Explore Plants
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
Can't find the answer in our existing FAQs, submit a question to Mr. Smarty Plants.
Need help with plant identification, visit the plant identification page.
rate this answer
Tuesday - February 21, 2012
From: Wichita, KS
Region: Midwest
Topic: Invasive Plants, Non-Natives, Compost and Mulch, Groundcovers, Grasses or Grass-like, Herbs/Forbs
Title: Shade ground cover under honeysuckle from Wichita KS
Answered by: Barbara Medford
QUESTION:
Hi! I know this is a bit odd, but I am trying to find a nontoxic, good ground covering plant that can live in the shade while competing with the roots of a whole bunch of honeysuckle. I have a few ideas of how to help with the root competition, but finding the right plant is getting very difficult. I know you want only North American plants, but if the plant is an Australian plant, that would be all the better!ANSWER:
There really is no way we could help you with Australian plants. It's not so much that we WANT North American plants, that's just all we recommend at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, home of Mr. Smarty Plants.
You didn't say which honeysuckle you have, but all of them can be pretty invasive, climbing up other plants and choking them out, etc. There are 19 members of the Lonicera (honeysuckle) genus native to North America, but only 2 native to Kansas. We chose Lonicera sempervirens (Coral honeysuckle) to use for an example; probably, if that is not what you have, it is closely enough related. You can follow the plant link to see what sunlight (or lack of same), soils, water and so forth that plant requires. Then, we will go from there searching for low-growing groundcovers that tolerate the same conditions. To do this, we will go first to our Native Plant Database, search on Kansas, "herbs" (herbaceous blooming plants) under Habit or General Appearance as well as "shade" under Light Requirements, and "0 to 1 ft" under Height. Then we will repeat the process, selecting "grasses or grass-like." This may give us zero answers or some you might not care for. Whether or not anything we find can compete with the honeysuckle, we don't know. We found 23 herbaceous plants that suited the qualifications and have chosen 6 to list, but only 2 grasses, and neither seemed suitable. Follow each plant link to our webpage on that plant to learn more about it. You can also use the search technique we are demonstrating to look for other plants that you may prefer.
If all else fails, may we suggest some mulch? A good quality shredded hardwood mulch will protect the roots of the honeysuckle from heat and cold, be attractive, hold moisture in, and as it decomposes, add to the quality of the dirt. Please read our How-To Article on Under Cover with Mulch.
Low-growing herbaceous plants:
Cardamine concatenata (Cutleaf toothwort)
Camassia scilloides (Atlantic camas)
Dicentra cucullaria (Dutchman's breeches)
Erythronium albidum (White troutlily)
From the Image Gallery
More Invasive Plants Questions
List of North American plants grown in other countries
August 17, 2008 - I am working on a childrens story and would like to let the teachers who read this book know where some of the native plants in my book grow throughout the world, or if they grow outside of the USA. p...
view the full question and answer
Will Arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis) roots cause problems in a leach field?
January 14, 2010 - A new neighbor is concerned my Arbovitae's root system will go into his leach field. His house has been there also for the same amount of time as the tree and the field. The tree is 45 years old. Do...
view the full question and answer
Horsetail Rush invasive in Santa Monica CA
January 16, 2012 - Mr. Smarty Plants:
I live about 3 miles from the beach in the Santa Monica area and have an 18inch deep planter area in my backyard that is adjacent to my garage. I like the look of horsetail rush. I...
view the full question and answer
Controlling Rapistrum rugosum (annual bastardcabbage)
March 09, 2012 - The invasive, Rapistrum rugosum, seems to be especially ubiquitous this year. I communicated with Dr. Mark Simmons a few years ago regarding his research, which indicated that over-sowing wit...
view the full question and answer
Plants for under pine trees in Colorado Springs CO
April 23, 2011 - What can I plant under pine trees in Colorado that will grow every year? Would like ground cover; tried bishop weed.
view the full question and answer
 |
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. Mr. Smarty Plants wants you to be his Facebook friend. Click the Facebook icon to add yourself to Mr. Smarty Plants list of friends. |
