Ground Cover Plants

Agriculture at Colorado State University Cooperative Extensioin

no. 7.400

Ground Cover Plants

by J.E. Klett and R.A. Cox¹

Quick Facts...

Ground covers help link together ornamental plants.
Plants that are low-growing (generally less than 24 inches) and spread easily are suitable ground cover plants.
Ideally, a ground cover should be dense enough to inhibit weeds.
Build walkways through areas intended for foot traffic before planting a ground cover.
Incorporate compost or another good quality organic material into soils before planting.
Use ground covers to prevent soil erosion, as a design element, or where grass is not practical.

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, however, grow so fast they can become invasive.

A ground cover should be sufficiently dense to inhibit competition from weeds. If the ground cover will be used to prevent soil erosion on a steep slope, it should have a vigorous growth habit and extensive root system.

Considerations

Control existing weeds before planting ground covers. Weeds may reduce the attractiveness of the ground cover or compete with it for resources such as water and nutrients. No one species of ground cover plant works for every landscape situation. Consider the following factors before selecting a ground cover for a specific situation:

To maintain design balance, select lower-growing ground covers for smaller areas and taller ones for larger areas or steep slopes.
The amount of sun versus shade and the exposure to winter sun and winds are important considerations in selecting a ground cover.
Most ground covers will not tolerate excessive foot traffic. If foot traffic is anticipated, install a walkway through the area before planting the ground cover.
Improve soils with good quality organic matter before planting. Incorporate 2 to 4 cubic yards of compost or other organic materials into each 1,000 square foot area.

Maintenance

All ground cover plantings require maintenance, some more than others. This contradicts the common perception that ground covers are “no-maintenance plants.” Lawns also are considered ground covers, but may require more maintenance than some other ground cover choices.

Evergreen ground covers, such as creeping juniper, require little care. Ground covers that develop flowers and fruit often require more maintenance to keep them attractive. Weeds may become a significant maintenance problem in a ground cover planting if not managed properly.

Plant Name	Type	Flower Color	Bloom Time	Remarks
Table 1: Selected ground covers for hot, dry, sunny exposures.
Small areas -- under 50 sq. ft.
Achillea tomentosa Woolly yarrow	Herbaceous	Yellow	June-Aug.	Poor soil; woolly foliage; spreading.
Anacyclus pyrethrum depressus Mount Atlas daisy	Herbaceous	White	April-May	White daisies with red undersides; silvery foliage.
Antennaria dioica Pussytoes	Herbaceous	White to Pink	May-June	Native; silver gray, mat-like foliage; unique flowers.
Arabis caucasica Rockcress	Herbaceous, evergreen	White to Pink	April-May	Soft, gray, spreading foliage.
Arenaria montana Mountain sandwort	Herbaceous	White	May-June	Covered in flowers; trailing habit.
Artemisia schmidtiana ‘Silver Mound’ sage	Herbaceous	Unimportant	__	Mounded, feathery, aromatic, silver-gray foliage.
Artemisia stelleriana ‘Silver Brocade’ sage	Herbaceous	Unimportant	__	Finely-cut, velvety silver foliage; mat forming.
Aurinia saxatilis Basket-of-gold	Herbaceous	Yellow	April-May	Shear after bloom.
Coreopsis auriculata Dwarf coreopsis	Herbaceous	Orange-Yellow	June-Sept.	Stoloniferous mats of slender leaves.
Penstemon pinifolius Pineleaf penstemon	Herbaceous, evergreen	Reddish-orange	June-Sept.	Needle-like, evergreen foliage.
Saponaria ocymoides Rock soapwort	Herbaceous	Pink	May-July	Shear after bloom.
Sedum acre Goldmoss sedum	Herbaceous, evergreen	Yellow	May-June	Low growing; succulent, dark green leaves.
Sedum kamtschaticum Kamschatka sedum	Herbaceous, evergreen	Orange-yellow	July-Aug.	Scalloped, succulent, green leaves.
Sedum spurium Sedum, stonecrop	Herbaceous, evergreen	Red	July-Aug.	Succulent leaves; commonly sold varieties are ‘Dragon’s Blood’ and ‘Tricolor’.
Sempervivum spp. Houseleek, hen and chicks	Herbaceous, evergreen	Unimportant	__	Succulent, evergreen leaves in rosettes.
Stachys byzantina Lamb’s ear	Herbaceous	Purple	June-July	Furry, gray leaves resemble a lamb’s ear.
Tanacetum densum amani Partridge feather	Herbaceous	Yellow	May-June	Finely-cut, silvery-white foliage.
Thymus praecox Creeping thyme	Herbaceous	Pink, red, white	June-July	Low growing, evergreen foliage.
Verbena bipinnatifida Native verbena	Herbaceous	Purple	May-Sept.	Deeply-cut foliage; sprawling stems. Plant Select^®.
Verbena canadensis Verbena	Herbaceous	Purple	July-Sept.	Vigorous groundcover; common variety ‘Homestead Purple'.

