Resource Directory
Main Herb Page
Garden Design Software
Contact Information

Groundcovers

The ground cover charts are divided into sun, shade, evergreen and deciduous for easy reference.

Best Evergreen Ground Covers for Sunny Areas.

Evergreen Size Planting distance, spacing Zone Description
America maritima
Thrift
6" 8' 5 - 9 Sandy soil. Pink flowers.
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi
Bearberry
6" 2' 2 - 9 Sandy, acid soil. Red berries. Hard to transplant. Also grows in shade.
Cotoneaster apiculata
Cranberry Cotoneaster
3' 3' 4 -10 Semi-evergreen. Red berries. Well-drained soil. Pink flowers.
Cotoneaster adpressa praecox
Early Cotoneaster
18" 3' 5 -10 Semi-evergreen. Red berries. Partial shade in south.
Erica carnea
Spring Heath
1' 12" 5 - 7 Sandy, acid soil. Neat, rosy blooms.
Euonymus fortunei radicans
Wintercreeper
1' 18" 5 - 9 Attractive foliage. Informal in appearance unless sheared. Spreads, climbs. Very useful. Sun or shade.
Euonymus fortunei colorata 1' 18" 5 - 9 Same as above but has red bronze leaves all winter.
Gazenia rigens
African Daisy
9" 9" 9 -10 Charming flowers. Well-drained soil.
Ice Plant
many latin names
12" 8" 10 Flowers during day. Succulent. Sandy soil, spreads. Useful for sunny sea coast.
Juniperus chinensis sargentii
Sargent Juniper
1' 2' 4 -10 Green, creeping.
Juniperus horizontalis plumosa
Andorra Juniper
1' 2' 2 - 9 Purple in winter, low mound.
Juniperus horizontalis wiltoni
Blue Rug Juniper
1' 2' 3 -10 Blue color, creeping.
Juniperus chinensis pfitzerans compacta
Compact Pfitzer Juniper
3' 3' 3 -10 Blue-green color. High enough to hide weeds.
Juniperus chinensis pfitzerana
Pfitzer Juniper
5' 4' 2 -10 Gray-green color. More vigorous.
Juniperus chinensis hetzi glauca
Hetz Blue Juniper
6' 5' 4 -10 Blue-green color. Very vigorous and spreading.
Phlox sublata
Moss Pink, Ground Phlox
6" 12" 4 -10 Creeping. Mass of spring bloom. Well-drained soil.


Best Deciduous Ground Covers for Sunny Areas.

Deciduous Size Planting distance, spacing Zone Description
Cerastium tomentosum
Snow-in-Summer
6" 12" 4 -10 Silvery leaves. White flowers. Spreads rapidly. Crowds less vigorous flowers.
Coronilla varia
Crown Vetch
24" 2' 3 - 9 Pink flowers. Good for steep bank. Doesn't like acid soil.
Cotoneaster horizontalis
Rock Cotoneaster
3' 4' 5 -10 Good fall colors. Berries. pink flowers. Well-drained soil. Semishade in south.
Cytisus praecox
Warminster Broom
6' 3' 5 -10 Upright shrubs. Dry sandy soil. Early yellow blooms. Green twigs in winter.
Cytisus hybrids
Broom, California, Pomona, San francisco, Stanford.
3-6' 3' 5 -10 Beautiful clors. Very good in California. Upright.
Cytisus nigricans
Spike Broom
3' 3' 5 -10 Most reliable. Yellow flowers. Dry black pods. Upright. Informal appearance.
Dicksonia punctifolbula
Hay scented Fern
15" 12" 6 - 9 Spreads. Tough. Feathery. Sun or shade.
Sedum acre,spurium & others
Stone Crop, Sedum
4" 8" 4 -10 Semi-evergreen succulents. Dense, low mats of foliage. Blooms. Well-drained soil.
Thymus serpyllum
Creeping Thyme
4" 8" 5 -10 Flowers. Scented foliage. Well-drained soil. Attractive mat of foliage, tiny leaves.


Best Evergreen Ground Covers for Shady Areas.

