# gardeners/landscapers: recommend native grass-like plant for MD **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 9, 2014, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gardeners-landscapers-recommend-native-grass-like-plant-for-md/683281 "2014-03-09T18:16:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![booklover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/85f322/32.png) [@booklover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/booklover)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2014, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gardeners-landscapers-recommend-native-grass-like-plant-for-md/683281/1 "2014-03-09T18:16:05Z")
As the title says, we are looking for some type of native grassy or ground-covering plant that will do well in a shaded area. We have a lot of mud right now since the yard gets tons of foot traffic. We’re in Maryland; the soil in the yard is very clay-ey. When we get rain it remains very damp because we have so much shade. Any thoughts/suggestions? ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2014, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gardeners-landscapers-recommend-native-grass-like-plant-for-md/683281/2 "2014-03-09T18:30:55Z")
Shady, eh? Just off the top of my head, there’s pachysandra, bishop’s weed, thyme, or hosta. Ferns will grow there. Have you considered intentionally growing moss? > **[Should your lawn be made of moss? | Gardens Alive!](https://www.gardensalive.com/product/should-your-lawn-be-made-of-moss)** > > Q. Mike: I recall you once did a pro-moss piece. I want a solid and secure full-moss lawn; green growth that I won't have to mow. I have deep shade from mature Pines and maples and some moss already growing successfully in my sandy-ish soil. But I... ---
**Author:** ![MacCat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maccat/32/216_2.png) [@MacCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacCat)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2014, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gardeners-landscapers-recommend-native-grass-like-plant-for-md/683281/3 "2014-03-11T04:07:53Z")
There aren’t too many plants that will tolerate tons of foot traffic. Can you control/direct that with stepping stones or gravel and plant the remainder? AskNott has some good choices above and I would add Ajuga, Liriope and Vinca. I would combine a few different types and divide and replant the more successful for the less so in the future. You should plant the lower ones near the walk area and larger on the outer areas. You could select some larger Hostas to give you more coverage. Do you have a photo(s) of the area? [Hostas, Vinca, Ferns et al](http://www.pinterest.com/pin/454863631086550718/) [Vinca minor](http://www.pinterest.com/pin/82401868151544615/) [Vinca & Hostas](http://www.pinterest.com/pin/19562579604006520/) [Ajuga & Acorus or Liriope](http://www.pinterest.com/pin/99501472988097515/) [Liriope spicata](http://www.pinterest.com/pin/225531893811760765/) ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2014, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gardeners-landscapers-recommend-native-grass-like-plant-for-md/683281/4 "2014-03-11T04:32:25Z")
Some good suggestions have been made. Liriope is the only semi-grasslike plant that’s been mentioned. If the situation is seasonally (or permanently) soggy, in shade, with bad clayey soil _and_ gets foot traffic, forget about growing plants and think about mulch instead. If people and animals can stay off it, [variegated bishop’s weed](http://www.bhg.com/gardening/plant-dictionary/perennial/bishops-weed/) (Aegopodium podagraria “Variegatum”) is about the toughest ground cover I can think of. It is also an aggressive spreader (not a problem if there isn’t lawn or other valued planting that it can invade). ---
**Author:** ![booklover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/85f322/32.png) [@booklover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/booklover)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2014, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gardeners-landscapers-recommend-native-grass-like-plant-for-md/683281/5 "2014-03-11T17:58:43Z")
I think moss or ferns may be our best bet. We actually have bishop’s weed in the slightly sunnier areas of the yard and it hasn’t spread to the areas where we’re hoping to grow something. Liriope looks great but the fact sheets specify well-drained soil. The foot traffic stems from the fact that our yard is a convenient shortcut to the middle school and its playing fields–we are fine with this because the kids are generally well-behaved. I’ve been thinking of putting down some type of gravel path or stepping stones to guide them toward one side of the house.