Bishop’s Weed/Bishop’s Goutweed
Aegopodium podagraria
Apiaceae
Form: Extremely aggressive groundcover, with
creeping rhizomes able to cover huge areas in a very short time, height 12
inches, spread 48 inches or more
Foliage: Biternately compound foliage (two groups of
three), bright green, the segments irregular and 1 ½ inches to 3 inches long,
margins toothed; foliage and stems seem weak, although they are not; medium
texture
Flowers: White, in umbels 2 to 3 inches across held
above foliage, not often produced in great numbers; May
Seedheads: Not effective
Culture: Full sun to full, dense shade; almost any
soil except extremely dry, sandy sites; including poorly drained clay; average
to wet conditions. Drought may cause it to go partially dormant but the return
of rain will revive it; foliage of variegated form will burn in full west sun
and dry soil. Competes with tree
roots. Leaf blight is a serious problem
in high humidity and heat, but plants return to decent condition in fall. Mow ragged foliage; diligently remove
rhizomes from unwanted locations
Uses: Groundcover in shade or sun; fast and
inexpensive cover.
Companions: large hostas, daylilies
Propagation: Division almost any time
Cultivars: `Variegata’ - bright
creamy white margins, slightly less aggressive, and useful in dark corners
Carpet Bugle/Bugleweed
Ajuga reptans
Lamiaceae
Form: Rather irregularly spreading groundcover from
basal rosettes; stoloniferous; foliage height 6 inches and spread 24 inches
Foliage: Shiny deep green; lower and stem leaves entire
and obovate or oblong-elliptic with a rounded tip; upper and floral leaves are
ovate or elliptic and sessile; overall appearance out of bloom is of a neat,
dense, flat mat of foliage; medium texture
Flowers: Upright spikes 6 to 9 inches long on square
stems; dense and showy; usually violet-blue but can be light blue to pink; each
lipped flower up to ½ inch long. April
to May
Seedheads: Not effective
Culture: Part shade to full sun in consistently moist,
fertile soil with good winter drainage, not particularly drought tolerant.
Suffers in open winters and entire patches will die out; cover loosely with
evergreen boughs after first freeze to protect.
Spreads nicely into mulch; keep separated from lawns
Uses: Groundcover under open shrubs, loose edger,
masses; foliage interest (variegated and purple-foliaged cultivars).
Companions: daffodils, tulips, snowdrops anemone, smaller
hostas, large-leaved cranesbills
Propagation: Spring division after flowering; tissue
culture to maintain type
Cultivars: `Chocolate Chip’ (A.tenori) - distinctly different foliage texture, with each leaf narrowly
oblong; dark purple-green; good spreader from a different species
`Catlin’s
Giant’ - leaves twice as large as the
species; bronze-purple foliage; flower spikes up to 8 inches long
`Jungle
Beauty’ and ‘Jungle Beauty Improved’ - dark
purple foliage outlined in red or pink
Snowdrop Anemone
Anemone sylvestris
Ranunculaceae
Form: Uniform, rhizomatous groundcover to a foliage
height of 8 to 12 inches; spreads 24 inches or more to rapidly form large
colonies
Foliage: Dark green, compound with 3 to 5 leaflets; 2
to 4 inches wide and long; margins lightly toothed; medium texture. Foliage remains attractive during the entire
growing season
Flower: Pure white with yellow stamens and five waxy
sepals spreading to 2 inches wide; one per nodding stems to 12 inches long;
very showy and long-lasting in cool weather; April to May; sporadic rebloom in
fall
Seedheads: Fluffy, cottony masses; unusual but not
persistent
Culture: Part shade to shade; average to moist soils
enriched with humus or organic matter; less tolerant of heavy clay; competes
with tree and shrub roots. Burning and
stunting will occur if exposed to dry sun or reflection from pavement. Control spread by dividing or removing
rhizomes after bloom
Uses: Rapidly spreading groundcover in woodland
garden or under deciduous shrubs, spring bloom, cut flowers.
