Cutleaf Stephanandra

Size

Looking for a woody ground cover that has amazing foliage? Cutleaf Stephanandra could be your plant. The finely dissected foliage looks like tiny maple leaves and changes color in the fall just like Maple leaves too. Stephanandra will be covered in blazing oranges and yellows as the weather cools in the autumn. This shrub is deciduous, but after the leaves fall the thick, gnarled, woody stems will give structure and interest in the winter. Cutleaf Stephanandra is not only good as an ultra low maintenance ground cover, it excels as erosion control on a sloping site and can be sheared on an annual basis for a more formal Boxwood hedge appearance. Stephanandra is extremely drought tolerant once established and has an extensive root system that smothers out weeds very effectively. Cutleaf Stephanandra Care Well drained, moist soil is necessary to get Stephanandra off to a good start. This low growing shrub will tolerate the poorest of soils and is not fussy about pH level. Full sun will produce the most vigorous growth, but a partially shaded site is acceptable. Stephanandra will not need much for pruning. If it is growing along a driveway or walkway where it needs to stay in bounds, a quick clip at the beginning of the spring and end of the summer will do it. Growing Stephanandra as a formal hedge will require more of a shearing pruning and this is best done in the middle of the summer. The Cutleaf Stephanandra is generally not bothered by any diseases or pests. Cutleaf Stephanandra Spacing Spacing is very important when using theis deciduous shrub as a groundcover. The mature height is only 2 feet while the width is 5-7 feet. Planting 6 feet apart on center will give you the right amount of space to accommodate the vigorous growth without too much pruning.