Groundcovers for Shade
Aegopodium podagraria 'Variegatum' Bishop's Weed	This 8-10" tall ground cover spreads rapidly. It is noted for it's green and white variegated leaves. Space plants 12-15".
Ajuga reptans Bugleweed	This 4-6" tall groundcover has showy flower spikes of blue, purple, or white in late Spring. The leaves vary from dark green, bronze-purple, or variegated dark green. Bugleweed prefers moist, well-drained soils. Space plants 8".
Aquilegia Columbine	Grows to 1-3' tall. Flowers are five-petaled, usually with long spurs on tall slender stems. Colors range from white to yellow, pink, rose, red and bicolors. Space plants 12".
Astilbe False Spirea	Astilbe range in height from 8-36" tall. A quick spreader in moist well-drained soils. Colors range from white to pink, rose and red. Space plants 12-18".
Bergenia	Grows 12-18". Large, leathery, glossy, rounded evergreen foliage. Small flowers on thick leafless stalks. Bergenia is drought tolerant. Space plants 10-12"
Campanula Glomerata Clustered Bellflower	Grows to 10-12" tall. Large globe shaped purple flowers in spring. Spreads vigorously in moist, well-drained soils. Space plants 10-12".
Convallaria majalis Lily of the Valley	Grows to 6-8". A slow spreader with dark green leaves and distinctive bell-shaped flowers in spring. Prefers moist, well-drained soils. Space plants 8-12".
Epimedium Bishop's Hat	Grows 10-12". A delicate groundcover with small white, yellow or dark pink, columbine-shaped flowers in late spring. The medium-green, heart-shaped foliage often persiste into winter. New leaves are sometimes tinted red. Space plants 12-18".
Galium odoratum Sweet Woodruff	Grows to 6-8". Bright green leaves encircle the stems and are fragrant when crushed. The stems are topped with clusters of fragrant, white flowers in late spring. Space plants 8-10".
Hedera helix English Ivy	Grows to 6-10". A semi-evergreen groundcover with lustrous, dark green leaves. Space plants 12".
Heuchera sanguinea Coral Bell	Grows to 8-15". Foliage is glossy green and scalloped. Flowers are small, bell-shaped, in open clusters on graceful, wiry stems. Colors range from white to pink. Space plants 12".
Hosta	Hostas range in size from 3"-3'. The leaves can be green, blue, gold, white or various combinations. Flowering occurs in summer. Space plants 12-30", depending on cultivar.
Kerria japonica	Grows to 5'. Foliage is bright green. Flowers are golden orange. Stems are green. Space 5'.
Lamiastrum galeobdolon 'Herman's Pride'	Grows to 10". Coarsley toothed, variegated leaves with yellow flowers in late spring. Space plants 12".
Lamium maculatum Spotted Dead Nettle	Grows to 9". Leaves can be a medium green with silver markings, silver-white with green margins, or chartreuse. The flowers are white or pink and appear in early summer. Prefers moist, well-drained soils. Space 10-12".
Liriope muscari Lily Turf	Grows to 9-12". Evergreen, grass-like leaves with purple flower spikes. Space 9".
Pachysandra terminalis Japanese Spurge	Grows to 6-12". Evergreen groundcover with lustrous green foliage. The whitish flowers, though not showy, appear in spring. Space 9".
Sagina subulata Irish Moss	Low, compact, spreading moss-like mat. Prefers partial sun. Useful around small areas such as paving stones. Space 6".
Veronica prostrata Rock Speedwell	Grows to 10". Foliage is linear to oblong, sometimes toothed. Flowers range from blue to pink. Space 10".
Vinca minor Perwinkle	Grows to 6". Glossy dark green leaves. Lilac-blue flowers appear in spring. Space 9".
Viola odorata Sweet Violet	Grows to 6-8". Dark green foliage. Flower colors range from white, pink and deep purple and are very fragrant. Space 8-10".
Groundcovers for Sun
Achillea tomentosa Wooly Yarrow	Grows to 6-8". Foliage is deep green, wooly, very divided and fernlike. Flowers are small, in compact heads, grouped in flat-topped clusters. Color is golden yellow. Space 8-10".
Armeria maritime Thrift	Grows to 12". Foliage is grass-like in compact basal rosettes. Flowers are small, in heads to 1" across. Color is white or rose-pink. Space 8-10".
Campanula spp. Bellflower	Grows to 6-8". Foliage is delicate, flowers are bell-shaped. Colors range from white to blue. Space 10-12".
Cerastium tomentosum Snow-in-summer	Grows to 6". Silver-gray foliage. Showy white flowers in late spring. Space 12".
Ceratostigma plumbaginoides Plumbago	Grows to 10-12". Foliage is bronzy-green to dark green and leathery. Flowers are intense peacock blue. An excellent groundcover! Space 10-12".
Coronilla varia Crown Vetch	Grows to 2'. Foliage is lacey. Flowers are in clusters and usually pink. An excellent erosion control on steep banks and hillsides. Space 2'.
Euonymus fortunei Winter Creeper	Grows to 12". Foliage is dark green with toothed edges. Flowers are not showy. Space 5'.
Forsythis x intermedia Gold Tide	Grows to 18-24". Foliage is light green and feathery. Flowers are bright yellow. Space 4'.
Hemerocallis Daylily	Grows to 2-3'. Grass-like foliage. Flower colors include: pink, yellow, red, purple, etc. Space 12-18".
Iberis sempervirens Candytuft	Grows to 12". Narrow dark evergreen foliage. Long lasting white flowers in spring. Space 8-10".
Juniperus spp.	Grows to 12". Foliage is needle-like and evergreen. Space 2-3'.
Lonicera japonica 'Halliana' Hall's Japanese Honeysuckle	Grows to 12-18". Foliage is dark green. Flowers are tubular, white, changing to yellow. Very fragrant. Space 2-3'.
Phlox subulata Creeping Phlox	Grows to 6-8";. Foliage is needle-like and evergreen. Flower colors range from white to pink, rose, red, blue, lavender, and purple. Space 12-18".
Sedum spp.	Grows to 6-8". Foliage is fleshy and succulent. Flowers are usually small, star-shaped, in clusters. Colors range from white to pink, rose, red, yellow and orange. Space 8-10".
Stachys byzantina Lamb's Ear	Grows to 8". Foliage is soft, white and wooly on square stems. Flowers are tube-like, pink or purplish. Space 12-18".
Thymus spp. Creeping Thyme	Grows to 1-4". Foliage is small and always aromatic. Flowers are small, usually pink. Space 6-12".