ground cover:
Any plant that grows over an area of ground, It can be used for erosion protection, drought and/or beautifying a landscape.
Pick Your Ground Cover
Dianthus: A cousin of carnations they are surprisingly tough. Many colors exist but reds & pinks are prettiest. Very small 6”x6” evergreen. Great for courtyards
Dwarf Junipers: I know you hate junipers and so do I but the upright tree types and the very dwarf ground covers have their place. If you want a low growing plant that will cover a large are with little effort on your part consider juniper species that stay below 6”.
Dwarf Plumbago: Excellent ground cover for sun or shade. Grows to about 1’ tall. Blooms from summer to frost with brilliant blue flowers. Only drawback is that it loses its leaves in winter. If you don’t like gravel here is a solution for some of the area. Scarlet foliage in fall.
English Ivy: Evergreen, fast growing, very tough and surprisingly can take full sun. They do best in part shade to full shade. Fairly drought tolerant. Tired of gravel-- try this one.
Ice Plant: Very drought tolerant succulent with short lived but stunning blooms. Great for rock gardens or pots. 3" tall x 18" across
Honeysuckle: Many varieties available. Grows like a weed and looks like one too if you don’t occasionally shear it to promote new growth especially at the bottom of the plant. Evergreen and an American standard. If you don’t like to trim at least once a year then don’t pick this one. Sun to part shade.
Liriope: This is a common grass-like groundcover in the south. Shade loving but sun tolerant this evergreen grows to about a foot tall depending on species.
Prostrate Rosemary: Ground cover version of the upright Rosemary. Not as cold tolerant so lets plant them on the south or west if possible. Blooms bright blue in the early spring, evergreen and can be used as a potpourri. 18’ tall 8’ wide. Great for draping over a wall.
Sedum: Many varieties of this pleasant little succulent exist. Evergreen and very short usually less than 4” and very drought tolerant. I like to use them in pots because they will drape over the rim and do not require much water once established.
Skullcap: Seldom used but a really great plant for small areas. Stays 4" tall x 18" wide. Cut back in winter.
Snow in Summer: Silver foliage- low growing and blooms white in summer. Semi evergreen but should be cut back heavily in spring.
Vinca Minor: Vine for trellis or great ground cover for shade to part shade. Evergreen, cold tolerant with wonderfully delicate blue blooms in spring
Wine Cups: This is a fast growing but controlled groundcover. With wine colored “ Petunia like” blooms, it is a garden standard.