Companions: spring bulbs, hostas, astilbe, ferns,
columbine, bergenia
Propagation: Division after bloom, seed (remove cottony
covering)
Other species: Anemone
Canadensis - vigorous spreader (to the point of thuglike behavior)
in woodland settings; height to 24 inches, flowers single, nodding in leaf
axils; June
Contock Pussytoes
Antennaria parvifolia
Asteraceae
Form: Tiny mat-forming groundcover not exceeding 4
inches in height; spreading by stolons to 18 inches or more; prairie native
Foliage: Basal, dense, silvery gray foliage; each leaf
1 inch long or less; leaves resemble the tip of a paper airplane (spatulate)
arranged at 90 degree angles to one another; ever “gray” through the year; fine
texture
Flowers: Dioecious; (male and female on separate
plants); on upright stems to 6 inches;
rounded corymbs with papery scales that surround the “pussy toes” and
create the visual interest; April to May
Seedheads: Not effective; scales do not persist
Culture: Full sun; rocky, gravelly or sandy
well-drained soil; extremely drought tolerant once established. Do not provide supplemental water, especially
in areas of high humidity and high night time temperatures; and withhold
fertilizer
Uses: Rock garden, edger between steppingstones or
along dry paths, hot spots, grown more for foliage than for flowers. Companions:
thrift, thyme, small sedums, dianthus
Propagation: Spring division or seed
Other species: A.
neglecta, plainleaf pussytoes
A.
dioica, common pussytoes,
A. plantaginea,
plantain pussytoes - Plains native useful as an alternative to introduced
silver groundcovers like snow-in-summer (Cerastium tomentosum)
Canadian Wild Ginger
Asarum canadense
Aristolochiaceae
Form: Dense, thick, rhizomatous plant of uniform height
to 6 inches; spreads 24 inches or more to form large colonies. Ginger-like smell and taste to crushed roots,
but this is not true ginger
Foliage: Deciduous, each stem producing one or two
dull green heart-shaped or kidney shaped leaves up to 8inches wide; folded like
a resting butterfly when first emerging and covered densely with soft white
hairs; medium-coarse texture
Flowers: Urn-shaped, three brownish or brownish purple
with turned-back sepals called calyx lobes; maximum one flower per pair of
leaves, beneath the foliage to be discovered by the observant gardener. April-May
Seedheads: Not effective
Culture: Native to deciduous forests from the Missouri River east.
Prefers slightly acidic, humus-rich soil in light or dappled shade. Competes with tree and shrub roots, drought
tolerant if given the right soil and light.
Colonies appear to be dead, but emerge suddenly and grow quickly once
spring conditions are right
Uses: Uniform groundcover.
Companions: ferns, jack-in-the-pulpit, variegated hostas
and Solomon’s seal, Virginia
Propagation: Self-sows; spring division after bloom,
barely covering the rhizomes
Other Species: Asarum
europaeum, European ginger
- elegant, evergreen form, tends toward slowly spreading clumps; smaller,
cupped foliage. Eastern locations in
full shade only.
A. shuttleworthii - are not long-lived in our climate
Star Astilbe
Astilbe simplicifolia
Saxifragaceae
Form: Low, broad-spreading mounds that tend to fill
in and form a groundcover; foliage height 12 inches, spread 24 inches
Foliage: Very glossy deep, slightly olive green,
margins with distinct reddish tinge, especially early in the season; simple or
in groups of three; deeply cut and attractive through the season; fine texture
Flowers: White, star-like and tiny but very showy due
to the numbers of them in vertical open panicles to a height of 15 inches; more
dense in appearance than A. x arendsii; June
Seedheads: Persistent until fall; tan to pinkish and
feathery
Culture: Part shade to shade; tolerates drier
conditions than other astilbes but still prefers consistent average moisture
and loamy soils enriched with organic matter. Inconsistent watering, drought,
or exposure to drying winds will cause burning on leaf margins and may result
in plant death. Divide in summer when
flowering is reduced
Uses: Edger, groundcover under open or leggy shrubs
or as texture contrast to large-leaved plants.
