Native Plants
![](../_images/smarty_plants.gif)
Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?
A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.
Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
![](../_images/mr_smarty_plants_logo_web_200w.jpg)
rate this answer
![](../_images/star_00.gif)
Monday - June 18, 2007
From: Schaumburg, IL
Region: Midwest
Topic: Groundcovers
Title: Looking for cover
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
I live iin Schaumburg, IL and have a difficult spot (extreme sun and heat in summer (South Side of house). I'm looking for a very short ground cover - < or + to 6 inchees. Does Arabis hirsuta fit this requirement?ANSWER:
We don't have a great deal of information about Arabis hirsuta (hairy rockcress) in our Native Plants Database; but, the information from Plants for a Future and University of Washington indicates that it should work for your site.
Here are a few other suggestions of plants that grow between 6-12 inches high and are native to Illinois:
Heterotheca villosa (hairy false goldenaster)
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi (kinnikinnick)
If you are willing to have a slightly taller ground cover for a hot sunny location, you might consider Artemisia frigida (prairie sagewort) or Artemisia ludoviciana (white sagebrush).
More Groundcovers Questions
Groundcovers to choke out invasive species in Virginia
June 08, 2015 - My yard has open woods and dappled light with clay soil. Thirty years ago we removed huge briars and since English Ivy was getting in by itself, we thought we would let it come; unfortunately, it not ...
view the full question and answer
Compatibility of mixed ground covers with St. Agustine grass
March 04, 2015 - My husband and I live in Northwest Austin. We have removed lawn from our front yard and replaced it with mulch and some trees and other plantings.
We would like to replace the lawn in our backyard ...
view the full question and answer
Flowering Shade Plant for California
February 21, 2016 - I have a house north facing that has a "flower bed" in front that unfortunately is shaded 100% of the time. There are roses in the bed currently (they came with the house) but they do poorly. We are...
view the full question and answer
Wisconsin Ground Cover for Acid Soil
July 09, 2012 - What type of native wisconsin ground cover plants do best on acidic bare areas under pine trees such as blue spruce?...and where is best source for these plants or seeds?
Thanks so much for your help
view the full question and answer
Native ground cover for Fort Lauderdale, FL.
November 02, 2010 - I just moved into a duplex with a narrow back yard with dark sandy soil and no irrigation system. I travel and am looking for a hardy ground cover that can take heat, drought and limited sun between 1...
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |