Evergreen in most climates. Zones 4-9. wide (60-90 cm). Long creeping stems commonly root at nodes and form mats. To receive new GardenRant articles by email. Plants drying out is the most common problem associated with vinca ground cover plants. Reannan Raine Vinca minor, commonly called lesser or dwarf periwinkle, myrtle, creeping myrtle or vinca covers the ground year-round with its evergreen foliage. Keep in mind that young plants are more susceptible to frost damage. Plant your vinca minor when temperatures are around 24 to 38 C (75 to 100 F). To avoid these fungal leave spots, water the soil and not directly on the plants leaves. While every effort has been made to describe these plants accurately, please keep in mind that height, bloom time, and color may differ in various climates. A Tough, low-maintenance, and pest-free, Vinca minor has pretty foliage and flowers; it is also a useful plant. It came to the U.S. from Europe in the 18th century and quickly took off, becoming popular for its fast growth, pretty flowers, and hands-off maintenance. Flowers & Blooms. I really apprecisted reading your article. It inhabits open to shady sites including forests and often escapes from old homesites., TheState of Indiana says: Once established, Vinca minor forms a densecarpet to the exclusion ofother plants. Some common vinca minor ground cover problems are mentioned below. The other species commonly found is Vinca major. While every effort has been made to describe these plants accurately, please keep in mind that height, bloom time, and color may differ in various climates. Periwinkle is also used as a spreading shrub in USDA garden zones 4 to 8. I must do some real research on it, I suppose. Use the upright, creeping Madagascar periwinkle in mass planting beds, xeriscapes, and borders. Use insecticidal soap or neem oil to control any infestations. Do I need to bring in a periwinkle in the winter? This way, you protect them from harsh UV rays while also providing enough sunlight. Vinca is available in a variety of shapes and sizes ranging from 6 to 18 inches tall. For the amount to use, follow product label instructions. Open the bag daily to check that the planting medium remains moist. this plant can seriously get out of control an spread every where! Something for everyone. They will inspect the sweet potato vine and tell you if it really needs fertilizing. Sweet potato vines are majorly used as ornamental plants, meaning they are majorly used for decorations and can still use as a companion plant for vinca plants. Its leaves, flowers and growth rate are about two-thirds those of Vinca major.This restraint makes Vinca minor 'Illuminations' more suitable for smaller beds and borders, and also for planting in containers and baskets. Without a proper drainage system, water will not escape, and as a result, the roots of your dahlia plant will be soaked in water. Unleash the power of periwinkle in your garden with these easy-growing tips!Read More, Not sure which Vinca - Periwinkle to pick?Compare All Vinca - Periwinkle, Buy Vinca minor f. alba (Lesser Periwinkle), Great Plant Combination Ideas with Vinca - Periwinkle. Before using it, try some alternatives to vinca vine. This is often exactly what you want out of a ground cover. This striking plant exhibits lavender violet flowers with cream keels on a distinct vase-like growth habit. apart (30-45 cm) to cover large areas. Dahlias come in various colors, so you can get whatever color you want with the vinca. Lets get started without any further ado! Plant 12-18 in. Step 1. The Spruce uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. The brilliant flowers come in a wide range of colors that will fit in any garden. You know its an old homestead when you poke around a bit and find bits of old foundation, cast iron stove parts, or other castaways of domestic life. For example, if two plants love the sun, require similar fertilizer needs and one is taller while the other is a spreader, they will probably be great companion plants in a pot or hanging . While common periwinkle is an attractive plant, there are over 30 varieties available. It is also useful for providing ground cover and is known for its creeping habit. If needed, carefully add water to the soil or mist the cutting. However, Vinca major is less hardy and is, therefore, less often seen, especially in northern . Vinca Flower Size and Color Annual vinca flower is a compact plant, growing to about 15 inches by 15 inches. Plants that are invasive only along streams or in regions with mild winters can get banned from places where theyre no threat at all. It has a medium growth rate but can also become a very vigorous, aggressive grower. Can You Convert Bobcat Standard Controls to Joystick? In this photo its seen covering much of the ground layer in the Treman State Park in Upstate New York. RANTS PLANTS Im sure Ive missed some, and I may not