Native Plants
Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?
A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.
Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
rate this answer
Monday - February 04, 2008
From: Ocala, FL
Region: Southeast
Topic: Groundcovers
Title: Native ground cover to replace grass in Florida.
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
Where can I find a list of ground covers to replace my grass. I live in the south of Ocala Florida.ANSWER:
The Native Plant Society of Florida has lists of native plants to use for landscaping in Florida. You can search by county and I believe you are in Marion County.Here are a few recommendations from their list for groundcovers that do well in Marion County, Florida:
Dyschoriste oblongifolia (oblongleaf snakeherb)
Licania michauxii (gopher apple)
Mimosa strigillosa (powderpuff)
Mitchella repens (partridgeberry)
Phyla nodiflora (turkey tangle frogfruit)
Sisyrinchium angustifolium (narrowleaf blue-eyed grass)
You can also see a list of Florida Recommended native plants on our web site. Here are several recommendations from this list that would serve well as groundcovers:
Ceratiola ericoides (sand heath)
Chamaecrista nictitans ssp. nictitans (sensitive partridge pea)
Gaylussacia dumosa (dwarf huckleberry)
Also, you might consider one of the sedges, such as:
Carex blanda (eastern woodland sedge)
Carex cherokeensis (Cherokee sedge)
More Groundcovers Questions
Ground cover under live oaks
June 18, 2012 - I have some areas under Live Oak trees (maybe 200 sq. ft.)that remain bare, in spite of trying Habiturf. Soil is dry, poor and shallow. Can you suggest a living ground cover that would not require m...
view the full question and answer
Groundcover for area with impact from rain from roof
June 25, 2010 - The small garden on the side of my townhouse gets some hard rainfall during every storm. We've found ways of redirecting and using much of the rainfall (gutter and downspout to rain barrel, permeable...
view the full question and answer
Parthenocissus quinquefolia as replacement for Asiatic jasmine
June 14, 2007 - The deer have stripped the Asiatic jasmine groundcover under my clusters of live oak trees in Southwest Austin. This year the bare areas of ground are covered in Virginia creeper seedlings. I have b...
view the full question and answer
Low growing, flowering evergreen plants for Pflugerville TX
March 30, 2010 - I am wondering if you can suggest some low growing, flowering evergreen plants for my garden.
view the full question and answer
Ground covers for Denton, Texas
May 17, 2007 - Hi,
I live in "The Colony", Texas. I want to have a garden that is evergreen and colorful and low maintenance. Also looking for ground covers as do not have time to remove weeds growing in the flow...
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |