I would like to suggest you establish a forum for Groundcovers. I am a new resident of Victoria BC and have noted the many available, but am not sure which are truly evergreen in this climate. Some of the groundcovers I am trying are the small yellow-green sedum known as "Ogon", the various white- and blue-star creepers, thymes, miniature thymes... The "native" groundcovers also are of interest.
I agree in that a Forum specific for groundcover would be great. There are such a huge variety of available options and growing constantly with new hybrids. Groundcover does play a dynamic role in the overall appearance of one's garden and very much an essential element, at least my wife and I think so anyway :-) Janet - we have experimented with a broad variety of sedum here in Campbell River and they all do exceptionally well. A few of our favourites are pictured below (planted last month!). However, our all time favourite groundcover in general is periwinkle ... such a fabulous colour and easy grower.
Thanks to the member from Campbell River on groundcover -- I am pleased to hear that periwinkle does well, as we have planted several kinds this spring. The standard non-variegated blue-flowered appears to "raise its head" in a way which surprised me, coming from Nova Scotia, around our patio -- the central portion of the plant is growing upward vigorously about 8-10 inches as well as growing outward [I really want a tightly-knit groundcover and not so much upward movement, but it's interesting...]. I like "Orgon" as a decorative groundcover although I don't think it's foot-hardy -- does that little yellow-green sedum withstand colder winters ok?
Janet, my wife and I are originally from Lunenburg, Nova Scotia! Always nice to meet a fellow Maritimer - although I guess we are now converted West Coasters :-) I agree, we were also surprised about the height of the periwinkle but it works well for us in that we planted it under a hedge of California Lilac (pictured below). Both the California Lilac and the Periwinkle were planted just over one year ago. The native periwinkle we had on our farm on Quadra Island was much lower growing, and much slower spreading... we used to throw birdseed around them because the birds seem to spread the flowers throughout the property. Last winter was the worst we have seen here for the past ten years we have been on Vancouver island, and all the sedum we planted last year have survived without harm - and are growing like crazy at the present... as shown on this last photo.
Thanks for your wonderful replies -- I will email you with some further questions about groundcovers at some point! Glad to hear they were all winter-hardy, I will now be more optimistic. Pessimistic about plants' survivability is a NS trait!
