"Frogleg" wrote in message
...
On Sat, 13 Mar 2004 22:25:05 GMT, "Pam - gardengal"
wrote:


"MDO" wrote

Does anyone have a recommendation for an evergreen groundcover in Zone
5 (Central Illinois)?

I have an area that gets partial shade. Would like something that
stays green all year, but is fairly low to the ground and spreads
quickly.

Vinca minor is a good low-growing evergreen choice but can be invasive
under
certain circumstances.

I don't believe Vinca is evergreen in zone 5. One Denver garden center
http://www.echters.com/frost.htm site lists Vinca as an annual, and
Denver is USDA zone 5b. It's been a long, cold winter here in 7b-8,
and a few (too few) of the Vinca leaves in my yard are brown and dry.

Vinca should be hardy and evergreen to zone 3. But, as with many broadleaf
evergreens, a very harsh cold winter can result in some browning or
defoliation. We had a pretty nasty winter here alos, but my vinca is going
strong and flowering as we e-speak It is most definitely NOT an annual.

http://hortwww-2.ag.ohio-state.edu/h.../vi_minor.html

Very easy to remove the excess, however.

Sez you! :-)

It's a lot easier to remove than something that spreads from underground
runners. I pull the excess from mine regularly. Rapid establishment and
spreading is generally considered a GOOD quality in a groundcover :-))

pam - gardengal