Please will you kindly tell me what is the name of this ground cover plant which has tiny yellow flowers.
Also it is growing on the side of my maple tree, in the cravices and I wonder if this will damage the maple tree and should I remove it and keep them just on the ground. Please see photo attached. Thank you
Lorrie
Thank you for contacting Toronto Master Gardeners with your question.
The details are hard to make out from the photo, considering the shape of the plant, the lanceolate leaves and the tiny yellow flowers; it appears to be Sedum sarmentosum commonly named Gold Moss Stonecrop. This creeping sedum grows easily up to 10 inches (25 cm) long and 6 inches (15 cm) high.
According to the Missouri University extension ‘When planted under trees, ground covers reduce the possibility of mower damage to the base of the tree. Some ground covers may be used to protect the roots of shallow-rooted trees. They shade the soil and keep it from drying out rapidly. Some ground covers don’t require as much moisture and nutrients as grass. Therefore, they are in less competition with trees and shrubs.’
Don’t allow any plants to climb on your maple tree although is a fine texture groundcover. Cutting away groundcovers by hand and manually removing them from the base of the tree on a regular basis will help keep them under control.
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