Quick facts…
- Plants that are low-growing (generally less than 24 inches) and spread easily are suitable ground cover plants.
- Suitable places for xeric ground covers (a.k.a. “water-wise ground cover plants”) include dry slopes, landscape medians, parking strips, traffic islands and street rights-of-way.
- Consider ground covers on hot, dry, south and west exposures as well as for dense, dry shade.
- Improve soil before planting ground covers.
- Ideally, a ground cover should grow dense enough or be mulched to inhibit weeds.
Introduction
Ground cover plants are appealing for their variety of ornamental features that add interest to landscapes. They provide a variety of textures and colors, help to reduce soil erosion, and can function as a transition between landscape spaces. They offer alternatives to turfgrasses in some situations.
A ground cover should spread by itself. Species that produce rhizomes or stolons or that spread by offsets or tip layering are good choices for ground covers. Ideally, they will develop rapidly into a dense cover. Some grow so fast they can become invasive.
Ground covers also can enhance the beauty of shrub borders and break up the monotony of mulched areas. Xeric ground cover plants (or “water-wise” plants) may be the answer for challenging landscape areas that are difficult to mow or water, require extra maintenance or are less suitable for turfgrass such as:
- Landscaped medians, parking strips, traffic islands and rights-of-way along streets,
- Steep slopes that are impractical in lawns or a mowing hazard,
- Hot, dry areas on south and west exposures,
- Deeply shaded areas beneath trees or shrubs, along north sides of walls and fences, between buildings and in front of low windows.
Soils and Exposure
The key to successful ground cover establishment is good soil preparation. Some ground covers spread by offshoots or runners and are more apt to fill in quickly where the soil has good aeration and drainage. Improve soils with good quality organic matter before planting. Incorporate 3 to 5 cubic yards of compost or other organic soil amendment into 1000 square feet of area.
Pay attention to exposure. Tables 1 and 2 indicate ground cover plants for sun or shade, bloom characteristics and useful comments.
Weed Control and Maintenance
Prior to planting ground covers, make sure that existing weeds are hoed, pulled, or killed with an herbicide. Perennial weeds can be especially troublesome later if not eliminated prior to planting. Glyphosate herbicide controls many weeds if applied a few weeks prior to planting. This herbicide does not leave a harmful soil residue, allowing planting in treated areas 10 to 14 days after spraying. Follow label directions when using.
All ground covers require maintenance, some more than others. Ground covers that develop flowers and fruit often require more maintenance than evergreen ground covers.
Table 1: Xeric ground cover plants for full sun
| Plant Name | Height (in) | Flower Color | Bloom time | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Achillea serbica Serbian yarrow | 4-8 | White | Spring | Toothed, gray leaves |
| Achillea tomentosa Woolly yarrow | 2-4 | Yellow | Summer | Woolly, gray foliage in low mats |
| Antennaria dioica Pussytoes | 1-2 | White to pink | Late spring to early summer | Persistent gray-green foliage in dense mats; excellent for rocky slopes |
| Arctostaphylos x coloradensis Mock Bearberry manzanita | 10-18 | Pink | Early spring | Evergreen leaves, good for slopes |
| Artemisia frigida Fringed sage | 6-15 | Yellow | Late summer | Blooms not showy, silver-gray fringed foliage, woody stems |
