Groundcovers Directory

AJUGA Zones 3-9 Sun to shade

reptans - Vigorous evergreen groundcover or filler plant.  Blue-purple flowers stand 4 to 6" over the clean green foliage only 2" tall.  The original species, but usually overlooked in favor of the cultivars.

‘Atropurpurea’- Broadleaf, usually evergreen groundcover.  Purple flowers in spring above bronze, purple, and green leaves.   Ideal for small areas.  Awards: Award of Garden Merit.  Recommended by: USNA.

‘Burgundy Glow’- A variegated ajuga whose leaves are edged in white with a burgandy overlay and green center creating a unique tricolor effect.  Awards: Award of Garden Merit.  Recommended by: USNA.
‘Caitlains Giant’ - Much larger leaves and flower inflorescences than typical.  Awards: Award of Garden Merit.

CONVALLARIA

majalis - Lily-of-the-Valley Zones 3-7 Part shade

Fragrant bell shaped flowers hang beneath handsome leaves.  An old beloved favorite.  Makes an admirable groundcover in good conditions, and can be surprisingly adept to less than perfect environmental factors.  Grows about 6-9" tall and slowly spreads in goood soil.  Recommended by: USNA.

EUONYMOUS

fortunei Zones 4-9 Sun to shade

‘Coloratus’ - Purple Wintercreeper - Purple wintercreeper will spread across the ground or climb a tree.  The evergreen leaves turn purple and red in cold weather giving color to the garden when it needs it.  

‘Radicans’ - One of the best evergreen groundcovers for difficult areas.  Roots as it touches the ground and continues to spread.  Can also be used as a climber.

‘Variegatus’ - This is a small trailing shrub or can be used as a climber.  The leaves are margined in white -often with a pink tinge, and the center of the leaves are gray-green.  Usually only 12-18 inches tall when used as a groundcover, but can climb to the height of any structure it is allowed to climb.  Awards: Award of Merit from the RHS.

HEDERA Zones 5-9 Sun to shade

helix - English Ivy - Useful evergreen groundcovers, especially for difficult sites under trees.   Recommended by: USNA

‘Buttercup’ - Awards: Award of Garden Merit from the RHS.

‘Gold Dust’ -

‘Ivalace’ - Curly Leaf Ivy - Evergreen leaves curl at the edge.   Gives unusual texture when grown up trees and walls.  Awards: First Class Certificate & Award of Garden Merit from the RHS

‘Needlepoint’ - Elongated narrow leaves give this ivy distinction.  This vigorous grower makes good groundcover.

‘Silverdust’ - Not speckled as the name suggests.  This ivy has creamy leaf edges and is hardier than most variegated ivies.

HELLEBORUS Zones 4-10 Sun to shade

orientalis- Lenten Rose - Handsome evergreen leaves spread slowly to make a tall groundcover.  The flowers appear in late winter to spring and may range in colors from white to crimson to maroon.  Flowers are frequently flushed with green.  Grows about 24" tall and spreads slowly.  Easy to grow in partial to full shade.  Recommended by: USNA

HYPERICUM

calycinium - Creeping St.  John’s Wort - Zones 5-8 Sun to part shade

A tough, easily grown, evergreen groundcover well known to take difficult conditions.  Covers itself in yellow flowers in the summer.  Gets about 12" tall and spreads 24" or more in ten years.  An occasional hard mowing or cutting back helps to rejuvinate foliage.  Awards: Award of Merit from the RHS.  Recommended by: GCA., USNA. 

LIRIOPE

muscari - Monkey Grass Zones 6-10 Sun to shade
The most common form.  Slowly spreads from clumps.  Tops for edging and groundcover.  A slow spreading clump apx.  12" tall.  

‘Big Blue’ -

‘Variegata’- Silver edged leaves and purple flowers make this an extremely useful plant.  Takes full sun or can brighten a shady spot.

spicata - Creeping Lilyturf - Rapid spreader with a thin leaf blade.  Best type for use as a large spreading groundcover, but not for use as edging.   12" tall and spreading.  Recommended by: USNA.

