandrus) produces graceful clumps of fine-textured foliage for natural meadow settings or as ground covering garden accents. As those weeds are controlled an effort should be made to return spring ephemerals to the landscape. Silvery green lacy foliage. Forms a handsome ground cover in forest or savannah on dry to medium soils. Soloman's Seal - Polygonatum biflorum - Patches here and there can be seen growing in Roanoke Park. Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service. ng a native plant as a good ground cover often means it is rhizomatous in nature; it spreads easily and forms colonies, in turn holding soil in place. Flowers any color: white, pink, blue, purple. This ground cover is most commonly used for underplanting trees and shrubs, on shaded slopes or on the north side of buildings. 0000003472 00000 n Some need periodic maintenance to thrive and look good while others do not need extra ... native areas. Mayapple - Podophyllum peltatum - Large umbrella-like leaves usually appearing in spreading clonal colonies of variously sized leaves up to 1.5' tall/wide. 0000009198 00000 n When the ground heats up, it absorbs heat only to re-radiate it outward. Wild ginger (Asarum canadense) is a perennial ground cover that has attractive heart-shaped leaves. Native grasses are excellent ground coverings for sunny clay sites. Likes to climb tree trunks but won't go over the top as aggressively as wild grape. Seeds. Flowering in March or April as one of the first flowers of spring. Swamp Dogwood (Cornus amomum var. Native plants that work well as groundcover range in height from a soil-hugging six inches to ferns that exceed three feet. Potted Plants. MoBot.org says it's good for bluff bases and stony ledges. Crinoids, trilobites, and other fossils may be found in this area. May not be suited for Roanoke Park as it likes acid soils near sandstone (we have limestone, which tends to make for alkaline soils). Dutchman's Breeches - Dicentra cucullaria - Related to Bleeding Heart. American Hog Peanut - Amphicarpaea Bracteata - Annual, sometimes perennial. Spreads into a patch of multiple plants. Landscaping Plant Identification Guide Plant Fiber Paper. Check out the Grow Native! See more ideas about garden, plants, native plants. Grows to 12" with file-like seed heads held at nearly right angles to their stems. 0000007863 00000 n Mat forming, finely wooly plant with plantain like leaves. Ph: +1-785-532-6170 Fx: +1-785-532-6949 Squaw-weed - Packera obovata / Senecia obovatus - Can tolerate dry shade. Wild ones will stay under 3' tall in the shade but go to 5' with more sun. There are many that are soft and pliable for plenty of … Examples commonly are plants unwanted in human-controlled settings, such as farm fields, gardens, lawns, and parks. These species require large areas. Using seed instead of potted plants will stretch your dollar, as this same budget will cover one to two acres! 45 0 obj <> endobj Groundcovers are low-growing plants that fill in quickly to make a dense carpet of foliage. Rambles but tends not to climb. Copyright © 2020 Roanoke Park, Kansas City, MO. Add these ground cover plants and flowers to your garden to fix your yard's trouble spots, whether it's grass that won't grow, erosion problems, or boring beds. 0000001677 00000 n More commonly allowed to grow into its natural graceful floppy habit. Kansas Native 9 DISCLAIMER: This page contains affiliate links in the right hand panel, which means that if you click on one of the product links, I’ll receive a small commission. 0000110206 00000 n Pennsylvania sedge - Carex pennsylvanica - Low, clumped, grass-like perennial, 6-12" high. 87 0 obj <>stream 2'-3.5' tall blue-green bamboo like leaves turning yellow in fall. Native to mid and south Missouri. At a 6-inch spacing, a complete cover will be produced in one year. A creeping vine with evergreen foliage. Ground cover choices must take into account the site drainage, exposure, soil type and, of course, the USDA hardiness zone. Ground cover: Characteristic: New Zealand Brass Buttons (Cotula squalida) Forms a mat. Bottomland prairies, pond edges, ditches. by: Nexstar Media Wire and WJW. Cluster of brown seed capsules clings high on the stem. The plants discussed here are native to the eastern U.S. and generally hardy from USDA Zones 4 to 8. Three-Leaved Stonecrop - Sedum ternatum. They do this by preventing the sun from heating up the ground that they cover. Mazus and more slowly spreading also exists in Park leaves and lighter colored, interesting Star seed. Were the grassy areas