Companions: bergenia, hosta, false Solomon’s seal,
brunnera, toad lily, lamium, ornamental sedges
Propagation: Division in spring or fall
Cultivars: `Sprite’ - foliage with a bronze cast, flowers pale or
shell-pink, to 12 inches; seedheads also rust-colored
Other Species: A. x
arendsii, A. tacquetii, A. chinensis
- ornamental, larger, no groundcover tendencies
Purple Poppy Mallow/Wine Cups
Callirhoe involucrata
Malvaceae
Form: Sprawling, trailing habit, with stems
creeping over other plants or forming a mat up to 36 inches or more across;
12 inch height from taproot
Foliage: Alternate, deeply divided into 5-7 palmate
lobes, dark green, covered with short, stiff hairs, medium-fine texture
Flowers: Single, bowl-shaped; up to 2” across with 5
overlapping petals, deep rose or magenta color, may have white center or base
white in center surrounding branched style.
May to October
Seedheads: Not effective
Culture: Full sun to very light shade; average to dry,
well-drained soils. Cut back after
initial flowering to encourage branching and eliminate ratty, insect-chewed
appearance
Uses: Edger, groundcover, walls, rock garden,
prairie.
Companions: Sedums, Russian sage, short grasses, teucrium
pussytoes, penstemons
Propagation: Seed, cuttings
Other species: C.
digitata, C. tenuissima
Clustered Bellflower
Campanula glomerata
Campanulaceae
Form: Deciduous groundcover, rapidly spreading to
form large colonies; foliage height 12 to 15 inches and 18 inches or more for
blooming stems, spread to 24 inches or more
Foliage: Long, narrow alternate leaves to 5 inches with
petioles; stem leaves smaller and sessile or on short petioles; margins
toothed. Foliage is bright green and not
particularly handsome; medium-coarse texture
Flowers: Dramatic in bloom, with deep violet-blue
flowers densely packed into clusters at the ends of the flowering stems or in
the leaf axils, each one like a single tight bouquet; Individual flowers 1 inch
across with sharp-pointed petals upward-facing; long-lasting. May to June with sporadic rebloom in fall if
deadheaded
Seedheads: Not effective
Culture: Full sun to part shade; loamy, well-drained
soils and average pH. Consistent moisture required to prevent wilting of
foliage. Flowering stems may flop under heavy rains. Cut back after bloom to
encourage development of dense basal foliage.
Competes with tree roots and spreads well in mulch
Uses: Broad-spreading edger or groundcover under
trees, excellent cut flowers.
Companions: threadleaf coreopsis, sedums, sundrops,
snowdrops anemone, cranesbills, Siberian iris, ornamental sedges
Propagation: Division or terminal cuttings after flowering
Cultivars: var. acaulis - dense dwarf
variety, to only 5 inches tall and very dense with earlier flowers
`Joan
Elliott’ - taller than the species and
very floriferous; dark violet blue
`Crown
of Snow’ - pure white, taller form; newer
and slightly smaller than `Snow Cushion’
Snow-in-Summer
Cerastium tomentosum
Caryophyllaceae
Form: Dense, mat-forming rhizomatous groundcover;
height 3 inches, spread 18 inches or more per plant
Foliage: Bright silver and woolly on all surfaces,
tight opposite leaves, each only 1 inch long and under ¼ inch wide with
spatulate tips and entire margins, effective early and late and through the
winter; fine texture
Flowers: Pure white, one inch wide, each of the five
petals deeply divided to look like 10, 3 to15 flowers per cyme; if possible,
whiter than the foliage. When in flower,
the foliage is covered and the planting looks like clean snow. Late April to
May
Seedheads: Not effective
Culture: Full sun, average loam to sandy soils and
excellent drainage; no additional fertilizer avoid standing water, constantly
moist conditions, or overhead irrigation in any season; very drought tolerant
once established. Shear hard after bloom
to allow plant to fill in; control spread by digging clumps and giving them to
friends
Uses: Moon garden, edger, groundcover, texture and
color contrast in rock gardens, hot spots.