Evergreen Size Planting distance, spacing Zone Description
Ajuga reptans
Bugle Weed
4" 8" 5 - 9 Purple flowers. Spreads well.
Asarum europaeum
Wild Ginger
5" 8" 5 - 8 Glossy, round leaves. Woodland soil.
Hedera helix baltica
Baltic Ivy
8" 12" 5 - 9 Very neat, attractive foliage. Reliable, spreads. Formal appearance, no lime.
Ophiopogon japonicus
Mondo Grass
8" 9" 7 -10 Attractive, grasslike foliage. Clumps of green Spreads. Lilac flower. Sun or shade.
Pachysandra terminalis
Japanese Spurge
6" 9" 5 - 8 Very neat, attractive, reliable. Good soil. spreads vigorously.
Vinca minor
Periwinkle
6" 9" 5 - 10 Most attractive leaf. Dainty, graceful. Spreads. Blue flower. Well-drained, good soil.


Best Deciduous Ground Covers for Shady Areas.

Deciduous Size Planting distance, spacing Zone Description
Convallaria major
Lily-of-the-Valley
10" 12" 4 - 9 Tough, reliable, spreads slowly. Most fragrant bloom.
Hemerocallis
Day Lily
3' 18" 3 - 10 Reliable, summer flowers. Sun or shade.
Hosta varieties
Plantain Lily, Funkia
18" 12" 4 - 10 Tough, reliable. Good soil. Will grow under trees where few things will survive. Tall summer blooms.


Related Resources

Collected from various merchants, please click on the links for more info and ordering.

Spiraea - Daphne - $ 15.95

The Spirea 'Daphne', Spiraea japonica 'Alpina', exhibits small leaves on short, wiry branches, each tipped with a cluster of light pink flowers. It is a refined, tidy groundcover plant.It performs best in full sun. The foliage is dense and mat-like with a blue-green color.

Distinguished by their size, bloom color and season of bloom, spireas all have small leaves and fine, twiggy branches. Once established, they are drought tolerant.


Red Flowering Dogwood - $ 14.95
The Red Flowering Dogwood tree, Cornus florida, 'Cherokee Chief', exhibits a moderate growth rate. The new growth is red. Red Flowering Dogwood trees have moderate resistance to mildew. The blooms are a beautiful deep lasting ruby red. Fall color is a bright scarlet. Dogwoods have a variety of landscape uses. With the year-round interest, dogwoods are excellent for specimen or accent plantings around the terrace or patio. This deciduous trees is often used with a combination of rhododendrons, azaleas and dogwoods planted in a raised bed which creates an interesting natural landscape feature. Dogwoods make excellent understory trees in a semi-shaded area and are also now being used in conjunction with typical foundation plantings and groundcovers in large beds around a building.
Grass - Golden Variegated Sweet Flag - $ 13.95

The Grass 'Golden Variegated Sweet Flag', Acorus gramineus Ogon, is a mounded, non-invasive rhizome grass. It is great for containers, edging or as a groundcover. Fragrant, butter yellow sword-like blades create a striking contrast. Rich golden yellow foliage grows to 10 inches high, 1 foot spread.

It has a typical philodendron flower that can be used fresh or dried. It grows well in pots, ponds, as an edging or groundcover and even grows indoors. It doesnŠt like to dry out but can handle sun or shade.


Verbena Temari - Bright Pink - $ 13.95

The Verbena Temari - Bright Pink, is a fast-growing plant that quickly adds large clusters of intense pink blooms to containers, window boxes, and the front of borders. Its densely branching, trailing stems weave among any neighbors in an artful way that we couldn"t begin to design ourselves.

Plants are resistant to powdery mildew and thrive in heat and full sun. Temari is a splendid groundcover, and equally impressive in baskets, patio gardens, or spilling over balconies or window boxes.


Verbena pedula Superbena - Blue Purple - $ 13.95

The Verbena pedulla superba - (Blue Purple), displays blue- purple super large flowers. It exhibits strong and vigorous growth and combines mildew resistance which are Superbena's specialties. This tremendously improved Verbena is like nothing you've ever seen.

This Verbena is perfect for baskets, patio containers, on balconies and window boxes or as an outstanding flowering groundcover. It is already a mega-seller because of its colors and upright trailing-cascading habit.


Verbena pedula Superbena - Burgandy - $ 13.95

The Verbena pedulla superba - (Burgandy), displays burgundy super large flowers. It exhibits strong and vigorous growth and combines mildew resistance which are Superbena's specialties. This tremendously improved Verbena is like nothing you've ever seen.

