Using Native Groundcovers in your Garden!No matter what style of native garden you have it can be enhanced - and your work made easier, by the inclusion of groundcovers. But what makes a good groundcover? True ground covers have a thick, spreading habit of growth that chokes out weeds or other plants.They can be used in a myriad of situations; to cover a dry embankment, to fill up the gaps in a brick or stone path, or to add coolness and beauty to a low wall. In the flower garden, they can be used to restrict weed growth and some are suitable to grow in marshy areas. Many native plants that have a mounding or clumping habit can be used as groundcovers if planted closely enough together that they overlap. Some low-growing trees and shrubs can be considered good groundcovers, since weeds won't grow beneath the weeping branches. The prostrate grevillea is good to use as a groundcover. It likes most soils and its dark green leaves and red flowers look great. It will grow in most climate zones. Grevillea fasciculata from WA grows in a low spreading fashion and is good on rocks or gullies. Hardenbergia, a low scrambling vine is also usefull as native groundcover. Kennedia prostrata, sometimes known as 'running postman' can be used as a groundcover, too. It grows naturally in all States, and puts out a dazzling show of scarlet flowers in spring and summer. Native grasses will cover a lot of ground, as will the native violets. Clumping flowering plants such as Helicrysum bracteatum will spread and prevent weeds from getting started. Dicondra repens is one of many useful native groundcovers, either for lawns or as a fill in for empty spaces. Small native shrubs in flower will often attract butterflies.
Lamandra is one of the best "damp area" plants with its bright green flaxlike foliage and spikes of flowers. Dianella will also spread over marshy and damp areas. The leaves of both these plants were woven into baskets by Aborigonals. Bocopa is a good marshy groundcover too, and it's popular with frogs. Don’t forget some ‘ordinary’ flowers can be used as ground covers. Native daisies tolerate poor soil, flower all summer and rarely allow a weed to take up residence under their clumping stems. Some groundcovers can become a hazard to the health of other plants if left to grow unchecked, but natives dont seem to be so inclined as introduced plants. However the odd few hours spent pruning or uprooting and composting unwanted spreading stems will solve the problem, and it is much easier than weeding. There are hundreds of suitable and beautiful native groundcover plants you can use...check with your local native plant nurseries.
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Given an acid soil, heather plants make ideal ground covers once they are well established. They will cover the soil underneath with a dense carpet of foliage, making it impossible for weeds to grow. Not only do they flower in the winter when the garden is often short on flowers, but the foliage changes color throughout the year.