Companions: basket-of-gold, moss phlox, plumbago, sedums,
Missouri
Propagation: Division, softwood cuttings, seed
Plumbago
Ceratostigma plumbaginoides
Plumbaginaceae
Form: Stoloniferous groundcover, height to 12
inches, spread 24 inches or more; very late to emerge in spring
Foliage: Bright green foliage emerges with bronze or
red tinge; leaves entire and spatulate with broadly acute tips and fine
sandpaper-like hairs covering all surfaces and margin; 1 to 3 inches long and
up to 1 ½ inch wide. Fall color deep
bronze red and persistent until after hard freeze
Flowers: Brilliant blue, ½ inch to ¾ inch across in
terminal clusters up to 3 inches in diameter;
begin
appearing in July and last until nearly frost
Seedheads: Pointed capsules deep red, persistent
Culture: Part sun to sun; loose, average to dry soil;
does well in rock walls and edges; not bothered by pests or diseases. Mark location to avoid digging into it in
spring. Can be quite aggressive in good soil.
Late to emerge in spring.
Uses: Loose groundcover under shrubs or trees,
walls and rock gardens.
Companions: Fall-blooming sedums, ‘Husker Red’ penstemon,
asters, bergenia
Propagation: Divisions in early spring; cuttings,
stratified seed
Other Species: There are many different species of plumbago
that are used as annuals in colder zones and as significant landscape plants in
California
Lily-of-the-Valley
Convallaria majalis
Liliaceae
Form: Old-fashioned groundcover that rapidly
spreads by creeping rootstocks; uniform height to 9 inches, spread 24 inches or
more per original plant
Foliage: Emerges as narrow, tightly rolled cylinders
through leaves or mulch; 2 to 3 basal leaves, lanceolate-ovate, with veins
running parallel to leaf margins; bright green, up to 8 inches long and less
than half as wide; foliage remains effective until hard frost unless severe
drought occurs; coarse or bold texture
Flowers: On nodding stems, unbranched, perfect for
cutting, and long-lasting; extremely fragrant, white. Each individual flower
also nods, up to ¼ inch wide and shaped like a very short, fat bell; May
Seedheads: If orange-red berries appear (this occurs
rarely), remove to avoid accidental poisoning
Culture: Average to moist loamy soil, part to full
shade; withholding water or planting in root zone of trees or shrubs can help
control spread in full shade. To limit
spread, surround by hard surface or smother with layers of newspaper
Uses: Low-maintenance groundcover, cut
flowers.
Companions: plants that can hold their own against its
spread like hostas, Solomon’s seal, ferns, Virginia
Propagation: Division of pips (rhizome shoots) in early spring
Cultivars: `Dora’ - pink-flowered
Cypress Spurge
Euphorbia cyparissias
Euphorbiaceae
Form: Rapidly spreading, very stoloniferous
groundcover like an open forest of little, narrow evergreen trees, although it
is not evergreen; open habit and able to scramble through other plants; height
12 inches, spread 24 inches or more—can be a thug
Foliage: Narrow and linear, up to 1 ½ inches long,
entire, blue-green, packed densely around stems; fine texture
Flowers: Yellowish-green terminal umbels up to 2
inches across. The flowers are actually
bracts and the color deepens to reddish as flowers age; April to May
Seedheads: Bracts remain effective for a month after
bloom
Culture: Sandy
Uses: Groundcover, textural contrast, “weaving”
plant among other perennials; rock gardens, hot spots.
