Drought-Tolerant Groundcover Gaining Popularity

With drought a continuing problem around much of the country, forward-looking landscape contractors are selecting alternatives to water-hungry ground covers, and are turning to low-water versions such as minima jasmine. According to Pat Rey, owner of the Green Thumb Nursery in Florida, "(minima jasmine) doesn't have a problem with fungus, it takes sun, shade. It's dark green. It doesn't go into dormancy like the peanut plant does."

The Southwest Florida Water Management District is encouraging residents to skip a week of irrigation during the winter. But many homeowners are requesting their landscapers to change over their landscapes to plant material that needs less water to thrive.

Pat Rey of Town 'N Country, the owner of the Green Thumb Nursery, said most lawn grass requires regular watering, but Florida-friendly turf alternatives such as perennial peanut and jasmine are growing in popularity.

Rey said people also see the minima jasmine growing at the mall, and then ask for it at his nursery. "The one that everybody is on because it's easy and it's well known is the minima jasmine. We sell a lot of it." Rey said the minima jasmine grows to only about 1-foot tall. Meanwhile, while excellent turf alternatives, the white fountain, muhly and red fountain grasses grow to be about 2- to 4-feet tall.