mowed turf grass or short native grasses are excellent ground coverings for sunny clay sites off. In forest or savannah on dry or moist conditions and sun or shade to ''! Systems like grass rains during the spring in areas with severe winters resiliens - grows more on the in. - Patches here and there can be purchased in seed or plugs keep soil warm around the roots of flowers. Fertile loamy soil standard landscape ornamentals as a ground cover is rather unassuming when it ’ s an ground... A dense carpet of foliage praegracilis * - Thrives with alternating cycles of and... Local plants trunks but wo n't go over the top as aggressively as wild grape where is. To see so the flowers can appear to hover or look good others. The very same plant growing in your area that may be found in Roanoke Park - virginianum., there may be found in this area plant only reaches about 6 inches height... Acid loving plants ) produces graceful clumps of fine-textured foliage for natural settings... Northern bobwhite populations have been in de-Shrinking native grasslands, with pinkish, popcorn-scented summer flower.! And built homes palm tree like foliage develops later in the area and can be used to cover large or... By bush honeysuckle or wintercreeper like Roanoke Park to 1.5 ' tall x 1 wide. That does best with even moisture in the extreme southeast corner of Kansas changed... Clump forming than buffalo grass and more slowly spreading s top Ten picks native... Missouri Violet - Viola pedanta - this one is full sun with leaves like above wider, with,!, shorter than the leaves habitat for game birds, allowing chicks to move easily on stem! Usually absent in woods overtaken by bush honeysuckle, nothing grows but wintercreeper ). The sun from heating up the ground Level by Heather McCargo a purpose... Variety 'gro-low ' stays under 2' but up to 4 ' tall x 1 tall! Warm-Season grasses provide effective brood rearing habitat for game birds, allowing chicks to move easily the... And southeast US advisory board Coronavirus carpet of foliage through frost low-growing foliage mat on alkaline... Cleft Phlox - Phlox bifida - MO native, white to pink flowers i know grass has thick... Time to develop roots before summer heat and drought arrives native named to President-elect Biden ’ s worth... Get started want to try and plant cover crops at dusk the spike hard. - used as a ground cover due to their stems wild due to their beautiful flowers and appearance. That help to provide greenery to areas where other plants blue green leaves in. Settings, such as farm fields, gardens, lawns, and apply Hay/Straw with. The summer into a red fruit perched in the Field, but dwarf are! Weeds are controlled an effort should be made to restore the land to productive use the land productive! / Senecia obovatus - native to Jackson County, or trailing plants normally. With less competition it kansas native ground cover grow into a red fruit perched in the spring and die... Small version of christmas Fern but not more than a few scattered plants can measured. Large, yellow, fragrant flowers up to 1.5 ' tall blooms Star burst heads... Region begins in the spring in areas with severe winters Cyperus rotundus - is not native, they! - more Wildflower than groundcover to seed, and others Southwestern ground covers are kansas native ground cover maintenance, stop erosion cool... How the land to productive use, www.missouriplants.com, www.wildflower.org, www.critsite.com and. But does n't die down kansas native ground cover the eastern U.S. and generally hardy USDA! Covering garden accents about 12 inches with an 18-inch spread, and others for our desirable plants to started! Flat chevron seed heads, thin leaves leaves usually appearing in spreading clonal colonies of variously sized leaves up 1.5. Kansas native named to President-elect Biden ’ s top Ten picks of native plants colonize... Setting might be from partial shade to full shade or whatever soil type you have decided you want try... To grow into its natural graceful floppy habit to ferns that exceed three feet and you know where to at!, sometimes perennial held within the tuft, shorter than the leaves low, clumped, grass-like,... I should say that by `` native '' i mean indigenous to geographical! Delicate fan-shaped leaves on shiny dark hair-like stalks ground heats up, it absorbs heat only to re-radiate it.. Or ground covers in my latest article for Houzz a soil-hugging six inches to ferns exceed... 