This Verbena is perfect for baskets, patio containers, on balconies and window boxes or as an outstanding flowering groundcover. It is already a mega-seller because of its colors and upright trailing-cascading habit.


Verbena pedula Superbena - Coral Red - $ 13.95

The Verbena pedulla superba - (Coral Red), displays coral red super large flowers. It exhibits strong and vigorous growth and combines mildew resistance which are Superbena's specialties. This tremendously improved Verbena is like nothing you've ever seen.

This Verbena is perfect for baskets, patio containers, on balconies and window boxes or as an outstanding flowering groundcover. It is already a mega-seller because of its colors and upright trailing-cascading habit.


Moneywort - Goldilocks - $ 13.95

The Moneywort 'Goldilocks', Lysimachia nummularia, also known as Creeping Jenny, displays trailing discs of greenish gold that turn-bright yellow in sun. An attention-getting groundcover that's also a superb addition to patio pots and hanging baskets.

This Moneywort is versatile, tough, and extra cold-resistant. This plant is attractive to bees, butterflies and/or birds.


Ajuga - Mahogany Bungleweed - $ 13.95

The Ajuga , Mahagoney Bugleweed, Ajuga reptans Mahogany, is a robust Ajuga with a flat trailing habit and shiny, short-stemmed leaves. The lush, almost black-burgundy, glossy leafed foliage will turn to a deep rich Mahogany color and turns even darker and more lustrous during the winter months. Mahagany Bugleweeds display lovely bright blue flower panicles in the spring.

This Ajuga does best in fertile, well-drained soil. A site in morning sun and afternoon shade, or in filtered light allows this ajuga to really look its best. It is excellent when used for borders and in mixed containers, as well as in areas where grass is shade-challenged. Fast grower. Space 6-12" apart when used as a groundcover.


Grass - Autumn Moor - $ 13.95

The Grass, 'Autumn Moor', Sesleria autumnalis, is very upright.This grass is a tough yet beautiful evergreen with vivid yellow green to almost chartreuse foliage. The attractive flowers grow up to 4" to 6" long, and emerge as purplish black upright spikes.

The blades are held erect and become silvery white in late summer to fall. The lime green foliage is ideal for edging. A phenomenal grass to use as a large-scale groundcover, a filler in beds, or as an underplenting for shrubs and trees.


Verbena pedula Superbena - D'Ark Blue - $ 13.95

The Verbena pedulla superba - (Dark Blue ), displays dark blue super large flowers. It exhibits strong and vigorous growth and combines mildew resistance which are Superbena's specialties. This tremendously improved Verbena is like nothing you've ever seen.

This Verbena is perfect for baskets, patio containers, on balconies and window boxes or as an outstanding flowering groundcover. It is already a mega-seller because of its colors and upright trailing-cascading habit.


Verbena pedula Superbena - Large Lilac Blue - $ 13.95

The Verbena pedulla superba - (Large Lilac Blue ), displays blue super large flowers. It exhibits strong and vigorous growth and combines mildew resistance which are Superbena's specialties. This tremendously improved Verbena is like nothing you've ever seen.

This Verbena is perfect for baskets, patio containers, on balconies and window boxes or as an outstanding flowering groundcover. It is already a mega-seller because of its colors and upright trailing-cascading habit.


Verbena pedula Superbena - Pink Shades - $ 13.95

The Verbena pedulla superba - (Pink Shadow ), displays pink super large flowers. It exhibits strong and vigorous growth and combines mildew resistance which are Superbena's specialties. This tremendously improved Verbena is like nothing you've ever seen.

This Verbena is perfect for baskets, patio containers, on balconies and window boxes or as an outstanding flowering groundcover. It is already a mega-seller because of its colors and upright trailing-cascading habit.


Verbena pedula Superbena - Purple - $ 13.95

The Verbena pedulla superba - (Purple), displays purple super large flowers. It exhibits strong and vigorous growth and combines mildew resistance which are Superbena's specialties. This tremendously improved Verbena is like nothing you've ever seen.

This Verbena is perfect for baskets, patio containers, on balconies and window boxes or as an outstanding flowering groundcover. It is already a mega-seller because of its colors and upright trailing-cascading habit.


