When meeting with prospective clients, I often hear this:
“I can’t stand pachysandra or English ivy”.
Fair enough. So what are your groundcover alternatives?
Let’s think “outside the box”. Many different plants can serve this purpose very well on your property. Below is a list of groundcovers that merit our attention and are worthy for several reasons. A few notes:
If you have areas where grass will not grow, slopes or shady areas, groundcovers are the answer.
Many groundcovers are deer resistant. All of them flower. Some are even fragrant. Some make great cut flowers. Flower arrangers will appreciate the different foliage textures whether they are evergreen or deciduous.
In the beginning, mulch 2 inches deep to help keep weeds down and moisture in until established. Weeding will still need to be done. Gardens are not maintenance free. Aesthetically speaking, plants are better to look at than mulch.
Pay close attention to growth and care requirements for your groundcover, and you will be rewarded with healthy and happy plants for years to come.
Ajuga reptans ‘Black Scallop’. Bugleweed. 3” x 6”. Deep purple foliage. Blue flower spikes in late spring. Growth habit is spreading. Deer resistant. Sun / part shade. Semi-evergreen.
Ajuga reptans ‘Chocolate Chip’. Bugleweed. 2-4” x 6-10”.Chocolate purple foliage. Violet blue flowers in late spring. Growth habit is spreading. Deer resistant. Sun / part shade. Semi-evergreen.
Asarum europaeum. European Wild Ginger. 5-8” x 12-18”. Leathery, shiny, dark green leaves. Growth habit is spreading. Deer resistant. Shade. Evergreen.
Aster ‘Wood’s Purple’. Aster. 12” x 18”. Purple flowers late summer – autumn. Growth habit is clumping. Salt tolerant. Sun. Deciduous.
Aster ‘Wood’s Pink’. Aster. 16” x 18”. Pink flower with a yellow center. Growth habit is clumping. Salt tolerant. Sun. Deciduous.
Ceratostigma plumbaginoides. Leadwort. 12” x 18”. Cobolt blue flowers in late summer. Foliage turns a purple-red in the fall. New foliage appears late in the spring. Growth habit is spreading. Deer resistant. Cut to the ground in late fall. Sun / part shade. Deciduous.
Convallaria majalis. Lily of the Valley. 6” x 18”. Extremely fragrant white flowers in May. Good groundcover for tough shady sites. Growth habit is spreading. Deer resistant. Part sun / shade. Deciduous.
Delosperma cooperi. Cooper Hardy Ice Plant. 4” x 8”. Magenta flowers from late June into fall. Growth habit is spreading. Salt tolerant. Needs a dry site. Deer resistant. Sun. Evergreen.
Dianthus gratianopolitanus ‘Firewitch’. Firewitch Cheddar Pinks. 6” x 8”. Shocking pink fragrant flowers in late spring and summer. A repeat bloomer if deadheaded. Blue foliage. Growth habit is spreading. Salt tolerant. Needs good drainage. Deer resistant. Semi-evergreen.
Epimedium grandiflorum ‘Lilafee’. Barrenwort. 10” x 18”. Violet flowers in April. Will thrive in dry shade. Growth habit is spreading. Deer resistant. Cut back by early spring before new growth appears. Part shade / shade. Semi-evergreen.
Galium odoratum. Sweet Woodruff. 9” x 18”. Fragrant white flowers in spring. Growth habit is spreading. Needs a summer cut back by half it’s length. Good planted under acer palmatum. Deer resistant. Part sun / shade. Deciduous.
Geranium x ‘Rozanne’. Cranesbill. 15” x 18”. Blue-purple flowers all summer. Growth habit is sprawling. Best to cut back by half it’s length by mid to late July for a bushier plant. Salt tolerant. Deer resistant. Sun / part shade. Deciduous.
Iberis sempervirens ‘Alexander’s White’. Candttuft. 10” x 18”. White flowers in spring. Growth habit is spreading. Excellent salt tolerance. Great for slopes and leaning over rocks. Prune back by several inches right after flowering to promote bushiness. Sun / part shade. Evergreen.
Lamium maculatum ‘White Nancy’. Spotted Nettle. 8” x 18”. White flowers in April to June. Variegated foliage. Growth habit is spreading. Trim back by several inches in summer. Deer resistant. Part shade / shade. Deciduous.
Liriope muscari ‘Big Blue’. Lily Turf. 15-18” x 12-18”. Violet flowers in late summer. Growth habit is clumping. Deer resistant. Cut back in late winter to several inches from the ground. Part sun / shade. Semi-evergreen.
Liriope muscari ‘Monroe White’. Lily Turf. 12” x 14”. White flowers in late summer. Growth habit is clumping. Deer resistant. Cut back to several inches from the ground in late winter. Part sun / shade. Semi-evergreen.
Liriope muscari ‘Variegata’. Lily Turf. 12” x 12-18”. Violet flowers in late summer. Cream and green striped foliage. Growth habit is clumping. Deer resistant. Cut back to several inches from the ground in late winter. Part sun / shade. Semi-evergreen.
Ophiopogon planiscapus ‘Ebony Knight’. Ebony Knight Mondo Grass. 6” x 6”. Purple- black evergreen leaves. Great contrast for light colored foliage plants. Light pink flowers in summer. Growth habit is spreading. Deer resistant. Sun / part shade.
Phlox stolonifera ‘Blue Ridge’. Creeping Phlox. 6” x 12-18”. Lavender blue flowers in late spring. Growth habit is spreading. Evergreen. Sun / part shade / shade.
Phlox stolonifera ‘Sherwood Purple’. Creeping Phlox. 6” x 12-18”. Blue Purple flowers in late spring. Growth habit is spreading. Evergreen. Sun / part shade / shade.
Phlox subulata ‘Candy Stripe’. Mountain Pinks. 4” x 10”. Pink and white flowers in spring. Growth habit is spreading. Good planted around rocks. Needs good drainage.Deer resistant. Sun. Deciduous.
Sedum cauticolum. Stonecrop. 2” x 6”. Rose-pink flowers in late summer. Foliage is blue-gray. Growth habit is clumping. Needs good drainage. Deer resistant. Sun. Semi-evergreen.
Sedum spurium ‘Fulgida Glow’. Stone Crop. 4” x 10”. Bronze-red foliage topped with short rose-red flowers in July. Growth habit is spreading. Deer resistant. Needs a dry location. Evergreen. Full sun.
Sedum spurium ‘Red Carpet’. Stone Crop. 3” x 8”. Some red flowers in summer. Foliage is red tinged which turns burgundy in the winter. Growth habit is spreading. Deer resistant. Needs a dry location. Evergreen. Full sun.
Vinca minor ‘Bowles Variety’. Periwinkle. 6” x 12”. Blue flowers in midspring. Growth habit is spreading. Deer resistant. Evergreen. Part sun to shade.
Vinca minor ‘Whirlaway’. Periwinkle. 6” x 24”. Blue flowers in early spring. The leaves are mottled shades of green and chartreuse-yellow. Growth habit is spreading. Deer resistant. Evergreen. Part sun to shade.
Polystitchum acrostichoides. Christmas Fern. 2’ x 2’. Green shiny foliage. Growth habit is clumping. Deer resistant. Evergreen. Part shade / shade.