Companions: clustered bellflower, basket-of-gold, Missouri
Propagation: Division, terminal cuttings, seed
Sweet Woodruff
Galium odoratum
Rubiaceae
Form: Very uniform groundcover, forming dense but
delicate-appearing masses or colonies to a height of 6 inches and spread of 18
inches
Foliage: Deep, clean green, whorled at the nodes of
square stems. Each whorl contains 6 to 8
sessile (no petiole), lanceolate leaves up to 1 ½ inches long and under ½ inch
wide; bristle-tipped and rough-margined; fine texture. Crushed stems and leaves are sweetly
fragrant, like newly mown hay
Flowers: Tiny pure white stars, 1/8 inch to ¼ inch wide
in loose, branching cymes above foliage, fragrant. May
Seedheads: Not effective
Culture: Part to full shade in consistently moist,
loamy soils enriched with organic matter; will tolerate fairly sandy or loose
soils if mulched; can spread rapidly in these conditions but is easily dug and
divided. Avoid locations where
reflection or late-day sun will dry the soil or air; this groundcover will not
survive these conditions
Propagation: Division in spring or fall, or seed
Bigroot Geranium
Geranium macrorhizzum
Geraniaceae
Form: One of the best groundcover hardy geraniums,
rhizomatous, with base of plant becoming almost woody and rather easily broken
off; dense, uniform mass to a height of 12 to 15 inches and spread of 18 inches
or more
Foliage: Strongly aromatic basal leaves, light
green, pubescent and thick, up to 5 inches wide with 5 to 7 divisions cut
nearly to the base; lobes also notched; nearly evergreen. Often turns
shades of deep wine red in winter, and holds up well to temperature extremes
and snow cover. Medium texture
Flowers: Bright pink to magenta, held
above foliage in terminal clusters on long peduncles. Five petals form
flowers ½ inch to 1 inch across, stamens are prominent and sepals (calyces) are
dark red and inflated like balloons. The flowers are interesting but not
long-lasting; May
Seedheads: Reddish “cranesbills,” persist
until fall
Culture: Part to full shade in average
loam; prefers moisture but will tolerate fairly dry conditions, especially
after establishment. Foliage may wilt in late-day sun but recovers well if
adequate water is provided. Competes effectively with tree roots.
Cut tattered foliage back in late winter; carefully remove leaves and debris to
avoid breaking brittle stems. Diligently watch soil moisture when transplanting
or dividing, which should be done in early spring before bloom
Uses: Evergreen groundcover, edger, woodland garden,
fragrance garden.
Companions: ferns, astilbe, toadlily, hostas,
fall-blooming anemones, Arkansas
Propagation: Division, taking short pieces of
roots; stems are arranged like rosettes very close to the surface, with few
roots at the nodes. Seed; do not cover
Cultivars: `Bevan’s Variety’ -
shorter, to 10 inches with darker red sepals and magenta petals
`Ingwersen’s Variety’ - pale pink, leaves slightly glossy,
more elegant
Hybrid Daylily
Hemerocallis x
Liliaceae
Form: Arching clumps from stout, fleshy, fibrous root
system; height and spread vary with cultivar from dwarf (6 inches or less) to
over 36 inches; flower scape can exceed 5 feet
Foliage: Long, linear leaves, 18 to
24 inches long and ¾ inch to 1 ½ inches wide, bright green; medium texture
Flowers: Three petals and three sepals,
varying in size from 2 to 6 inches long depending on cultivar; 5 to 9 attached
by pedicels to a long, branched scape held above foliage. Colors include
orange, yellow, bronze, red, purple, peach, pink; and hybridization has
resulted in contrasting center eyes in green, yellow, gold, brown, purple, pink
or white; ruffled petals; tetraploid performance; repeat bloom. May to
October; new cultivars are reliable repeat bloomers
Seedheads: Not effective. The pod is a
three-part, dehiscent brown tube.
Culture: Full sun to almost full shade
(the foliage is a workable groundcover but bloom is reduced); All soil types,
as long as drainage is good competes well with tree roots. May be susceptible
to aphids and thrips if overly stressed. Also may decline in periods of
extended heat and high humidity, but can be rejuvenated by cutting the foliage
to 6 inches and providing regular water. Remove scapes after bloom for a tidier
appearance. Divide if flowering is significantly reduced.
Uses: Edger, groundcover, uniform texture, hot spots,
specimen, mass.