Large areas -- greater than 50 sq. ft.
Artemisia frigida Fringed sage	Herbaceous	Yellow	Aug.-Sept.	Fringed, silvery-gray foliage; good for naturalized areas.
Callirhoe involucrata Poppy mallow	Herbaceous	Reddish-purple	June-Aug.	Trailing stems with saucer-like flowers. Plant Select^®.
Cerastium tomentosum Snow-in-summer	Herbaceous	White	May-June	Aggressive; shear after bloom.
Delosperma cooperi Purple ice plant	Herbaceous, evergreen	Purple	June-frost	Native strawberry; small edible berries.
Delosperma nubigenum Yellow ice plant	Herbaceous, evergreen	Yellow	May-June	Native strawberry; small edible berries.
Fragaria vesca Strawberry	Herbaceous, evergreen	White, pink	May-June	Native strawberry; small edible berries.
Juniperus horizontalis Creeping juniper	Woody, evergreen	Unimportant	__	Several low-growing varieties including ‘Bar Harbor,’ ‘Blue Chip,’ ‘Prince of Wales’ and ‘Wiltonii.’
Juniperus sabina Savin juniper	Woody, evergreen	Unimportant	__	Several low-growing varieties including ‘Buffalo,’ ‘Broadmoor’ and ‘Scandia.’
Oenothera speciosa Mexican evening primrose	Herbaceous	Pink	June-Oct.	Spreads quickly, may become invasive.
Polygonum cuspidatum compactum Japanese fleece flower	Woody	Pink	Aug.-Sept.	Aggressive; thick, green leaves with red veins; red fall color; excellent ground cover for dry areas.
Potentilla neumanniana Creeping cinquefoil	Herbaceous	Yellow	May-Aug.	Bright green foliage; spreads quickly.
Prunus besseyi Pawnee Buttes^® sandcherry	Woody	White	April-May	Same species as native sandcherry but with a low, spreading habit; orange/red fall color; Plant Select^®
Rhus aromatica ‘Gro-Low’ Fragrant sumac	Woody	Yellow	March-April	Vibrant orange-red fall color; very drought tolerant.

Plant Name	Type	Flower Color	Bloom Time	Remarks
Table 2: Selected ground covers for sun to part shade.
Small areas -- under 50 sq. ft.
Alyssum montanum Mountain alyssum	Herbaceous	Yellow	April-May	Gray foliage.
Armeria maritima Sea pink	Herbaceous, evergreen	Pink, white, purple	May-June	Grass-like foliage; several varieties.
Aubrieta deltoidea False rockcress	Herbaceous	Purple, blue, red	May-June	Several varieties; mat-like foliage.
Bergenia ‘Winterglut’ Winter glow bergenia	Herbaceous	Pink	April-May	Low, cabbage-like foliage.
Ceratostigma plumbaginoides Plumbago	Herbaceous	Dark blue	Aug-Sept.	Attractive green foliage turns red in fall.
Dianthus deltoides ‘Brilliant,’ ‘Zing Rose,’ ‘Maiden Pink’	Herbaceous	Red	May-June	Dark green foliage; mat-like.
Festuca ovina glauca Blue fescue	Herbaceous	Unimportant	__	Silvery-blue clump grass.
Geranium cinereum Cranesbill	Herbaceous	Pink, purple	May-July	Leaves are deeply divided; clump forming.
Geranium dalmaticum Compact rose geranium	Herbaceous	Pink	May-June	Foliage turns red in fall.
Gypsophila repens Creeping baby’s breath	Herbaceous	White-pink	June-July	Mat-like.
Heuchera sanguinea Coral bells	Herbaceous	Red, pink, white	June-Aug.	Mounded foliage with taller bell-shaped flowers.
Iberis sempervirens Candytuft	Herbaceous, evergreen	White	May-June	Dark green, mounded foliage.
Persicaria affinis Himalayan border jewel	Herbaceous	Pink	Aug.-Sept.	Mat-like foliage becomes copper in fall.
Phlox subulata Creeping phlox	Herbaceous, evergreen	Pink, white, lavender	April-May	Several varieties; needle-like foliage.
Potentilla nepalensis ‘Miss Willmott’ cinquefoil	Herbaceous	Rose, red	June-July	Strawberry-like leaves.
Thymus pseudolanguinosis Woolly thyme	Herbaceous, evergreen	Pink, purple	June-July	Mat-like, woolly-gray foliage; turns purplish in winter; sparse flowers.
Thymus serpyllum Mother-of-thyme	Herbaceous, evergreen	Purple	June-July	Aromatic foliage; mat-like.
Veronica liwanensis Turkish veronica	Herbaceous	Blue	May-June	Low growing; dark green leaves. Plant Select^®
Veronica pectinata Woolly veronica	Herbaceous	Lavender	May-June	Low growing; gray foliage; evergreen some winters.
Veronica repens Creeping speedwell	Herbaceous	Blue to purple	May-June	Dense mats.
Veronica spicata incana Silver speedwell	Herbaceous	Blue	May-July	Silvery foliage.
Waldsteinia fragarioides Barren strawberry	Herbaceous, evergreen	Yellow	April-May	Sparse fruit is inedible.
Waldsteinia ternata Siberian barren strawberry	Herbaceous	Yellow	April-May	Compact growth habit; fruit inedible.
Zauschneria garrettii Orange Carpet^® Hummingbird trumpet	Herbaceous	Orange	Aug.-Sept.	Good for cascading over walls; tubular flowers; Plant Select^®.