| Bouteloua gracilis Blue grama grass | 12-18 | Tan | Summer to fall | Clump-forming native, sow seed to form solid cover, shade intolerant |
| Callirhoe involucrata Prairie winecups | 6-12 | Red | Summer to fall | Vigorous trailing stems, Plant Select® |
| Calylophus serrulatus ‘Prairie Lode’ Prairie Lode sundrops | 6-8 | Yellow | Late spring to early fall | Establish well before cold weather arrives. Mulch in winter. |
| Cerastium tomentosum Snow-in-summer | 6-8 | White | Spring to summer | Gray foliage, aggressive spreader |
| Ceratostigma plumbaginoides Plumbago | 8-12 | Violet-blue | Late summer to fall | Shiny green leaves, purplish fall leaf color |
| Delosperma sp. Iceplant | 1-6 | Red, yellow, white, fuchsia | Spring to fall | Succulent leaves |
| D. floribundum ‘Starburst | 4-6 | Pink with white centers | Summer to fall | Cushion growth form, requires dry soil in winters, Plant Select® |
| D. ‘John Proffit’ Table Mountain | 2-4 | Fuchsia | Spring to fall | Durable, leaves turn purple in winter, Plant Select® |
| D. ‘Kelaidis’ PP#13,876 Mesa Verde | 2-4 | Salmon-pink | Spring to fall | Vigorous, compact habit, Plant Select® |
| D. nubigenum Hardy Yellow | 1-2 | Yellow | Early to mid-summer | Light green, compact foliage turns purplish in winter |
| D. ‘Psfave’ LAVENDER ICE TM | 2-3 | Lavender | Spring to fall | Foliage turns purple in winter, Plant Select® |
| Duchesnia indica Mock strawberry | 4-6 | Yellow | Late spring to summer | Aggressive creeper, inedible red fruit |
| Epilobium canum subsp. garrettii ‘PWWG01S’ ORANGE CARPET® hummingbird trumpet | 4-6 | Orange | Mid-to late summer | Cold hardy, grows rapidly, |
| Eriogonum umbellatum Sulfur flower | 3-6 | Yellow | Early to mid-summer | Flower stalk 8 inches, foliage in a low mat, reddish in winter, native |
| E. umbellatum v. aureum ‘Psdowns’ Kannah Creek buckwheat | 6-12 | Yellow | Summer | Foliage turns reddish in winter, Plant Select® |
| Festuca glauca Blue fescue grass | 6-15 | Tan | Summer | Bunch grass producing tufts of blue-gray foliage |
| Geranium magniflorum ‘P013S’ LA VETA LACE® geranium | 6-10 | Purple | Spring-summer | Does best on north or east facing slopes, very striking. |
| Juniperus horizontalis Creeping juniper | 2-24 | Evergreen, several foliage colors | ||
| ‘Bar Harbor’ | 8-10 | Gray-blue foliage, purplish winter color | ||
| ‘Blue Chip’ | 8-10 | Silver-blue foliage, purple in winter | ||
| ‘Icee Blue’ | 2-4 | Compact silver-blue foliage turns purplish in winter | ||
| ‘Hughes’ | 12-24 | Silvery blue foliage turns light purple in winter, distinct radial branching | ||
| ‘Prince of Wales’ | 4-6 | Ground hugging foliage turns plum in winter | ||
| ‘Wiltonii’ (‘Blue Rug’) | 4-6 | Very low, silver-blue; purplish winter tinge | ||
| Juniperus sabina ‘Buffalo | 12-18 | Bright green foliage on horizontal branches | ||
| Marrubium rotundifolium Silverheels horehound | 4-6 | Silver-fringed rounded foliage, Plant Select® | ||
| Nepeta Psfike PP#18,904 Little Trudy® catmint | 8-10 | Lavender | Spring to fall | Silvery foliage, low compact habit |
| Penstemon caespitosus Mat penstemon | 1-4 | Blue | Early summer | Spreading carpet-like growth habit |
| Penstemon caespitosus ‘P022S’ WAGGON WHEEL® Bluemat Penstemon | 1-2 | Blue to light purple | June-early July | Forms circular, evergreen mats, very waterwise. |
| Penstemon linarioides var. coloradoensis Silverton® bluemat penstemon | 8-12 | Lavender | Late spring to early summer | Evergreen silver foliage, Plant Select® |