Companions: Bulbs (daylily foliage hides
dying bulb leaves), Russian sage, coneflowers, butterfly milkweed, catmint,
asters, boltonia. If used in areas of critical winter visibility,
surround with plants with some seasonal interest—daylilies die completely to
the ground
Propagation: Division nearly any time; almost
impossible to eradicate once established because of tenacious, fleshy, fibrous
root system; each tiny piece will regenerate
Huge numbers of daylilies from which to
choose, including dwarfs, rebloomers, and even old-fashioned straight species
with exceptional fragrance
Cultivars: `Trophytakers’ - Darrell App’s newest hybrids
`Returns’ series - reblooming, with an
ever-widening range of colors
`Fairy Tale Pink’ - beautiful, huge (5 ½ inch)
sugar-pink blooms with ruffled edges, 24 inches
Other Species: H. lilio-asphodelis, gum jum
Yellow
Archangel
Lamiastrum
galeobdolon (Lamium galeobdolon)
Lamiaceae
Form: Old-fashioned galloping groundcover; short
underground stolons and rapidly elongating square stems that root at nodes used
as the means of travel; appears in spring as very dense rosettes and reaches in
all directions to root in other places
Foliage: Opposite, oval, serrate leaves up to 3 inches
long with a slender point; bright green; basal leaves with long petioles;
widely spaced along stems; medium texture.
Foliage in rosettes remains evergreen in areas protected from
dessicating winter winds.
Flowers: Yellow, 5 to 6 in whorls in leaf axils; ¾
inch long; interesting but not long-lasting; May
Culture: Part to full shade, any soil; poor, infertile
soil can help control spread. Tolerant
of tree root competition. Keep trailing
stems clipped to avoid overly aggressive spread; cut back hard after bloom to
prevent seed formation
Seedheads: Not effective
Uses: Low maintenance groundcover in shade, dry hot
spots, under shrubs.
Companions: gold or yellow variegated hostas, daylilies,
other aggressive perennials
Propagation: Division or terminal cuttings nearly any time
Cultivars: `Variegatum’ - no sense in using the straight species if this is
available; silver variegation throughout the body of the leaf except at midribs
and margins; shines in dark shaded corners, but is still rampant
`Herman’s Pride’
- Upright clumps of smaller, more lanceolate leaves with deeper green
backgrounds and brighter, almost uniform silver markings; acts like a
clump-former instead of a runner, to a height and spread of 18 inches
Lamium/Spotted Dead-nettle
Lamium
maculatum
Lamiaceae
Form: Low groundcover, spreading by stolons from a
central clump to form a solid mass; height 9 to 12 inches; spread 24 inches
Foliage: Small, opposite leaves, each 1 to 2 inches
long with long petioles and toothed margins; ovate with a cordate
(heart-shaped) base; bright green with white, paler green or cream stripes or
blotches along the midrib, fine texture
Flowers: Hooded, mauve-pink; up to 1 inch long in leaf
whorls; quietly showy because of numbers but often partially hidden by leaves;
primary bloom time May; sporadic rebloom until September
Seedheads: Not effectiveconsistent moisture needed to
keep patches from dying out; will scorch in sun. Favored food of many chewing insects and
rabbits; protect new plants until well established
Culture: Part to full shade; average to loamy
well-drained soil enriched with organic matter;
Uses: Shade garden, underplant larger perennials
and shrubs; variegated cultivars brighten dark spots.