have used the updated genus/species names for all of these, but Im sure you can find several good candidates from this list. It is equally adept at colonising poor, dry, slightly shaded . Missouri Botanical Garden. Since our founding in Southern California by Harry E. Rosedale, Sr. in 1926, we have been absolutely dedicated and obsessed with quality. Zones 4-9, Vinca minor offers pretty blue blooms periodically from spring to frost. Here are a few plants that you can grow to accompany vinca. Create a membership account to save your garden designs and to view them on any device. Most often the problem is seeding, which is not considered by many comments in this article. The common periwinkle plant ( Vinca minor) is often spotted creeping down steep hillsides and banks, offering a green and growing effect in areas which might otherwise be bare. This plant has low severity poison characteristics. Vinca major is a larger plant with bigger leaves, flowers, and habit. Versatile ground cover for shady areas. When they do their job they prevent erosion and weeds. Coleus is the second kind of plant that complements vinca nicely. Having these scattered across your property along with vincas all year can be wonderful. Description 2000. Invasive Ground Covers and the Case for Allowing Periwinkle. Daffodils Die Big, Dumb, Dramatic, B-Grade, Silent Movie Deaths: Worth it. Surrounded by concrete and asphalt in all directions, this invasive isnt going anywhere because it only spreads by runner, not by birds or wind. I love Vinca and grow it in my backyard garden. Apply water from a garden hose directly to the soil surrounding the plants. Plant 12-18" apart to cover large areas. Water the vinca only when the surrounding soil becomes completely dry. Evergreen heucheras, especially those with purple foliage . The best companion plants to pair with maple trees include hellebore, vinca minor, sedum, ferns, daffodils, lilly of the valley, daylilies, tulips, crocus, and Canadian wild ginger. Annual Vinca Companion Plants Angelonia Angelonia is also called summer snapdragon, and once you get a good look at it, you'll know why. So long as you keep this in mind, the flowers will bloom each spring and last you the rest of the season. It is used as a ground cover in landscaping. However, make sure to water it twice a week to ensure its optimal growth. On the other hand, a friend who lives in a more low-lying part of the area has it coming up everywhere the water table is high and it gets a lot more moisture. Provide high-humus soil that retains moisture. If you provide us with your name, email address and the payment of a modest $25 annual membership fee, you will become a full member, enabling you to design and save up to 25 of your garden design ideas. I used tiny 1-inch plants, and kept them watered for the first summer we were here. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your devices and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. Sign up to get all the latest gardening tips! But, in order to keep them from wilting and fading away during the cold winter months, vincas need special care. Delicate green leaves appear as the ground thaws each spring, becoming a rich emerald tone in April. Vinca minor vines require good drainage. Several flower color options are available - pink, purple, red, white, magenta - to lend a splash of intensity. The best plants for under your willow tree are vinca minor, hostas, lily of the valley, jack in the pulpit, Solomon's seal, carpet bugle, daffodils, and white trillium. 4. Read on to learn all about growing this lovely plant . Barbara Gillette is a master gardener, herbalist, beekeeper, and journalist. We use cookies on this website, you can read about them here. Where is this species invasive in the US. Sun tolerant in cool northern zones. Symptoms of Vinca Poisoning in Dogs. Evergreen in most climates. You dont know how your invasive planted in your yard is going to spread. The botanical name is Catharanthus roseus, and the common name is Madagascar periwinkle. It has salvia-like flower spires that reach one to two feet high, but they're studded with fascinating snapdragon-like flowers with beautiful colorations in purple, white, or pink. What Is Making Dirt Mounds in My Yard? Several types of coleuses can be planted both as annual and perennial plants. The plant tolerates high heat and close to full shade, but prefers full or partial sun, although its leaves can tend to yellow in full sun. If you choose to plant these beside your vinca, you wont need to do anything special if you keep this in mind. Check these Great Plant Combination Ideas with Vinca - Periwinkle, A Long-Lasting Summer Garden Idea with Marigold and Sage, A Great Summer Planting Idea with Mexican Sunflowers, Zinnia and Grasses, A Spectacular Summer Planting Idea with Dahlia, Zinnia, Chinese Aster and Ammi visnaga, A Cheerful Border Idea with