Groundcovers
This category contains 4 to 12 inch woody plants, low growing conifers that spread and herbaceous perennials that form clumps and mats. Great for erosion control, front of the border and texture in perennial beds and shrub borders or along woodland and open pathways. Some are fruiting such as blueberries and cranberries. Varieties for shade or full sun, some offering gorgeous fall color.
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi “Kinnikinnick’
US Native Bearberry) 8” x 48” Zone 2 Quickly spreading evergreen groundcover • Pinkish June bell flowers for bees • tiny red fruit drupes • Saw on “Nature” Grizzlies eating these in Alaska!
Pachysandra procumbens
Pachysandra procumbens (EUS Native Allegheny Spurge) 8” x 18” Zone 4 Fragrant pinkish small bottle- brush upright flowers hidden by beautiful leaves with subtle tan variegation • NOTHING to do with the inva-sive pachysandra you’re trying to dig out • early pollinators
Calamintha Nepetoides `White Cloud`
16 x 16″ – Zone 5 June- Oct. white bloom. Ground cover for dry areas.
Sedum ‘Angelina’ (Stonecrop)
Zone 3 Golden needle foliage topped with orange. Succulents need sun and good drainage.
Cephalotaxus Harring. `Prostrata`
3 x 3′ – Zone 6 (5 out of wind) Low growing spreading Plum Yew
Sedum Sieboldii (Stonecrop)
Zone 3 October blooming. Deep pink with round gray/blue leaves. Succulents need sun and good drainage.
Comptonia Peregrina Sweetfern
Comptonia peregrina (EUS Native Sweet Fern) 3’ x 6’ Zone 2 Aromatic fernlike leaves • fast spreading ground cover for poor soils, steep slopes and dry or wet areas • indestructible habitat
Delosperma ‘Lavender Ice’
2-3″ – x 20′ – Zone 5 – All Summer bee magnet groundcover.
Delosperma x ‘Fire Spinner’
2 x 16″ – Zone 5 – another Ice Plant groundcover.
(IMAGE NOT AVAILABLE)
Euonymus Coloratus
6 x 24″ – Zone 4 – Wintercreeper groundcover.
2 x 3′ – Zone 4 – Leaves have bright yellow blotch and proves to be excellent ground cover in shade or sun.
Festuuca cinerca ‘Elijah Blue’
8 x 8″ – Zone 4 – Keeps blue color all season.
Gaylussacia baccata
Gaylussacia baccata (EUS Native Black Huckleberry) 2’ x 3’ Zone 3 Bell shaped June flowers are great nectar source for native bees and butterflies • August berries for birds • Thickets great for nesting.
Geranium cinereum ‘Ballerina’
6 x 10″ – Zone 5 – Sweet, hugging the ground Cranesbill. Rock gardens, paths, edge of the garden..
Juniperus procumbens ‘Nana’
8 x 6″ – Zone 4 – Prostrate creeper. Tolerates Drought, erosion, heat, poor rocky/dry soils AND is Deer Resistant!
Paxistima Canbyi
8-12″ – Zone 3 – Dense/spreading/sun/shade. Grows in rocky but moist soil. Texture. Click image for enlargement.
Sempervivum ‘Jade Rose’
4×10 – Zone 2 – Hen and Chicks take heat, drought and neglect. Colors in Fall are strongest. Bizarre flowers.
Sempervivum ‘Ruby Heart’
5×10 – Zone 2 – Great plants to Set and Forget, In a shoe! Get a kid started in gardening. They love them!
Vaccinium angustifolium
Vaccinium angustifolium ‘Brunswick’ shown (EUS Native Lowbush Blueberry) 10” x 30” Zone 2 Pink clusters of fragrant bell flowers in June make Summer berries • nesting sites • all pollinators • larval food for butter- flies • red stems/leaves Fall
Vaccinium angustifolium ‘Burgundy’ (EUS (image not availaable) Native Lowbush Blueberry) 10” x spreading Zone 2 Same as above except Fall foliage is orange/burgundy
Vaccinium macrocarpum ‘Pilgrim’ (EUS Native Cranberry)
8”x 20” Zone 4 Tiny pink May flowers attract bees, butterflies and nectar seeking insects.• Likes moist but not wet • great ground cover • self pollinating
Juniperus horizontalis ‘Bar Harbor’
Juniperus horizontalis ‘Bar Harbor’ (Native Creeping Juniper) 1’ x 5’ Z 3 Tough groundcover Conifer grows quickly in dry, shallow, rocky, windy and steep sites. Green/blue/purple • Habitat
Gautheria procumbens ‘Berries Cascade’
Gautheria procumbens ‘Berries Cascade’ (EUS Native Wintergreen) 6’ x 10” Zone 4 White bells make red berries by Fall • butterflies/birds
Epilobium (Zauschneria)
Epilobium (Zauschneria) (WUS Native “California Fuchia”) 5” x 36” Zone 5 Perennial ground cover IDed for me as “California Hummingbird Plant” • July—Oct. orange