Companions: brunnera, epimediums, minor bulbs, small
cranesbills, bellflowers, small hostas, variegated Solomons seal
Propagation: Division in spring or any time when adequate
moisture can be provided; cuttings
Cultivars: `Beacon Silver’ - silver leaves with narrow green borders; pinkish
flowers
`Chequers’ - like
`Beacon Silver’ but with broad green margins and a silver stripe in the center
of each leaf; pink flowers, up to 9 inches tall
`White Nancy’
- silver leaves, white flowers; shorter than `Beacon Silver;’ does not perform
well in drought or variable moisture conditions
`Anne Greenaway’ - chartreuse
foliage and pink flowers; dramatic contrast
‘Orchid Frost’
- strong grower, more upright and vigorous than the other pink-flowered
selections
Creeping Lily-turf/Liriope
Liriope
spicata
Liliaceae
Form: Evergreen clumps that spread to form an
almost impenetrable groundcover with short, thickened, stoloniferous roots; a
large mass of this plant still retains some of the clump appearance—a wavy or
feathery surface like old K31 fescue in need of mowing; height 8 to 12 inches;
spread 24 inches
Foliage: Grasslike leaves, ¼ inch wide and 12 to 15
inches long; reliably evergreen but may
turn yellowish; very dense, fine texture
Flowers: Terminal racemes on scapes up to 10 inches
tall; each flower ¼ inch wide; pale blue to white; not particularly showy or
abundant; July to August
Seedheads: Not effective; blackish and berrylike but not
persistent
Culture: Light shade to full sun if some protection
from drying winter winds is provided; loamy to average, well-drained soils;
consistent moisture promotes most lush growth but is tolerant of poor,
infertile soils and drought once established.
Will compete with tree roots to stabilize soils on slopes. Mow or trim
old foliage in spring
Uses: Edger (can be treated like a small hedge),
winter interest, texture contrast.
Companions: Forska salvia, hardy ageratum, coralbells, Arkansas
Propagation:
Division of small plantlets almost any
time; difficult to eradicate entirely once a patch has gotten a toehold in the
landscape
Other species: Liriope muscari, blue lily-turf or big
lily-turf - questionably hardy north of
zone 6, but occasionally found in zone 5 in protected microclimates. Very
dramatic; an edger, not a groundcover
Moneywort/Creeping Jenny
Lysimachia nummularia
Primulaceae
Form: Tiny creeping groundcover that roots at
nodes, forming a dense, flat mat; less than 1 inch tall and a nearly indefinite
spread
Foliage: Opposite, bright green round leaves like
quarters or nickels, less than 1 inch wide with entire margins. The leaves are tightly spaced along stems on
very short petioles and lie almost flat against the ground; fine texture
Flowers: Bright yellow, shaped like open bells
(campanulate) or saucers with five lobes, ½ inch to ¾ inch across, solitary and
held in the leaf axils; a showy carpet of gold and green in May to June
Seedheads: Not effective
Culture: Part to full shade and loam, clay loam or
clay soils that are kept constantly moist. Moneywort tolerates drier conditions
in deeper shade but still performs best with moisture. Roots at all nodes, transplants easily and
starts itself at will from a small piece of stem, trailing among steppingstones
and under larger perennials. Control
spread by edging planting areas with a solid border of stone or concrete.
Uses: Low groundcover under more open plants or a
cover for pea gravel or organic mulch.
It will root in very little soil over drain tile and similar underground
items; use to soften rock edges of ponds and stream beds or cover bare spots
left by summer-dormant plants. Also a
good rain garden plant.
Companions: sedges, lady’s mantle, veronica, variegated
hostas, meadowsweet, Virginia
Propagation: Division, bury a node and allow roots to form
Cultivars: `Aurea’ - right
gold, a spot of light in very wet areas
Japanese Spurge/Pachysandra
Pachysandra
terminalis
Buxaceae
Form: Dense evergreen groundcover, spreading by
rhizomes from small clumps to form a uniform planting; height 6 to 9 inches,
spread 18 inches or more
Foliage: Alternate, simple, with blunt, coarse teeth
above the middle; entire at base, clustered at stem ends like a whorl or
rosette; glabrous and bright shiny green, up to 3 inches long and half as wide;
effective all year; fine texture
Flowers: White, held in terminal spikes above foliage
like little bottle brushes; each spike up to 2 inches long; male and female
flowers separate; males with long, thick stamens; April to May
Seedheads: Not effective
Culture: Part to full shade, consistently moist loamy
soils enriched with organic matter; does fine in average soils if moisture is
provided. Protect from dessicating
winter winds by shielding with other plants or covering with loose evergreen
boughs after first hard frost. Susceptible to root rot, leaf blight, scale.
Maintain healthy growing environment or remove diseased portions of plants,
including old foliage.