Monarda, Clematis and Artemisia, A Terrific Duo to Try: Achillea and Festuca, 1, 1A, 1B, 2, 2A, 2B, 3, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 1, 1A, 1B, 2, 2A, 2B, 3, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24. They don't usually attract deer but can have a problem with slugs. Note this is the default cart. So, it would be best to plant it after frost. DEFIANTLY UNCATEGORICAL The PLANTS Database includes the following 70 data sources of Vinca minor L. - Showing 1 to 25 . Want a dramatic front yard? Everything You Need To Know. The plant is also perennial, so its going to serve you for a number of years. Join now and start creating your dream garden! So, if you stay in a place where the temperature is high enough, your coleus would last longer, but if you stay in colder regions, I would not advise you to get coleus plants. Planted alone or alongside companion plants, Vinca is perfect for containers, hanging baskets, windowsills, or raised planters. It just takes a shift of mindset in terms of what is beautiful, from what you may have learned growing up. Water deeply, regularly during first growing season to establish an extensive root system; reduce frequency, once established. Vinca minor is a popular ground cover plant is a smaller version of its vigorous relative, greater periwinkle. Below, we will look at the best companion plants for vinca! We use cookies on this website, you can read about them here. I think it survives along the edge of the garden because of runoff from the road. Users searching vinca companion plants will probably have many other questions related to it. What to plant? Easily grown in average, dry to medium, well-drained soil in full sun to part shade. This is a start to a list that could go on and on. Annual vinca, Catharanthus, may be grown from seed sown early indoors and transplanted outside after frost or planted as a potted plant. This is the hardier and smaller plant of the two main speciesminor in Latin means smaller. All it takes is to expand the definition of groundcover from something thats almost a carpet, to low vegetation that covers the ground. It tolerates deep shade conditions but may burn in direct sunlight. Deleting this collection CANNOT be undone. If this is a concern, make it a point each year to keep their runners in check. Annual Vinca plants produce an abundance of colorful blooms held above emerald green, glossy foliage from early summer until frost. For this purpose, insert your thumb into the soil. Tubular, lavender blue, phlox-like flowers (to 1 inch across) appear in the . The best thing about the sweet potato vine is that its maintenance requirements are quite similar to vinca plants. We are gardeners!!!! The stems of these plants root at their joints as they creep along the ground and spread rapidly to become apretty flowering ground coverable to fill in a large area and discourage weeds. If its deciduous shade there are also sweet little bulbs galore. Fertilizing your vinca minor monthly with an evenly balanced fertilizer (equal parts nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium) may be helpful if your soil lacks sufficiently rich organic matter, but it is not necessary since vinca minor does well in poor soil, too. tall (10-15 cm). Periwinkle works well as a rock garden plant, too! Create an eye-catching vignette with these woody plants in your garden. The Garden wouldn't be the Garden without our Members, Donors and Volunteers. Sow seeds in seed-starting formula and cover with 1/8 inch of seed starting formula. Vinca minor is a very robust plant and it is also winterhart. Ground covers have a job to do covering the ground, and not taking too long to do it, either. Like | 11 Save windymess z6a KC, Ks 7 years ago I've bookmarked this thread - love the suggestions and comments! The very first thing we did when we moved in a few years ago, was plant our back hillside with vinca minor. Ola. While the plants will grow better in moist soils, its vines are pretty drought-tolerant once mature. . Vinca minor 'Bowles' Pronunciation: VING-ka MI-nor. The problem with using periwinkle in your garden is that it can grow too fast and too easily. Trees and shrubs are the four seasons backbones of the landscape. Hmmmm. Fertilize the vinca minor once a month during the growing season with a granular 10-10-10 formula, at the rate suggested on the fertilizer label. If thats the case, consider covering your coleus plant with a shade cloth. Furthermore, dahlia likes to grow in hot conditions. Mat forming, Vinca minor f. alba (Lesser Periwinkle) is a prostrate evergreen perennial with long trailing stems clothed with neat, ovate, dark green leaves. Your coleus will last years if you set it somewhere where the temperature does not drop much. Vinca flowers are unappetizing to deer: Deers typically don't eat flowers, and the vinca flower is no exception. Control weeds with mulch until