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Ground covers are good
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Suitable places for ground
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G A R D E N I N G S E R I E S
YARD
Xeriscaping: Ground Cover Plants no. 7.230
by J.R. Feucht 1
Ground cover plants are good alternatives to turfgrasses in some
locations. They provide a variety of textures and color, help reduce soil erosion,
and can serve as a transition between turf areas and shrub or flower borders.
Consider ground cover plants for areas where watering and mowing are difficult,
that require extra maintenance, or that are unsuitable for grass due to exposure,
such as:
• narrow strips between sidewalks and curbs or buildings;
• steep slopes that are impractical to mow;
• hot, dry areas along south and west exposures of walls or fences; and
• deeply shaded areas beneath trees or shrubs, along north sides of walls
and fences, and in foundation plantings in front of low windows.
Ground covers also can enhance the beauty of shrub borders and can
break up the monotony of areas previously covered with decorative gravel.
Soils and Exposure
The key to successful ground cover establishment is good soil
conditions. Most ground covers spread by offshoots or runners and are more apt
to fill in quickly where the soil has good aeration, drainage and organic content.
Heavy clay soils are not suitable even for plants that can survive in poor soils.
Pay attention to exposure. Most xeric ground covers do best in full sun,
but a few thrive better in at least partial shade. Tables 1 and 2 indicate those for
shade or sun along with some comments on their qualities as a ground cover.
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Table 1: Ground cover plants for full sun.

Plant Name Height (in) Remarks

Achillea tomentosa 2-4 Grayish foliage in low mats.

Woolly yarrow
Antennaria spp. 1-2 Persistent gray-green foliage in dense mats; excellent for rocky slopes.
Pussytoes
Artemisia spp. 10-15 Silvery foliage; A. schmidtiana (silver mound sage) most common.
Sage
Atriplex corrugata 4-6 Evergreen; foliage greenish-white; for salty soils.
Mat saltbush
Centaurea montana 15-18 Grayish foliage; blue flowers.
(perennial bachelor button)
Mountain bluet
Cerastium tomentosum 6 Gray foliage; white flowers; very aggressive.
Snow-in-summer
Cytisus decumbens 4-8 Green stems with tiny leaves; yellow, pea-like flowers in May.
Creeping broom
Delosperma nubigenum 1-2 Succulent, light-green foliage; yellow flowers.
Yellow ice plant
Duchesnea indica 4-6 Aggressive creeper; looks much like strawberry; yellow flowers; inedible, red fruit.
Mock strawberry
Eriogonum umbellatum 3-6 Showy flower stalk to 8 inches tall; foliage in low mat.
Sulphur flower
Euphorbia epithymoides 12-18 Mounds of foliage that change from reddish to green in spring, then scarlet in fall.
(polychroma)
Cushion spurge
Euphorbia marginata 4-8 Green and white foliage; very aggressive.
Snow-on-the-mountain
Festuca ovina glauca 6-8 Tufts of grayish, grassy foliage.
Blue fescue
Juniperus horizontalis 4-10 Perhaps the best year-round cover; many clones and foliage hues available.
Creeping juniper
Some common clones include:
ʻBar Harborʼ 10 Blue-green; purplish winter color.
ʻBlue Chipʼ 10 Bluish foliage year-round.
ʻHughesʼ 10 Silvery-blue; distinct radial branching.
ʻWebberiʼ 4 Very low mat; fine texture.
ʻWiltoniʼ (ʻBlue Rugʼ) 4 Very low; silver-blue; purplish tinge in winter.
Penstemon pinifolius 6-10 Has needle-like leaves and orange-red flowers; takes heat well.
Pineleaf penstemon
Phlox subulata 6-8 Reddish, white or lavender flowers; moss-like foliage.
Moss pink or creeping phlox

Table 2: Ground cover plants for shade.

Plant Name Height (in) Remarks

Aegopodium podagraria ʻvariegatumʼ 10-12 Variegated, green and white foliage; aggressive.
Bishopʼs weed
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi 4-6 Evergreen; red, edible berries; use beneath established evergreens in acid soils.
Kinnikinnick
Campanula carpatica 6-14 Can be aggressive; blue or white flowers.
Carpathian harebell
Convallaria majalis 6-10 Fragrant, white flowers in May-June; inedible, red berries; aggressive.
Lily-of-the-valley
Galium odorata 6-8 Very aggressive; one of the best covers under shrubs; white, fragrant flowers in
Sweet woodruff May-June.
Lonicera japonica ʻHallianaʼ 6-12 Will also grow in full sun, but forms denser mats in shade.
Hallʼs Japanese honeysuckle
Mahonia repens 6-12 Evergreen; yellow flowers in spring; holly-like foliage.
Creeping Oregon grape
 Creeping Oregon grape
Penstemon caespitosus 1-2 Very prostrate mat of tiny narrow leaves; flowers in May-June; purplish.
Creeping or mat penstemon
P. strictus 1-2 Blue flowers in June-July.
Rocky Mountain penstemon
Vinca minor 4-6 Semievergreen; white or purple flowers in spring.
Periwinkle

Other Xeriscaping Fact Sheets

For more information on xeriscaping and plant selection, see these
Cooperative Extension fact sheets:
• 7.228, Xeriscaping: Creative Landscaping.
• 7.229, Xeriscaping: Trees and Shrubs.
• 7.231, Xeriscaping: Garden Flowers.
• 7.234, Xeriscaping: Retrofit Your Yard.

Xeriscaping Ground Cover Plants

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