'Blue Shade' Sun-partial/ Semie-evergreen / Light green leaves / Blue, purple tubular shaped flowers / Spreads by underground runners / Reseeds / Can be invasive/ Groundcover.

'Kate's compact' (Ruellia brittonia) Zones 8, 9, 14-24, Mexican shrubby perennial naturalized in parts of the United States. To 3 ft., with narrow leaves and 2-in. blue flowers. 'Katie' is a dwarf (10-12.) herbaceous variety. Prefers sun and regular water. Reseeds/ Groundcover.

Ryegrass(Lolium) (Back)

Not considered the choicest lawn grasses, but useful in special conditions and situations (lawns, pasture, soil reclamation). These are clumping, not running, grasses. To make tight turf, sow heavily. Ryegrass is often mixed with other lawn grass species for low-cost, large-area coverage in cool-summer climates. In Bermuda grass country, it is often sown in fall on reconditioned Bermuda lawns to give winter green.

Annual and perennial lawn grass/ Sun / Clumping / Often mixed with other lawn grasses/ Annual used for winter grass in warm climate / Reseeds / Fine textured / Fall seed / annual dies out in heat of summer / Mow 1 1/2"- 2" weekly.

Sea Oats(Chasmanthium latifolium) (Back)

Ornamental grass clumping with broad, bamboo like leaves topped by arching flowering stems, 2-5 ft. tall, carrying showers of silvery green flower spikelets that resemble flattened cluster of oats (or flattened armadillos). Flowering stems dry to an attractive greenish straw color and look good in dried arrangements. clumps broaden slowly and are not aggressive like bamboo. Leaves turn brown in winter, when plants should be cut back near the ground. Divide clumps when they become overgrown and bloom drops off. Stake if flowering stems sprawl too far.

Partial sun/ Clumping / Slow -NOT invasive / Good in dried floral arrangements / DO NOT over water.

Sedum(Stonecrop)(Back)

They come from many parts of the world and vary in hardiness, cultural needs; some are among hardiest succulent plants. Some are tiny and trailing, others upright. Leaves fleshy, highly variable in size, shape, and color; evergreen unless otherwise noted. Flowers usually small, starlike, in fairly large clusters, sometimes brightly colored.

Smaller sedums are useful in rock gardens, as ground or bank cover, in small areas where unusual texture, color are needed. Some of the smaller types are prized by collectors of succulents, who grow them as potted or dish garden plants. Larger types good in borders or containers, as shrubs. Most propagate easily by stem cuttings—even detached leaves will toot and form new plants. Soft and easily crushed, they will not take foot traffic; otherwise they are tough, low-maintenance plants. Set ground cover kinds 10-12 in. apart.

'Sedum acre' All Zones. Evergreen 2-5 in. tall, with upright branchlets from trailing, rooting stems. Tiny light green leaves; clustered yellow flowers in middle or late spring. Extremely hardy but can get out of bound, become a weed. Use as ground cover, between stepping stones, or on dry walls.

Sun-Partial / Evergreen / Rapid growers / Many varieties / Various shade of green to gray foliage / Spreads by creeping stems / Small flowers / good in rock gardens/ Needs well-drained soil / Drought tolerant / Groundcover.

Society Garlic(Tulbaghia violecea) (Back)

Leaves bluish green, narrow, to 1 ft. long. Flowers rosy lavender, 8-20 in. cluster on 1-2 in. cluster on 1-2 ft. stems. Some bloom most of year, with peak in spring and summer. Leaves, flower stems have onion or garlic odor if cut or crushed. unsatisfactory cut flower for this reason (but can be used as seasoning). One form has creamy stripe down the center of each leaf. Variety 'Silver Lace' has white-margined leaves. 'Tricolor' has leaves edged in white suffused in spring with pink.

Perennials / Zones 13-24 / Sun-partial / Evergreen / clumping / Blue green, narrow onion-like foliage / Clusters of rosy lavendr flowers on 2' stems / Edible / Regular water.

Spider Plant(Chlorophytum comosum) (Back)

Evergreen perennial. Indoor plant; outdoor ground cover in Zones 15-17, 19-24. Native to Africa. shade-loving plant forms 1-3 ft. high clumps of soft, curbing leaves like long, broad grass blades. 'Variegatum' and 'Vittatum', striped white, are popular. Flowers white, 1/2 in. long, in loose, leafy-tipped spikes standing above foliage. Greatest attraction: miniature duplicates of mother plant, complete with root, at end of curved stems (as with strawberry plant offsets); these offsets can be cut off, potted individually. Excellent, easily grown house plant for fully lighted window, greenhouse. Ground cover or hanging basket plant in partial shade. As ground cover, set 2 ft. apart in diamond pattern. Plants will fill in area in same year. Often sold as C. capense.

Spiderwort (Tradescantia) (Back)

Most are long-trailing, indestructible plants often grown indoors, or outdoors as ground cover for shaded areas. Usually used as potted plants or hanging basket plants; these can also be used as ground covers, but are likely to prove invasive. Long-stemmed, rambling kind often called inch plant or wandering jew—a name also often applied to related callisia and especially Zebrina.

T. viginiana (Spiderwort) Usually sold as T. andersoniana. All zones. Grows in clumps 1 1/2 -3 ft. tall, with long, deep green, erect or arching grasslike foliage. Three-petaled flowers open for only a day, but buds come in large clusters and plants are seldom out of bloom during summer. Named garden varieties come in white and shades of blue, lavender, purple, pink, to near red. Takes wet soil . Propagate by division. Good in a woodsy garden setting/ Reseeds.

Tropical or subtropical coarse-textured grass that spreads fast by surface runners that root at joints. Leaves dark green, up to 3/8 in. wide, on coarse, wiry, flattened stem. Turns brown during short winter dormancy, can creep into flower beds or other plantings, requires power mower to deal with heavy blades, produces thick thatch. On the plus side, it is easily removed from flower beds because of shallow roots, tolerates much wear, has few pests, and is fairly salt tolerant. Plant from sod, plugs, or stolons. Mow 1 in. high once a week. will grow in zones 14-16, but long dormant season limits use. Needs somewhat less water than bluegrass. a variegated form exists and is sometimes seen as a hanging basket plant.

Lawn Grass / Sun / Tolerates shade better than most tropical grasses / Spreads by surface runners. / Can be invasive / Dormant in winter / Sod spring -fall/ subject to fungal diseases /

St. Johnswort (Hypericum calycinum) (Back)

Evergreen shrub; semideciduous where winters are cold. zones 2-24. Grows to 1ft. tall; spreads by vigorous underground stems. Short-staked leaves to 4 in. long; medium green in sun, yellow-green in shade. flowers bright yellow, 3 in. across. Tough, sense ground cover for sun or shade; competes successfully with tree roots. takes poor soil fast growing, will control erosion on hillsides. can invade other plantings unless confined. Plant from flats or as rootee stems; set 1 1/2 ft. apart . Clip or mow off tops every 2-3 years during dormant season.

Sun-partial / Drought tolerant / Invasive / Dense groundcover.

Strawberry Begonia (Saxifraga sarmentosa) (Back)

Zones 1-9, 14-24; house plant everywhere. Creeping plant that makes runner like strawberry. Nearly round, white-veined leaves to 4 in. across, pink underneath, blend well with pink azaleas. Flowers white, to 1 in. across, in loose, open clusters to 2 ft. tall. Used as house plant in hanging baskets or pots. Ground cover where hard freezes are infrequent. Shade or part shade, considerable moisture. Good in rock gardens.