plants fill in. This plant is known for its maintenance abilities and its beautiful nature. DEAR GARDENER Coleus is a sun-loving plant and requires at least six hours of sunlight to grow properly. Vinca major and Vinca minor are evergreen plants that are at home in the woodland or shade garden. Best Vinca Companion Plants. Are different varieties of vinca less invasive? Vinca minor species is native to Europe and Asia. Before planting it, check the soil and make sure it is not dried out. As long as you catch them early, they are easy enough to pull up as they spread, and they certainly don't mind a good haircut every now and then. Like vinca, dahlia also needs well-drained soil. Fast, vine-like growth; reaches 4 to 6 in. So either vinca spreads by seeds, or it doesnt. SKU. Vinca plants would do better in moist soils, even drought tolerant. (Answered). SKU #07613. Vinca plants are not very nutritious: Vinca plants aren't especially rich in nutrients, so deer get little energy from eating them. apart (20 cm) for quick cover of smaller areas. Growing Partridgeberries: Using Partridgeberry Ground Cover In Gardens, Periwinkle Care - How To Grow Periwinkle Plants, Are All Juniper Berries Edible Is It Safe To Eat Juniper Berries, Beatrix Potter: Mycologist, Illustrator, And Author, Learn About Wild Peony Varieties Native To California, Creeping Fig On A Wall How To Get Creeping Fig To Climb, Firecracker Vine Plant How To Care For Firecracker Vines, Vines For Plains Gardens Growing Vines In West North Central Region, Annual Vines For Shade: Learn About Shade Tolerant Annual Vines, Home & Garden Marketplace: Advertiser Info. It seems like every garden has a tricky dark corner where no grass will grow and perennials fizzle out. bonnie in provence. I choose not to use it in my landscape as it would crowd out and overwhelm my other shade perennials, plus my yard borders woodlands. Becoming a contributing member of Gardenia is easy and can be done in just a few minutes. Tiarella, heuchera, and also all of the above that will tolerate dry, will also tolerate moist, zizia aurea, chrysogonum, wintergreen (if soil pH is appropriate). Azomite vs Dolomite Can They Be Interchanged? A significant factor that affects how your coleus would act is the temperature in that area because the coleus would act better under sunlight or high heat. tall (10-15 cm) and 24-36 in. You can also do a stem cutting, but that takes a little more work since you have to get the stem to root. With its vigorous sprawling habit, periwinkle can easily colonize any area. essential elements like nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus, How To Fix Garbage Disposal Jam (3 Potent Ways), Septic Tank Full Of Water Not Draining (How To Fix), 18 Plants With Heart Shaped Leaves (Indoor & Outdoor), 7 Common Kubota L4701 Problems + Solutions, 5 Common Kubota Gr2120 Problems + Solutions. Read our. What about variegated vinca, or double flowering vinca? To use the website as intended please An invasive is rarely one that escapes the garden by above or below ground stems or roots. To create additional collections, you must be a paid member of our site. Its dense tufts of almost-evergreen, broadly grassy leaves are often striped. This tough-as-nails shade lover seems to look increasingly lush year after year without needing much care. Tolerates close to full shade but flowers best in full sun. If anything, my complaint, echoed by other area gardeners, is that its not vigorous enough. The annual vinca is the most common type planted in gardens, and with proper care, maintaining this plant would not be such a work. THE INDOOR GARDENER. Mature Size. Good cover for bulbs. Regarding your question about what evergreen groundcover to plant, sometimes theres not a good option. Start by choosing the right place to grow the dahlia plant. It would be a good idea to check the soil before watering it. Fertilizer gives vinca minor a boost, making its foliage a more brilliant green and may help produce more blooms. Also not recommended for places you need to walk through. There are other plants that will serve your purpose if you do a little research!! My two companion plants, that most everyone knows is astilbe (don't know its name) and daylily Mayaysian Monarch accompanied by one annual every year. Botanical Name: Vinca minor. Water the potting soil prior to planting until the soil is evenly moist and the excess water flows from the drainage hole in the pot. 2. Plant the division immediately at the same level it had been growing. Now, these are forests that are practically cleared of understory plants due to deer, so I see that its questionable that Vinca is invasive, but Vinca didnt get there by climbing over a sidewalk and traveling two miles. Some of my favorite hikes are ones where you come across old homesteads in the middle of nowhere. No doubt, vinca looks great. Remember that a warm environment is