False lily-of-the-valley (Speirantha gardenii) is one of our favorite early spring-flowering evergreen groundcovers for shade, but one that just hasn’t caught on with customers. Every time we put this back in production at Plant Delights, we wind up throwing out most of the crop. Perhaps one day, folks will realize what a gem this is. Hardiness is Zone 5b-8b.
I totally agree – a fabulous ground cover. Not only is it evergreen no matter what the winter weather brings, it spreads slowly but consistenly under a huge maple in my dry woodland garden. Very few damaged leaves have to be removed, ever. Foliage is consistently bright green, somewhat lustrous, and the flowers are charming.
I was amazed how few of my gardening friends know about this plant.
You whispered the words every landscape architect wants to hear… low – evergreen – groundcover.
And now I want one.
I transplanted some to Durham when I moved. They are still here after 3 years but have never bloomed. They are in dry shade as they were before. Advice? I miss the pretty blooms.
We’ve never heard of this failing to flower. If the plants are growing well, the only possibility is that they are too dry during flower bud formation in summer.
For the first time this Spring my Spirantha has a handful of flowers (I counted 5) on a 4×3 foot patch and 2 on a 2 x 3 ft patch. They are both in shade after woodland trees leaf out but in sun until then. Also for the first time, considerable browning on leaf tips. I assume this is a first because of the extreme cold end December week, plus up and down, warm, freezing themperatures this Spring. Ordinary woodland soil, never fertilized. Would like to know if cutting it all back to the ground and dumping compost on them would help? Otherwise, still a favorite groundcover for me here in the Asheville area.
I would say that compost would certainly help. Cutting the old foliage to the ground would be fine visually, but I would not remove any new foliage.