West Coast Groundcovers - Mass Planting Where no Plant has Grown (well) Before

spread. Long stems of some groundcovers, such as periwinkle (Vinca minor) and Cotoneaster, can be pinned down on the soil and encouraged to root in an empty spot. With just a little work, this new area of your garden will be easier to maintain than lawn, and very pleasing to the eye.

Popular Groundcovers For Shade
Japanese spurge (Pachysandra terminalis)
chameleon plant (Houttuynia cordata)
periwinkle (Vinca minor)
bishopsweed (Aegopodium spp.)
wild ginger (Asarum)
Lily-of-the-Valley (Convallaria)
Epimedium
Wintercreeper (Euonymus fortunei)

For Sun
carpet bugle (Ajuga reptans)
kinnickinnick (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi)
Potentilla
Flower Carpet rose (Rosa 'Flower Carpet)
Cotoneaster (Cotoneaster spp.)
Juniper (Juniperus spp.)

For Dry Embankments
Vancouver Gold Broom(Genista pilosa 'Vancouver Gold')
Russian Cypress (Microbiota decussata)
mondo grass (Liriope spp.)
Creeping Rubus (Rubus calycinoides)
Flower Carpet rose (Rosa 'Flower Carpet)
Cotoneaster (Cotoneaster spp.)
Juniper (Juniperus spp.)

For Moist Spots
Japanese spurge (Pachysandra terminalis)
bog rosemary (Andromeda polifolia)
chameleon plant (Houttynia cordata)
bunchberry (Cornus canadensis)

There are many plants suitable for growing as groundcover. A few highly ornamental perennials are fine groundcovering plants. Examples are some hardy geraniums (Geranium spp.), ferns, hostas, bergenias and many more. Be sure to ask for help from garden store staff members. They may help you come up with something easy and unique for your garden.

GADZOOKS!!! Great Groundcover Links

Groundcovers as a Turf Alternative
The wheres and whys of planting groundcovers, from the Ohio State University

Groundcovers part 1 - the grass trap
by Amber Hearn

Groundcovers part 2 - escaping the grass trap
by Amber Hearn

Spacing Landscape Plants/b>
How far to space plants apart in the landscape is sometimes difficult to determine. Read more about it here.

Groundcovers for Missouri
Department of Horticulture, University of Missouri-Columbia

Low Water Use and Drought Tolerant Plants - GROUNDCOVERS
From the Office of Arid Land Studies in Arizona

Groundcovers for New Mexico
From the New Mexico University

Groundcovers in Northeastern Illinois
From Stateline Yard and Garden - weekly gardening news and tips

Invasion of the Garden-Snatchers
There is sometimes a fine line between a good groundcover and an invasive plant. An interesting read by Allen Lacey of Homeground and the Virtual Garden.

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