Today I’m showing off two plants that are not only native to me in Maryland but share two traits I wish were more common among native – they’re evergreen AND vigorous growers in the garden.
First up, the unfortunately named Ragwort, a/k/a Golden Groundsel, officially Packera aurea. Here’s what it looked like recently in a neighbor’s wooded garden, blooming with fern leaf phacelia. Unlike that other commonly attempted native evergreen groundcover for shade – Pachysandra procumbens, which I’m told barely spreads at all, ever – this one spreads like crazy, so my neighbor gave me a few.
And sure enough, the following spring it bloomed profusely in its new spot in my garden – among the azaleas. Which I honestly thought looked garish – and aren’t azaleas already either bordering on or definitely achieving garishness?
So of course I moved the stuff and this year they bloomed all by themselves nowhere near the azaleas, and there they’ll stay and quickly cover all bare ground. And notice how pretty the foliage is?
For sunnier spots, another native that’s evergreen and crazy-vigorous is Bignonia capreolata or Crossvine, shown here in its second full season.
The view from inside my porch, with companions Sedum takesimense and Aucuba ‘Picturata.’
Here’s one more Bignonia, the variety ‘Tangerine Beauty,’ which I planted just last year. It’ll be competing on this privacy screen with another gorgeous native vine – Lornicera sempervirens – and my bet’s on the Bignonia.
Two of my favorites. I wouldn’t be without either one.
Love them both! The Bignonia looks delightful on your privacy screen.
Are they bothered by deer?
I don’t have deer, so you’ll have to ask our other commenters, or Mr. Google.
I live in Maryland, too – thanks for the tips! They’re gorgeous and just the types of plants I’m looking for!
I am not familiar with Ragwort but will look into it. We use Tangerine Crossvine often. I love the shiny leaves and how lovely it looks covering a fence.
Golden ragwort (Packera aurea) is also native here in Michigan and it is so lovely. It likes fairly moist sites, or at least that is where it grows in the wild.
It’s also thriving in my neighbor’s dry wooded hillside. Apparently not fussy.
I first read it as “ragweed” and almost sneezed.
I have a small city yard and I avoid things that spread fast. This is why I had to pull out the Darts Dash rose and thimbleberries. Those two would be great for growing up a hillside as long you live where they are not considered weeds:
http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/WEEDS/wild_blackberry.html
Also what spreads without reason in my yard are oregano, white alyssum, lemon balm, calendula and parsley. But they are useful, and easy to remove where I don’t want them.
So I am not so sure I’ll plant golden groundsel, but the Crossvine looks intriguing. I’ll have to see how well is does not or actually does do in our Puget Sound maritime climate. Those of us with small yards love vining plants. Because if you have very little horizontal area, going up is always good (the Google street view of my house shows my outside ladder in the front yard I use to trim climbing plants!).
By the way, a weed is just a plant you don’t want. A couple of days ago I pulled out a one foot tall walnut tree from a raised planter. It was apparently planted by the several “helpful” squirrel gardeners in the area. The ones who are the reason I pull out certain nut trees (the previous week it was two hazelnut trees, and there have been a few peanut plants), but munch on my tulip bulbs.
that teal is a perfect backdrop!
The Bignonia is stunning on your teal privacy fence! I wish it was hardy in New England.
I don’t know that I can grow either one of these in my NEW New England garden, but I am planting golden alexanders, Zizia aurea, and a coral honeysuckle (name temporarily forgotten) and the effect is pretty much the same. Happily.
Love the views of your yard, Susan! It is looking great.
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