Two ground covers that I have yet to mention are wonderful because of their spring blooms. One that I have mentioned, Lamium, is forming its buds now & a few are popping due to the warmer stretch we’ve had in Zone 7a. The two, pictured at left, are a breath of fresh air and are already blooming this time of year.
The first, blooming bluish purple, is periwinkle or vinca minor vine. Happy in sun or shade, but doing best in part shade, evergreen vinca is easy to grow. It fills in awkward spots were needed. The ‘rooted’ stems transplant easily anywhere you would like. They also make a nice spiller in your containers. The glossy green leaves stay pretty all summer, the blooms will stop, however. The specimen in the photo was here when I moved in & I would guess it at least 30 years old! This also comes in white.
The second evergreen groundcover, blooming white at left, is Rock Cress or Aubrieta. This also likes sun & shade & grows in tougher to fill areas like rock wall crevices & the edges of walkways. This one holds a special place in my heart because it was one of the first perennials I ever planted. So this one is about 20 years old! One very snowy winter some years back, we had a seventeen inch March snow. Weeks after that snow finally melted, my rock cress had started blooming already underneath! You have to love a plant like that. A little harder to find, seek this one out. It also comes in purple. Happy planting!
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