Groundcovers for shade

Story by Judy Horton

Shady dry spots can be challenging, but with the right groundcover plants, those boring bare patches can be transformed into an eye-catching display.

Some of the most challenging positions in the garden are those spots under trees where understorey plants need to cope with ever-deepening shade and increasing root competition. Some trees even add to the indignity by dropping leaf litter all over the specimens below. With careful plant selection you can transform a problem spot into a shady nook that becomes a new garden feature. These plants need to be shade and drought tolerant, preferably with shallow roots that won’t end up in a root war. Here are some groundcovers to get you started…

Bromeliads

With compact root systems and shade tolerance, bromeliads are popular choices for under-canopy areas in warm climates. They can be placed into pots sunk into the soil or mulch, then swapped over when they need to be tidied or split. The options of different varieties are almost endless.

Japanese spurge (Pachysandra terminalis)

Happiest in cool climates, this groundcover forms a spreading mass of attractive, rosette-style dark green leaves. It loves the shade and survives in poor or acidic soils. The slow-spreading rhizomes are easily controlled.

Goodenia (Goodenia ovata ‘Gold Cover’)

This groundcover version of the popular native shrub has shiny green leaves and bright yellow blooms in the warmer months. It tolerates drought and light frost, and does well in medium shade. Trim long shoots when required.

Rasp fern (Doodia aspera)

Rasp fern grows naturally beneath trees in the Australian bush, and this native groundcover handles drought once established. Attractive fronds morph from red new growth into a mature green. Another hardy native ground-covering fern is sickle fern (Pellaea falcata).

Asiatic star jasmine (Trachelospermum asiaticum)

With smaller leaves and more cold tolerance than its cousin star jasmine (T. jasminoides), this tough and pretty plant can be trained to spread as a groundcover in the shade.