| Penstemon pinifolius Pineleaf penstemon | 6-10 | Red-orange | Summer | Needle-like leaves |
| ‘Mersea Yellow’ | 6-8 | Yellow | Summer | Needle-like leaves |
| Phlox subulata Creeping phlox | 6 | Red, white, lavender | Spring | Moss-like foliage |
| Persicaria affinis Himalayan border jewel | 8-12 | Pink | Summer | Aggressive creeper |
| Potentilla neumanniana Creeping potentilla | 2-4 | Yellow | Late spring to early summer | Low mat, aggressive |
| Prunus besseyi ‘P011S’ PAWNEE BUTTES® Sand Cherry | 15-18 | White | Early spring | Fragrant flowers attract pollinators. Produces a heavy crop of fruit that supports wildlife. Bright red and purple fall colors. |
| Salvia daghestanica Platinum sage | 8-10 | Dark blue | Spring to early summer | Silvery white foliage, slow spreading, Plant Select® |
| Satureja montana subsp. Illyrica Purple winter savory | 4-6 | Blue | August to October | Forms trim evergreen mounds late in the season. |
| Sedum acre Goldmoss sedum | 2-4 | Yellow | Early summer | Bright green evergreen leaves |
| Sedum kamtschaticum Kamschatka stonecrop | 4-6 | Orange to yellow | Late summer | Toothed, glossy dark green leaves |
| Sedum spurium ‘Dragon’s Blood’ | 2-4 | Rose red | Mid-summer | Red edged foliage turns solid red in fall |
| Stachys byzantina ‘Helene von Stein’ lamb’s ears | 8-10 | Not important | Not important | Large leaves, rarely flowers |
| Tanacetum densum ssp. Amani Partridge feather | 4-6 | Yellow | June | Plush year-round silver mats of feathery foliage. |
| Thymus praecox Creeping thyme | 1-4 | Pink | Spring to early summer | Fragrant, evergreen foliage |
| Thymus praecox ‘Pseudolanuginosus’ Woolly thyme | 1-2 | Pink | Spring to early summer | Woolly-gray foliage turns purplish in winter, sparse flowers |
| Thymus serpyllum Mother-of-thyme | 3-6 | Pink to purple | Late spring | Mint-like fragrance |
| Thymus x citriodorus Lemon thyme | 6-12 | Pink | Early summer | Lemon scented foliage |
| Verbena bipinnatifida VALLEY LAVENDER™ plains verbena | 3-6 | Purple | May to October | Attractive to butterflies and very durable. |
| Veronica ‘Reavis’ CRYSTAL RIVER® veronica | 2-3 | Blue | April to June, scattered thereafter | Fast growing and vigorous. |
| Veronica liwanensis Turkish veronica | 1-2 | Blue | Late spring to early summer | Dark green leaves, evergreen, Plant Select® |
| Veronica pectinata Woolly veronica | 1-2 | Blue | Early summer | Gray foliage, evergreen in mild winters, tolerates part shade |
| Zauschneria garrettii Orange Carpet ® California fuchsia | 4-8 | Orange | Late summer | Tubular flowers, cascades over walls, attracts hummingbirds, Plant Select® |
| Zinnia grandiflora ‘Gold on Blue’ Gold on Blue prairie zinnia | 8-10 | Yellow | Summer | Thrives in all soils and is excellent for hot, dry sites. |
Table 2: Xeric ground cover plants for part shade to shade
| Plant Name | Height (in) | Flower Color | Bloom time | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arctostaphylos uva-ursi Kinnikinnick | 4-6 | Pink | Spring | Evergreen, red berries, native |
| Euonymus fortunei ‘Coloratus’ Wintercreeper | 12-18 | Not important | Not important | Glossy dark green leaves turn purple in winter |
| Juniperus horizontalis ‘Guernsey Green’ Guernsey Green Juniper, WINDWALKER® Series | 3 | Highly drought tolerant, equally shade and sun tolerant, good as a living mulch. | ||
| Mahonia repens Creeping Oregon grape | 6-18 | Yellow | Spring | Evergreen holly-like foliage turns reddish in fall, native |
| Vinca minor Periwinkle | 4-6 | White or purple | Spring | Semi-evergreen, dark glossy green leaves |
Reference: CSU Fact Sheet 7.230