Groundcovers:

• Are the most commonly used landscape plant material next to turfgrass

• There are fewer species than other landscape plant categories, but they are used more widely in landscapes

• They provide a transition from turfgrass to larger landscape plants

• They can be  used where turfgrass cannot:

  • Steep slopes

  • Deep shade

• They are often used around other larger plants as part of a planting bed

• They provide soil stabilization

Groundcovers for Full Sun to Part Shade:

• Daylily

• Liriope

• Creeping Lilyturf

• Leadwort, Plumbago

• Creeping Phlox, Moss Pink, Thrift

• Blue Fescue

• Bigleaf Periwinkle

• Purpleleaf Wintercreeper

• ‘Emerald Gaiety’ Wintercreeper

• ‘Emerald & Gold’ Wintercreeper

• ‘Moonshadow’ Wintercreeper

• Shore Juniper

• Creeping Juniper (‘Blue Rug,’ ‘Blue Clips/Blue Chips,’ etc.)

• Japanese Garden Juniper

• ‘Broadmoor’ Savin Juniper

• ‘Blue Star’ Juniper

• Dwarf Willowleaf Cotoneaster

• Bearded Iris

• Candytuft

• English Ivy

• Chameleon Plant, Houttuynia

• Sedum spp. 

Groundcovers for Part Shade to Full Shade:

• Bishopweed

• Blue Fescue

• Creeping Buttercup

• English Ivy

• Japanese Spurge, Pachysandra

• Bugleweed, Ajuga

• Lily-of-the-Valley

• Plantain Lily, Hosta

• Lenten Rose

• Wild Ginger

• Heuchera (Coralbells, Alumroot)

• Vinca, Periwinkle, Cemetery Vine

• Bigleaf Periwinkle

• Purpleleaf Wintercreeper

• ‘Emerald Gaiety’ Wintercreeper

• ‘Emerald & Gold’ Wintercreeper

• ‘Moonshadow’ Wintercreeper

• Spotted Deadnettle

• Mondo Grass

• Japanese Painted Fern

Groundcovers for Dry Soil Sites:

• Creeping Phlox

• Shore Juniper

• Shore Juniper

• Creeping Juniper (‘Blue Rug,’ ‘Blue Clips/Blue Chips,’ etc.)

• Japanese Garden Juniper

• ‘Broadmoor’ Savin Juniper

• ‘Blue Star’ Juniper

• Bearded Iris

• Sedum spp.

Groundcovers that need Moist Soil Sites (continuous adequate moisture):

·    Creeping Buttercup

·    Japanese Spurge, Pachysandra

·    Heuchera (Coralbells, Alumroot)

·    Wild Ginger

·    Lily-of-the-Valley

·    Plantain Lily, Hosta

·    Bigleaf Periwinkle

·    Vinca minor, Periwinkle (somewhat)

·    Spotted Deadnettle

·    Mondo Grass

·    Japanese Painted Fern

 

Most Adaptable Groundcovers: (assuming sun/shade requirements are met)

·        Daylily

·    Bearded Iris

·    Plantain Lily, Hosta

·    English Ivy

·    Liriope

·    Creeping Lilyturf

·    Purpleleaf Wintercreeper

·    ‘Emerald Gaiety’ Wintercreeper

·    ‘Emerald & Gold’ Wintercreeper

·    Lenten Rose

·    Chameleon Plant, Houttuynia

·    Shore Juniper

·    Creeping Juniper (‘Blue Rug,’ ‘Blue Clips/Blue Chips,’ etc.)

·    Japanese Garden Juniper

·    ‘Broadmoor’ Savin Juniper

·    Sedum spp.

·    Leadwort, Plumbago