Live Beautifully, Inside & Out

GROUND COVER

While a lawn can be the best ground cover, not every garden is suited to turf. Some sites are too shady, others too steep. Sometimes you just don’t feel like mowing. Consider the following plants as options. These low-growing plants shelter the soil, prevent erosion, & may also have striking flowers, foliage, or berries. Some spread by underground runners or root as they grow. Others sprawl over the soil.

Ajuga (Ajuga reptans)

Type: Ground cover

Environment: Part shade/shade

Height: 3''-4'' tall

Growing Season: Year-round (slows in winter)

Leaf: Green, green/white

Flower/Fruit: Blue/violet flowers on 4'-6'' spikes

Evergreen, spreads by stolons, 4 or more varieties, with leaf coloring different on each

Asiatic Jasmine (Trachelospermum asiaticum)

Type: Ground cover

Environment: Part Sun / part shade

Height: 6'-12' tall, Spreading 10'-12' or more

Growing Season: Year-round (slows in winter)

Leaf: long green, variegated, bronze

Flower/Fruit: small white flower

Plush ground cover that can grow in any conditions, evergreen & 3 different varieties from which to choose.

Blue Rug Juniper (Juniperus horizontalis wiltonii)

Type: Ground cover

Environment: Full sun

Height: 3'-12' tall, spreading

Growing Season: Year-round (slows in winter)

Leaf: Green

Flower/Fruit: Blue inconspicuous

Evergreen groundcover, drought tolerant, full sun only. Good for planting on hills to help hold soil together

English Ivy (Hedera helix)

Type: Ground cover

Environment: Full sun / Full shade

Height: 6'-12' tall, Spreading 10'-12' or more

Growing Season: Year-round (slows in winter)

Leaf: green, green & white

Flower/Fruit: small white flower/fruit

Evergreen vine that survives almost any condition. Does not like to be in extreme wet conditions. Can be toxic to animals if too much leaves or berries are eaten. Flower/Fruit are very inconspicuous.

Liriope (Liriope muscari)

Type: Ground cover

Environment: Full sun / Full shade

Height: 12"-18' tall

Growing Season: Year-round (slows in winter)

Leaf: Green, green/white

Flower/Fruit: Spike-Like lilac, white flowers in summer

Evergreen grass that can handle all weather conditions. May get some burn in extreme cold. Good for borders or filling in spaces in flower beds

Mondo (Ophiopogon japonicus)

Type: Ground cover

Environment: Full sun / Full shade

Height: 6'-12' tall, 6'-9' wide

Growing Season: Year-round (slows in winter)

Leaf: green, green/white, black

Flower/Fruit: light lilac, white flowers in summer, black fruit

Low growing (3'-3' tall), spreading by rhizomes, clumping. Good for bordering beds