necessary for these plants to remain healthy. (Explanation), How To Grow Farro? FarmerGrows.com is a participant of the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program it is designed to provide an aid for the websites in earning an advertisement fee by means of advertising and linking to Amazon.com products. So please dont plant these invasives!!! YOUR GARDENING DOLLAR PRIVACY POLICY|TERMS & CONDITIONS|SITE MAP|DON'T SELL MY INFO. It even thrives in shady areas, which makes it a popular choice for areas where grass doesnt grow well. Cookies, This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google. This makes them a great option for preventing weeds from growing between their dense mats of foliage. If you provide us with your name, email address and the payment of a modest $25 annual membership fee, you will become a full member, enabling you to design and save up to 25 of your garden design ideas. The colorful petals may be pretty to look at, but they don't offer much in the way of nutrition. Vinca minor grows in partial sun, partial shade, and full shade. The shiny green leaves are set off by the multiple five-petaled blooms, which appear continuously. Better Homes & Gardens - 100 years of powering your passions at home. Vinca minor 'Bowles' Variety' All 9 results here Alphabetical list of all 4,000+ perennials here Vinca minor 'Ralph Shugert' Periwinkle USDA Zone: 3-9 Plant number: 7.655.260 Also known as Myrtle. Stiff stems bear tight spikes of tiny blue or white bells, similar to those of grape hyacinth. Plant Care and Tips. Periwinkle is probably the most popular evergreen groundcover. Space 4 to 5 ft. apart as groundcover. Dig all the way around the clump of the plant that you want to transplant and lift it up. Depending on which variety of periwinkle you have, the plant may even tolerate temperatures down to -20 degrees. Water when top 2 inches of soil is dry. Absolutely! What plants pair well with annual vinca? Cutting the plants back also encourages new growth, which is much brighter and shinier than the old leaves and offers a nice spot of color in dark areas. Vinca flower, also known as periwinkle, is one of the most dependable and long-blooming flowers for your garden. Space them 8 inches apart in small areas or 12 to 18 inches apart in large areas. However, Vinca major is less hardy and is, therefore, less often seen, especially in northern climates, or it is treated as an annual. Tough, low-maintenance, and pest-free, Vinca minor has pretty foliage and flowers; it is also a useful plant. The best feature of this plant is that it lacks flowers and has strikingly colored leaves. Leaves are simple, opposite, shiny, 2 inches long and taper at both ends. No matter where you are, it's best to stay on top of them to keep them in bounds. They'll also grow in poor soil that dries out a bit, but not as vigorously. Fungal leaf spots can also attack the leaves, but an infected leaf can be cut off and thrown away. Good for use in firescaping. The periwinkle plant is exceptional as an erosion control specimen. How to Grow and Care for Wintercreeper Euonymus, How to Grow and Care for Emerald Gaiety Wintercreeper, How to Grow and Care for Japanese Barberry, How to Grow and Care for Coreopsis (Tickseed), How to Grow and Care for String of Hearts, How to Grow and Care for Blue Star Creeper, Managing Pests in Gardens: Floriculture: Vinca, Vinca minor, creeping myrtle, common periwinkle, dwarf periwinkle, 3-6 in. Periwinkle is easy to grow in containers if the pot has drainage holes. The foliage is offset by a prominent, whitish mid-vein and absolutely delightful violet-blue blooms (1/2-3/4 inch) in early spring . Filtered sun, Full shade, Full sun, Partial shade, Partial sun. The vines need little care. TheInvasive Plant Atlassays its invading natural areas throughout the Eastern U.S. Do not splash the plants' foliage. Only plants will be removed from the collection. Thus you can leave the dwarf periwinkle in the garden, even in winter. Indiana: Distribution: VIMI2: Cullina, M.D., B. Connolly, B. Sorrie, and P. Somers. In addition, these plants do not tolerate frosts, so if you can, you should take these pants indoors during the winter so they can last longer. Hellebores, perennial geraniums, certain sedges and ferns, epemediums, sedum ternatum, and in moister conditions there are so many! Apart from purple, the plant comes in several other beautiful colors, like red and orange. Vinca minor 'Bowles'. No one regularly walks on other groundcovers besides grass anyway, so why should we be concerned about maintaining a monotonous expanse of uniform, ground-hugging plants? Learn tips for creating your most beautiful home and garden ever. Tubular, lavender blue, phlox-like flowers (to 1 inch across) appear in the leaf axils in spring and continue to flower intermittently throughout summer into fall. Ornamental Gardening. No serious insect problems but vinca stem canker (blight) can damage or kill large patches. As a filler in a patio container, providing a low and attractive low-growing layer around taller flowers or grasses. 