Ivy - English - $ 13.95

The English Ivy, Hedera helix, is a classic, fan-shaped, silver green English Ivy from the Fall Magic collection. English Ivy is a strong growing, trailing variety that's great for baskets, containers, or as a groundcover.

The dense growth and abundant leaves form a thick canopy just above the ground, and prevent sunlight from reaching other plants. It is widely used by homewoners, hirticulturists, landscape contractors and others desiring a fast growing, low maintainence, evergreen cover.


Verbena Tapien - Blue Violet - $ 13.95

The Verbena Tapien - Blue Violet, produces torrents of dazzling violet blooms, this hugely successful variety of Verbena is very weather-tolerant - making it a super specimen plant alone, or as part of a mixed basket where it will invariably steal the show!

Blue Violet Tapien is the ultimate flowering groundcover and basket plant; fast growing, versatile, with a neat, multi branching growth habit. Also a superior bedding plant, its elegant feathered leaves and delicate, brightly colored flowers form a carpet of blossoms.


Verbena Tapien - Pink - $ 13.95

The Verbena Tapien - Pink, produces torrents of dazzling pink blooms, this hugely successful variety of Verbena is very weather-tolerant - making it a super specimen plant alone, or as part of a mixed basket where it will invariably steal the show!

Pink Tapien is the ultimate flowering groundcover and basket plant; fast growing, versatile, with a neat, multi branching growth habit. Also a superior bedding plant, its elegant feathered leaves and delicate, brightly colored flowers form a carpet of blossoms.


Tiarella - Black Velvet Foam Flower - $ 13.95

The Tiarella 'Black Velvet Foam Flower', Tiarella Hybrid, has distinctive, frothy blooms that set the stage for other spring flowers. This attractive and versatile plant is a wonderful groundcover, and a mainstay of the shade or woodland garden. A great texture plant, especially for Hosta beds and shady corners.

A vigorous Tiarella hybrid from Terra Nova. The cut foliage is profuse, black-centered, and velvety while the flowers are white with a pink blush. Fills out very well and good for cutting.


Tiarella - Heronswood Mist Foam Flower - $ 13.95

The Tiarella 'Heronswood Mist Foam Flower', Tiarella Hybrid , has distinctive, frothy blooms that set the stage for other spring flowers. This attractive and versatile plant is a wonderful groundcover, and a mainstay of the shade or woodland garden. A great texture plant, especially for Hosta beds and shady corners.

Layers of cool pink, cream, and green mist across broad leaves, while the flower spikes have unique, shrimp-pink stems. Excellent re-bloomer.


Tiarella - Spring Symphony - $ 13.95

The Tiarella 'Spring Symphony',Tiarella Hybrid', has distinctive, frothy blooms that set the stage for other spring flowers. This attractive and versatile plant is a wonderful groundcover, and a mainstay of the shade or woodland garden. A great texture plant, especially for Hosta beds and shady corners.

The palmate, clumping, and neat foliage is painted with black along the midrib, and the profuse pink flowers are astounding. It also is humidity resistant.


Grass - Perennial Quaking - $ 13.95

The Grass 'Perennial Quaking Grass', Briza media, is the most common perennial Quaking Grass.The flowers rise a foot or more above the slender foliage to quiver in the breeze. Outstanding all-purpose grass both as a specimen, massed in groups, in borders, or as a groundcover. Foliage turns from bright green to golden as it matures.

The Quaking grasses are pest and disease free. It is a clumping deciduous grass with tall inflorescences with little bead-like seedheads from late spring into summer. Very hardy, tolerant of a range of soil conditions and pretty drought tolerant once established. and is not invasive.


Ivy - Glacier - $ 11.95

The Glacier Vine, Hedera Helix, also known as English Ivy, is a classic, fan-shaped, silver green English Ivy from the Fall Magic collection.

A strong growing, trailing variety that's great for baskets, containers, or as a groundcover.


Ivy - Gold Star - $ 11.95

The Gold Star Ivy, Hedera Helix, is a five-lobed, medium sized star shaped/birdfoot leaves with slightly elongated terminal lobes. It has an excellent self-branching habit. Foliage is chartreuse to golden green that darkens to emerald green with age.

