Need suggestion to plant about 3000 sq. ft. Area under trees in a sandy garden in wasaga beach. Some sunlight. Would like to have one colour low growth to look like a blanket of flowers in the trees
A plant that would meet your requirements and the growing conditions in your garden is the native Geranium maculatum. It is a long-lived plant that spreads slowly, the lavender flowers provide colour in May and June and in autumn its foliage turns red.
It is, however, quite a large area that you plan to plant and you could add interest and diversity by interplanting the geraniums with False Solomon’s seal, Smilacina racemosa, or Solomon’s Seal Polygonatum biflorum, or even some of the hostas that tolerate dryer conditions.
Other plants that would thrive under your conditions:
-Wild columbine, Aquilegia canadensis, is not exactly low growing; it bears its flowers on fine 1′-3′ high stems. It would add interest mainly during its bloom time in May and June.
-Bearberry, Arctostaphylos uva ursi, is more a ground cover with small white or pinkish flowers. Most attractive are its red berries.
-Woodland Aster, Eurybia divaricata, it’s fine white flower clusters provide in interest mainly in autumn. However, it does spread.
Plants for shade and under trees:
Plants for dry sandy soils:
https://www.prairienursery.com/store/native-plants/for-dry-sandy-soils#.Vx-qGGMcVcB