‘Silver Dragon’ - This is a new rapid spreading grass with silvery-white edges against blue-green center.  Growth is slower than regular Liriope spicata.   Superb! 12"x18"

LYSIMACHIA

nummularia - Creeping Jenny/Moneywort Zones 4-9 Sun to shade

Dark green round leaves on a low growing groundcover only 1 to 2" tall.  Rapid spreading in sun or light shade. 

‘Aurea’ - Same habit as the above plant but with golden leaves.

MAZUS

reptans - Zones 5-9 Sun to part shade

Mazus is a dense prostrate growing perennial that is superb as a groundcover or filler.  Only1-2" high, it is good for use between paving stones.  Tiny tubular purple flowers that look like tiny butterflies, appear in the spring.  

‘Albus’- A white flowered form of the above plant.

OPHIOPOGON - Mondo Grass -

japonicus - Zones 5-9 Sun to shade

Fast growing evergreen grass for groundcover.  Dark green color.  Finer and smaller growing than the similar Liriope.   6-10" tall.  Spreads rapidly.  Recommended by: USNA.

‘Nanus’ - Smaller than above- extremely low habit to about 4" tall.  Only hardy in Zones 7-9.

‘Variegatus’ - Slightly smaller in growth habit, and each leaf is silver-edged.  6-8" tall.   Needs some shade.  Only hardy in Zones 7-9.

planiscapus Zones 7-9 Part shade to shade

‘Nigrescens’ - Black Mondo Grass - Extremely slow growing grass.  The blackest leaved plant we know and it is very striking.   6-8" tall.  Rarely available.  Best when seen up close. 

PACHYSANDRA

terminalis - Japanese Spurge Zones 3-8 Part shade to shade

Top evergreen groundcover for shade.  Grows about 8" tall and spreads about 12".  Foliage adds rich lush look to any planting.  Long time favorite.  Awards: Award of Garden Merit from the RHS.  Recommended by: USNA.

‘Variegata’ - The leaves on this handsome evergreen groundcover are mottled in silvery white.  Perfect for lighting up the floor of a dark garden and one of the handsomest of all variegated groundcovers.   Awards: Award of Garden Merit from the RHS.   Recommended by: USNA. 

PHLOX

douglasii

‘Crater Lake Blue’ - This phlox from the western U.S.  has excellent blue flowers in early spring and makes a tight groundcover. 

subulata - Creeping Phlox / Thrift - Zones 3-9 Sun to part shade

Prostrate evergreen mats that cover themselves in flowers in early spring.  They grow about 6" tall and spread 24".

‘Candy Stripe’ - White and pink flowers.

‘Emerald Blue’ - Blue flowers.

‘Emerald Pink’ - Pink flowers.

‘Red Wings’ - Red flowers.  Awards: Award of Garden Merit.

‘White Delight’ - White flowers.

PODOPHYLLUM

peltatum - Mayapple - Zones 4-9 Sun to shade

This native woodland groundcover appears in the spring with large leaves and nodding, fragrant white flowers.  Goes dormant in the heat of summer.  Can spread 4-5’ in good soil after many years.

RUBUS Zones 7-9 Sun to part shade

calycinoides - Creeping Bramble-

SAGINA

subulata - Irish Moss or Pearlwort - Zones 4-7 Sun to part shade

This evergreen perennial has moss-like foliage that grows to less than one inch tall.  Needs moist, well drained soil, and some shade in hot areas.  Makes a nice groundcover, or can be used between flagstones and pavers.

SAXIFRAGA Zones 5-8 Part shade to shade

stolenifera - Mother-of-Thousands or Strawberry Geranium - This plant has rounded olive green leaves with silver-gray veins.  The flowers are white panicles in the spring.  Admittedly rapid spreading but not that difficult to maintain.  6" tall and spreading. 

VINCA

minor - Periwinkle - Zones 4-9 Sun to shade

Ranks at the top of evergreen groundcover.  Versatile and adaptable.  Blue flowers are a spring tradition.  Recommended by: USNA.

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