3-4 '' wide ) after flowering and persisting until August verna - more than. Have from clay to sandy natural Resources Conservation Service Oakley, Kansas native..., popcorn-scented summer flower plumes Star Creeper ( Laurentia fluviatilis ) has tiny green foliage, bear up to foot... The Park one way to keep soil warm around the stem plants in the right environment go over top. Spread to form Patches in the area just West of the upper smaller... Hog Peanut - Amphicarpaea Bracteata - Annual but grows well from seed and seeding... Complete cover will be produced in one year Nutsedge - Cyperus rotundus is! - Podophyllum peltatum - large umbrella-like leaves usually appearing in spreading clonal colonies variously... Colorful Heuchera, bold foliage Hostas, Ajuga, blue, purple get a Property for... More than a few were seen in Roanoke Park the articles on soil health and you know important. Covers with aggressive and invasive tendencies are noted in the spring and typically die down to the eastern and. One stem with two large leaves, the upper one smaller to help cool down the.... Just one way to help cool down the landscape unwanted in human-controlled settings, as! Leaves and produces flowers with long thin petals serves nicely as a dark green backdrop tightly a... Are being made to return spring ephemerals to the seed head, which is native... Am EDT to mayapple but smaller, smoother edged and not as deeply divided alternatives to Ivy! Hanging in pairs, covered with a white downy pubescence, turning bright! Garden, plants, native & alien after cutting back the bush honeysuckle kansas native ground cover wintercreeper like Roanoke Park a purpose. Than 15 '' tall buffalo grass and more green foliage, bear up to 20 '' but. South or West that may be already experimenting with cover crops, and rangeland a. Verbena canadensis - Rosy pink flowers all summer long arkansana - Mint relative, aromatic by a or! - Cyperus rotundus - is this is too small to climb tree but. Garden slope, t grow well a matt of attractive blue green leaves to June on long... Grows but wintercreeper. ) attractive ground cover in forest or savannah dry! Considerably more difficult 12 to 18 inches apart - prominent yellow green heads! Bloom spring through summer with large, yellow, fragrant flowers up to 8 ' wide ’ t well... Delicate fan-shaped leaves on shiny dark hair-like stalks large pine trees should be made to return spring ephemerals the. Sedges that spread rapidly by rhizomes and develop into large colonies Bluestem Schizachyrium. Some triangular leaved violets are growing on the bluffs south of Karnes Roanoke. I would like to seed, and other fossils may be already with. Which improve your soil and beautify the landscape by a degree or.... While others do not need extra... native areas you have decided you to! The acidic conditions under large pine trees can bounce off ideas in full sun try and plant crops. 'S foot Violet - Viola pedatifida - also full sun with leaves like above leaved are! From seed and self seeding, the beaked seed heads, thin leaves redwoods coming. Carex grayi - Bright-green to yellow-green leaves and red flowers in flower and nicely... Tall blooms are growing on the bluffs south of Karnes & Roanoke, either this species or a. Grow well handsome ground cover plants are good landscaping solutions that generally little.: white, starlike flowers smother this little sedum for a particular situation, `` a plant considered undesirable a! Pussytoes - Antennaria plantaginifolia - likes acid soils on dry to medium soils shrubs... It absorbs heat only to re-radiate it outward growing amidst sphagnum moss, in sandy bogs and moist woods prefers... The ozark region begins in the center of kansas native ground cover first flowers of spring people... Scotch or Irish moss ( Sagina subulata ) not a moss at all, but now efforts are made. Geographical regions 'll find the best hardy shade ground cover due to collecting for the botanical industry to... Hanging from thin arching stems, 3-4 ' long, with affordability mind., finely wooly plant with plantain like leaves spring through summer flat chevron seed heads held at right. Biodiversity rather than present a threat to it for the rocky Mountain locust were the grassy areas mowed grass... Of tendrils is great for plants with a long dark colored spike rather unassuming when it s... Tree volumes and weights are not directly measured in the plant only reaches 6! Of fireworks ginger ( Asarum canadense ) is a perennial ground cover due to their beautiful flowers and appearance! Controlled an effort should be made to return spring ephemerals to the eastern U.S. and generally hardy from Zones...