Morrisville UDO Administrative Manual, version August 1, 2018

Part 4 Appendices 4.3 Plant Lists

Xeriscape and Native Vegetation Guide

This guide is not meant to be an exclusive list of plants. Most plants have a place in xeriscaping if they are located in the appropriate place and if they develop strong, deep roots.

Vines and Ground Cover

Evergreen or Deciduous

Botanical Name

Common Name

Height Light Required Growth Rate

Notes

Excellent ground cover in small shaded spaces. Very coarse texture. No serious pest problems.

Ajuga Reptans

Bugleweed

E

4-8"

Shade

Moderate

1 1/2- 2'

Full to Partial Shade Sun to Partial Shade

Aspidistra elatior

Cast Iron Plant

E

Slow

Asparagus densiflorus Asparagus Fern

E

12-18"

Moderate

Good plant for naturalizing.

American Bittersweet

Celastrus scandens

D

20'

Sun

Fast

Vine which is very aggressive.

Hedera Canariensis

Algerian Ivy

E

8"- 12"

Sun-Shade

Fast

Aggressive groundcover.

Sun or Partial Shade

Good low-growing groundcover with yellow flowers. Many variegated cultivars, clump form. Aggressive. Good for slopes in shaded areas. Excellent groundcover for small spaces. Non-aggressive. Aggressive vine. Beautiful fall color. Very fragrant. Tough plant in poor soils. Herbaceous perennial. Best used in rock garden.

Hypericum spp.

St. Johnswort

E

1-4'

Slow

Liriope muscari

Big Blue Lily Turf

E

8-12"

Partial Sun

Moderate

Partial Sun to Shade

Liriope spicata

Creeping Lily Turf

E

8"-12"

Fast

Ophiopogon japonicas Mondo Grass

E

4"-10"

Partial Shade

Moderate

Parthenocissus quinquefolia

Virginia Creeper

E

30'-50'

Sun or Shade

Fast

Santolina chamaecyparissus

Lavender Cotton

E

1'-2'

Sun

Slow

Thymus sespyllum

Mother of Thyme

E

1"-3"

Sun

Slow

Shrubs

Evergreen or Deciduous

Botanical Name

Common Name

Height Light Required Growth Rate

Notes

Sun to Partial Shade

Excellent plant for hedges or slopes. Attractive flowers. A last resort plant for a difficult location.

Abelia grandiflora

Glossy Abelia

E

4-6'

Moderate

Amorpha fonticosa

Indigobush

D

6-20'

Sun

Moderate

Slow to Moderate Slow to Moderate

Grows well even when neglected.

Aralia spinosa

Devils Walkingstick

D

10-20'

Sun

Often used near buildings on north or shaded side. Good early spring flowering shrub.

Aucuba japonica

Japanese Aucuba

E

6-8'

Shade

Common Flowering Quince

Sun to Partial Shade

Chaenomeles speciosa

D

6'- 10'

Moderate

Berberis thunbergii

Japanese Barberry

D

3'-7'

Sun

Moderate

Barrier hedge-type plant.

Buddleia davidii

Butterfly Bush

D

10-15'

Sun to Shade

Fast

Numerous cultivars available.

Moderate to Fast

Good for hedges and borders. Not a very popular shrub. Low compact shrub with slender upright branches.

Caragana arboresceus Siberian Pea Shrub

E

15-20'

Sun

Slow to Moderate

Ceanothus americanus New Jersey Tea

D

3-4'

Sun or Shade

Cornus racemosa

Gray Dogwood

D

10'-15'

Shade or Sun

Slow

Good dogwood for dry soils.

Common Smokebush

Interesting effect - good specimen type plant.

Cotinus coggygria

D

10'-15'

Sun

Moderate

August 1, 2018

Morrisville, NC

Page 4-10

Administrative Manual