Large areas -- greater than 50 sq. ft.
Campsis radicans Trumpet vine	Herbaceous	Yellow, orange, red	July-Aug.	Can use as vine or ground cover; very aggressive.
Cotoneaster apiculatus Cranberry cotoneaster	Woody	Pink	May-June	Attractive, red fruit; maroon fall color.
Cotoneaster dammeri ‘Coral Beauty’ cotoneaster	Woody	White, pink	May-June	Bronze fall color; abundant orange-red fruit
Cotoneaster horizontalis Rock cotoneaster	Woody	Pink	April-May	Semi-evergreen; small rounded leaves with fall color.
Duchesnea indica Mock strawberry	Herbaceous	Yellow	May	Aggressive; bright red, inedible fruit.
Lonicera japonica ’Halliana’ Hall’s honeysuckle	Woody, evergreen	White-yellow	July-Aug.	Can use as vine or ground cover.
Lysimachia nummularia Moneywort	Herbaceous	Yellow	June-July	Aggressive; prefers moist soil.
Nepeta x faassenii Catmint	Herbaceous	Lavender, blue	May-Aug.	Commonly sold varieties are ‘Six Hills Giant’ and ‘Walker’s Low’.
Parthenocissus quinquefolia Virginia creeper	Woody	—	—	Can use as vine or groundcover; aggressive; red fall color; commonly sold variety is ‘Engelmannii.’
Parthenocissus tricuspidata Boston ivy	Woody	—	—	Can use as a clinging vine or ground cover; aggressive; red fall color.
Potentilla neumanniana Creeping potentilla	Herbaceous	Yellow	May-June	Commonly sold variety is ‘Nana’
Prunella grandiflora Self-heal	Herbaceous	Purple, rose, white	June-July	Dense mat; several varieties.
Teucrium chamaedrys Germander	Woody, evergreen	Pink-purple	June-July	Dark green leaves; erect stems; can be sheared.
Symphoricarpos x chenaulti ‘Hancock’ coralberry	Woody	Pink, white	June-Aug.	Can spread to 12’; stems root where they touch the ground.

Plant Name	Type	Flower Color	Bloom Time	Remarks
Table 3: Selected ground covers for part to deep shade.
Small areas -- under 50 sq. ft.
Ajuga reptans Carpet bugle	Herbaceous	Blue/pink, white/purple	May-June	Varieties include ‘Atropurpurea,’ ‘Burgundy Glow’ and ‘Silver Beauty.’
Convallaria majalis Lily-of-the-valley	Herbaceous	White	May-June	Drooping, fragrant flowers.
Hosta spp. Hosta, plantain lily	Herbaceous	Lilac to white	July-Aug.	Many varieties; primarily grown for foliage effect.
Paxistima cambyi Mountain lover	Woody, evergreen	—	—	Small shrub; prostrate growth.
Sagina subulata Pearlwort, Irish moss	Herbaceous, evergreen	White	May-June	Dense, moss-like mat; moist soil.
Viola odorata Sweet violet	Herbaceous	Violet	May-June	Several varieties; potentially invasive.
Large areas -- greater than 50 sq. ft.
Aegopodium podagraria ‘Variegatum’ Goutweed	Herbaceous	White	June-July	Looks best in moist soil; grown for foliage effect; invasive.
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi Kinnikinick	Woody, evergreen	Light pink	April-May	Native; prefers acid soil; bright red fruits; glossy, evergreen leaves turn copper-red in fall.
Euonymus fortunei ‘Colorata’ Purpleleaf Wintercreeper	Woody, evergreen	—	—	Foliage turns purple through winter; many other varieties.
Galium odoratum Sweet woodruff	Herbaceous	White	May-June	Fragrant; aggressive.
Hedera helix English ivy	Woody, evergreen	—	—	Can use as clinging vine or groundcover; aggressive; foliage may winterburn on exposed sites.
Lamium maculatum Spotted dead nettle	Herbaceous	Pink, white	April-June	Most varieties such as ‘Beacon Silver’ and ‘White Nancy’ have variegated foliage.
Mahonia repens Creeping Oregon grape	Woody, evergreen	Yellow	April-May	Native; spiny foliage turns reddish purple in fall; may winterburn on exposed sites; blue, grape-like fruits.
Vinca minor Periwinkle	Herbaceous, evergreen	Blue	May-June	Several varieties; best in moist soil and deep shade.

¹J.E. Klett, Colorado State University Extension horticulture specialist and professor, horticulture and landscape architecture; and R.A. Cox, Extension horticulture agent, Arapahoe County. 12/95. Revised 2/08.

Colorado State University, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and Colorado counties cooperating. CSU Extension programs are available to all without discrimination. No endorsement of products mentioned is intended nor is criticism implied of products not mentioned.

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