Part Shade native ground cover

Question: What would be a good, rapid spreading native ground cover that suppresses weeds and supports wildlife? What wildlife can I support specifically.

responder: Answered by the Home and Garden Information Center (HGIC), University of Maryland Extension. For timely gardening information and tips, subscribe to our Maryland Grows blog and quarterly newsletter. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. Replied June 22, 2023, 10:01 AM EDT
response: We're happy to list a few candidate plants to get you started (a mix will be better than using a single species) but would need more information to help narrow-down appropriate species to suggest. For instance, are there deer that visit the yard and browse plants? How moist or dry is the soil in that area? (Does it drain well, or do tree roots rob most of its moisture, or does a nearby roof downspout outlet keep it wet during rainy weather?) Do you prefer the groundcover be low-growing (close to the ground) or can it reach a foot or so high as long as it spreads or helps cover the soil?  Miri

responder: The Question Asker Replied June 23, 2023, 1:04 PM EDT
response: The yard doesn't have a downspout that keeps it wet. There are some tree roots but not a lot and the soil beneath remains a clay orange. It is somewhat shady and we do have deer that visit our yards. We want something that is doing to take over, suppress all the weeds and generally cover as much ground as possible, preferably something either pretty or fragrant or both.

responder: Answered by the Home and Garden Information Center (HGIC), University of Maryland Extension. For timely gardening information and tips, subscribe to our Maryland Grows blog and quarterly newsletter. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. Replied June 23, 2023, 2:31 PM EDT
response: Hi,  You can explore the resources for plant lists and information on the Maryland Department of Natural Resources -Wild Acres page and always cross reference with some of the previous links we have shared or cross reference with our pollinator gardens page, ground cover page, and lawn alternatives page. The DNR website has a lot of great ideas for creating backyard habitats!  Looking at the photos it does look like you may have some non-native Nandina or heavenly bamboo which is classified as a Tier 2 invasive by the Maryland Department of Agriculture. Birds tend to enjoy the berries and disperse them everywhere. The berries can be toxic if they eat enough of them too. So you may want to consider trying to remove those if you are able to. It is difficult to tell if they are on your property or a neighbors.  There are a few different ground covers that could work, however if you are trying to attract wildlife, you may want to consider building a diverse habitat. In a previously answered question, we mentioned different layers, various food sources and water sources year round. Maybe planting some shrubs along the fence line could offer berries or fragrance for birds and pollinators and look attractive while gazing out your windows, some mid level perennials or ferns would be nice for pollinators and offer cover for any ground dwelling critters or those that might need shelter and ground covers would replace non-native or beneficial turf grass.  Here are a few ideas:  Shrubs: Virginia SweetspireClethra alnifoliaSpice bushWinterberry holly (female plants will produce berries -need a male plant nearby to pollinate)Elderberry  Perennials: Mountain MintNative Ferns - Hay scented, ostrich, cinnamon, Christmas (there are many different species)Golden RagwortWild geranium Columbine Ground covers: VioletsWoodland phloxFoamflowerSedge grass for shade (Carex pennsylvanica) Bleeding heartMeadow rue  You may want to create some designated pathways since having a mix with different height plants will fill in the yard and paths will help you get around. You can accomplish that with woodchips or mulch, or invest in pavers or natural stone. You can sign up for a chip drop and use those for paths or to mulch after planting.  If this is overwhelming to plan yourself, you could also look into hiring a Chesapeake Bay Landscape Professional to help design or install a habitat. You can search for one in your area on the link provided. They may not know specific wildlife that would visit based on the plants, however they are certified to have the health and environment of the Bay in mind when planning or installing landscapes.  Let us know if you have specific plant questions regarding any of the resources or plant species we shared.  Emily