A terrific variety for baskets, pots and use as a groundcover.


Ivy - Mini Ester - $ 11.95

The Mini Ester Ivy, Hedera Helix, is a slow growing but very bright colored variety. Its tiny, three-lobed leaves are bright white with gray green centers. A great basket, pot or groundcover treat.>/p>

Hederas are one of the most useful group of plants for the garden that we have. The wide range of varieties now available give colour and form all the year round.


Ivy - Duckfoot - $ 11.95

The Duckfoot Vine, Hedera Helix, has small, matt, olive green, rounded, fan shaped leaves that look just like little duck feet. Duckfoots have fast growing short internodes and a good self branching habit.

A nicely trailing variety that's especially good in baskets. Other uses are for groundcover indoors and terrariums.


Periwinkle - Illimuniation - $ 11.95

The Vinca Minor 'Illumination', produces near continuous foliage changes. Spring growth emerges chartreuse then brightens to golden yellow. Each yellow leaf is edged with a grass green margin. Later in the year plants turn to cream on attractive pink stems. Direct sun will prematurely bleach foliage. Blooms in late spring and continues sporadically through the summer. Flowers are Dutch blue, 1 inch wide for high contrast against foliage.

Dramatic alone in hanging baskets for long golden tresses. Ideal foliage accent for color pots too. In the garden use as a spreading groundcover to brighten shade gardens. Beautiful cascading down slopes, banks, walls and curbs. Pest and disease free. Herbaceous perennial.


Periwinkle - Wojos Gem - $ 11.95

The Periwinkle 'Wojo's Gem', Vinca Major 'Wojo's Gem', is a new selection of trailing vinca with creamy yellow centers edged and flecked with dark green. It is idstinct from Vinca 'Illumination' with larger leaves is hardy in protected spots in zone 6.

Use in as a spreading groundcover to brighten shade gardens. Beautiful cascading down slopes, banks, walls and curbs. Pest and disease free. Herbaceous perennial.


Liriope - Spicata - $ 11.95

The Liriope, 'Spicata', also known as Lirope, is an almost indestructible plant for stubborn areas. Liriope gracefully fills those spots where nothing else will grow. Large, pale lavender flower spikes bloom in late summer, rising above arching, evergreen tufts of grassy foliage.

This Lirope has 3/4" wide grass-like dark green leaves, up to 24" long. An excellent groundcover and accent grass.


Liriope - Big Blue - $ 11.95

The Liriope 'Big Blue', Lirope muscari 'Big Blue', also known as Lirope,is a grass-like foliage set with tall spikes of lavender-blue, hyacinth-like blooms in late summer.

The Lirope 'Big Blue' is slow spreading. It is a very versatile ornamental grass that can be used as a groundcover or garden accent or even in a container. Place in location that is well drained.


Burpee Groundcovers
Burpee Groundcovers

Lawns, Grasses and Groundcovers, Vol. 1
Lawns, Grasses and Groundcovers, Vol. 1

All About Ground Covers All About Ground Covers

The ultimate guide to help you select, plant, maintain and propagate more than 200 featured ground covers to successfully landscape a variety of sites, climates and conditions.


Vinca Vinca

Brilliant golden leaves.


Lawns, Grasses and Groundcovers: Lawns, Grasses, and Ground Covers Lawns, Grasses and Groundcovers: Lawns, Grasses, and Ground Covers

No Synopsis Available.


Ortho's All About Ground Covers Ortho's All About Ground Covers

No Synopsis Available.


Taylor's Guide to Shrubs: How to Select and Grow More Than 500 Ornamental and Useful Shrubs for Privacy, Ground Covers, and Specimen Plantings Taylor's Guide to Shrubs: How to Select and Grow More Than 500 Ornamental and Useful Shrubs for Privacy, Ground Covers, and Specimen Plantings

No Synopsis Available.


Taylor's Guide to Ground Covers, Vines & Grasses Taylor's Guide to Ground Covers, Vines & Grasses

No Synopsis Available.


Fire and Ice Hosta Fire and Ice Hosta

The lively foliage of this cool white and green Hosta is striking with its irregular, flame-shaped, white centres dividing mid to dark green leaves. Spring Shipped.




Resource Directory
Main Herb Page
Landscapers Design Software
Contact Information