2005 Plant Sale Handbook - The Scott Arboretum of Swarthmore ...

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2005 Plant Sale Feature: Groundcovers
Groundcovers are among the most versatile plants you can grow. These glorious plants will
add color and texture to any spot in your garden. Four of our favorites are:
Woodies
Hypericum calycinum ‘Brigadoon’ – This is a tough
groundcover for difficult locations. Whether it be full
sun or deep shade, or even parched dry soils, this
selection of the St. John’s wort will thrive. This quick
to colonize groundcover reaches only six inches tall.
The leaves during the summer are yellow and
remain evergreen in the fall. During the summer it is
adorned with large golden flowers.
Lonicera pileata ‘Moss Green’ – This is one of the
very best of the woody, ever-green groundcovers.
The plants are covered in dense, glossy, small dark
green leaves. It is perfect for ground-covering
underneath other shrubs. At the Scott Arboretum, we
use Lonicera pileata to spread beneath the naked
stems of Ilex verticillata and Clethra alnifolia.
Perennials
Epimedium grandiflorum ‘Lilafee’– At this year’s sale
we are offering several Epimediums. These have
become a favorite choice of the Arboretum staff for
dry shade. In April, wiry stems emerge with a striking
orange colored flower. The foliage of many
epimediums last well into the winter providing good
seasonal interest.
Hakonechloa macra ‘All Gold’ – This is one of the
very few grasses that will thrive in the shade. At
maturity, the graceful arching leaves reach about 12-
15 inches. The foliage is a vibrant pure yellow. In the
fall it turns shades of red and then an attractive
tawny in the fall. It colonizes making an effective
ground-cover in shade or part-sun.
For a complete list of groundcovers see pp. 47-48.
Limited quantities subject to availability.
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