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From: Sugar Land, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Groundcovers
Title: Need suggestions for groundcover in between flagstones in patio in Sugarland, TX.
Answered by: Jimmy Mills
One approach is to go to our Native Plant Database and scroll down to the Combination Search Box. Select Texas under State, Herb under Habit, and Perennial under Duration. Check Sun under Light requirement, Dry under Soil moisture, and 0-1ft under Height. Click the Submit Combination Search Button and you will get a list of 46 native species that meet these criteria. Clicking on the scientific name of each species will bring up its NPIN page that has a description of the plant along with growth requirements and images. These aren’t all suitable for growing between flagstones, but there are some that you might like.
Here are a few that I found that may be possibilities:
Calyptocarpus vialis (Straggler daisy)
Dichondra argentea (Silver ponyfoot)
Mitchella repens (Partridgeberry) part shade
Phyla nodiflora (Texas frogfruit)
Sedum nanifolium (Dwarf stonecrop)
The Wild Flower Center is all about flowering plants and trees, but you might find this link to mosses interesting.
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