5 Reasons Why Avocado Leaves Are Dropping. Forms a mat up to 4-6 in. Also, they are a good choice for a ground cover for an area with dry shade . The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources. USDA Zones: 4-9. You should ensure that you dont plant your coleus under shades for too long, and it should be getting at least eight hours of sunlight a day, or else you will notice that your plant will start dying. Join now and start creating your dream garden! However, you can only do this if you keep up with maintenance over time. Ive been on a mission to get rid of it for 10+ years. You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings, which can also be found in the footer of the site. It is grown as an annual in colder areas and must be brought inside to survive. 6 . It tolerates deep shade conditions but may burn in direct sunlight. We cannot currently ship this product to your zip code. David Beaulieu (formerly of About.com, now writing for The Spruce) suggests it as a lawn replacement under trees and lists its many advantages: Because of their ability to root and spread, they can help hold the soil in place. Also, they are a good choice for a ground cover for an area with dry shade. Plant Starts Drying Out. Borne over a long period, they continue to flower intermittently throughout summer into fall and are valuable for enlivening dark areas. Vinca minor vines are often planted beneath mature trees, where most lawn grass struggles with the lack of available sun. Creates a mat 6 in. I like to use it in my winter containers. When grown in wet areas, they may die back due to fungal diseases. See below Description. Propagate by division in spring or autumn and by semi-hardwood cuttings in summer. In my neighborhood the mistaken (I contend) banning Periwinkle creates a special problem. In hot summer areas, plant in dappled to deep shade. WHITE HOUSE GARDENS So, balance is important for its best growth. Like vinca, the sweet potato vine also thrives in hot weather and is drought-tolerant. Dahlias are lovely flowers that offer your landscape a distinctive and alluring appearance. It makes a good groundcover for shrub plantings. Since the vines of these plants spread quickly, you might want to trim them every once in a while, so knowing the best cutting technique would be helpful. This summer garden idea combines easy-to-grow annuals and Add splashes of color and fragrance to your path! Vinca major is a larger plant with bigger leaves, flowers, and habit. REGULAR GARDENS The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources. Vinca (Catharanthus roseus) is an annual flowering plant often used as a ground cover or bedding plant. Cookies, This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google. Companion plants (10) Companion plants (10) Select all Deselect all 0 selected Add to a plant list 0 selected View Select . So, if you live in an area with low temperature, coleus wont be a good option. Its mounding clumps of arching, grassy leaves gradually increase in size, never becoming invasive. She has more than 20 years of experience writing and editing for both print and digital media. Using an insecticide is not recommended as it can kill butterflies and other beneficial insects too. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. How to Sow and Plant. Plant annual vinca in a hanging basket, spilling over with small flowers or variegated foliage. The flowers of the vinca plants would blossom every spring and can be able to last you for an entire season. Trailing stems with smooth, evergreen leaves (to 1.5" long) root at the nodes as they go along the ground and quickly spread to form an attractive ground cover. They may bloom occasionally in summer, too, though the summer display will not be nearly as magnificent as the spring display. An evergreen garden plant that covers ground well and is attractive all year, with blooms in late spring, is Geranium x cantabrigense St. The best thing about dahlia is that it is pretty easy to grow. Try These 7 Tips, Do Ants Like Coconut Oil? Shade-tolerant Sedum ternatum is a good low companion. Its appealing to gardeners and homeowners needing to cover areas of the yard as an alternative to grass. Marigolds are a classic and somewhat old-fashioned annual. Shade clothes are usually made of loosely woven polyester, and they let just enough sunlight pass through. Dry soil and drought tolerant. Common Periwinkle (Vinca minor). Used often as a groundcover or an edging plant, lilyturf or liriope is popular for a good reason. Carefully remove the periwinkle plants from the nursery containers and plant them in a hole large enough to hold the root system at the same level as in the nursery containers.