Groundcovers
Groundcovers for Shade |
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| 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 |
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| 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". |