Uses: Elegant groundcover in shade garden and under
deciduous shrubs or trees, winter interest, texture. Companions:
astilbes, hostas, variegated Solomon’s seal, toadlily, ferns
Propagation: Division in spring or terminal softwood
cuttings
Cultivars: `Variegata’ - irregular white markings on leaves; not as vigorous
and must be protected from west sun
‘Silver Edge’
- similar to ‘Variegata’ but white markings are toward margins
`Green Sheen’
- Leaves so shiny they look like they’ve been shellacked
Other Species: P. procumbens - a clump-former for foliage
Moss Phlox
Phlox
subulata
Polemoniaceae
Form: Dense, creeping mat to a height of 3 to 6
inches and spread of 24 inches or more
Foliage: Opposite, needle-like, evergreen; under 1
inch long and less than 1/8 inch wide; prickly to the touch; fine texture
Flowers: Five corolla lobes, slightly notched or
entire, flat and open to the sky; borne in small terminal clusters or panicles;
each flower ½ inch or more in diameter.
The flowers cover the plants in early spring, hiding the foliage. Pink,
white, lavender, bicolors, many with contrasting eyes; April to May
Seedheads: Not effective
Culture: Full sun to very light shade; average to
slightly sandy, well-drained soil; tolerant of some alkalinity. Must have good
drainage to avoid open dead spots; do not allow snow or water to stand on
plants in winter. Shear after blooming
to encourage production of dense side shoots
Uses: Rock garden, edger, walls, hot spots,
groundcover.
Companions: snow-in-summer, plumbago, lamb’s ear, rock
rose, succulents, donkeytail spurge
Propagation: Division after flowering or layering stems by
covering with damp soil
Cultivars: Sold by the ‘slab’ by many retailers. Huge numbers of named cultivars, many of
which may be hybrids.
Goldmoss Stonecrop
Sedum
acre
Crassulaceae
Form: Wide-spreading, very small groundcover with
decumbent (reclining with upturned tips) stems; height 3 inches, spread 18 to
24 inches
Foliage: Tiny alternate leaves tightly arranged on
stems, each leaf ¼ inch long and pointed, overlapping the one above it, bright
green; very fine texture
Flowers: Yellow, star-shaped flowers ½ inch in
diameter, in terminal cymes; five petals, five sepals and ten stamens like all
sedums; showy. Blooms for eight to ten weeks beginning in May
Seedheads: Not effective
Culture: Full sun to part shade, well-drained soils of
low to average fertility; tolerant of heavy clay to sandy locations. Cut back hard if foliage melts out in center
to rejuvenate; divide if plants become too dense
Uses: Edger, between steppingstones, walls, rock
gardens, hot spots, in places where little else will grow.
Companions: plumbago, pasqueflower, yarrow, blue grama
and other small native and ornamental grasses, blanket flower
Propagation: Division, seed, terminal cuttings at any time
in summer. Stems can also be layered
Other species: Many sedums perform well as groundcovers,
among them
S. rupestris ‘Angelina’
S. aizoon
S. kamschaticum
S. album
S. spurium ‘Dragon’s Blood,’ ‘Voodoo’
Angelina Stonecrop
Sedum
rupestris ‘Angelina’
Crassulaceae
Form: upright, spreading groundcover to a height of
6 inches. Spread can be indefinite, since
each piece of stem will root
Foliage: Chartreuse, linear succulent leaves ½ inch
long, essentially whorled in 4’s around the light chartreuse green stems. Fall and winter color is an outstanding,
day-glo orange.
Flowers: Rarely seen; yellow
Culture: Full sun and well-drained soil of low to
average fertility. Tolerant of heavy clay to sandy locations and rock
gardens. Tolerates part shade but will
become more open.
Uses: Accent, edger, rock garden, hot spot.
Companions: forget-me-not, crested iris, purple sedums
(for high contrast)
Propagation: Division, layering
Woodland Sedum
Sedum ternatum
Crassulaceae
Form: Slowly spreading, low mound to a height of 6
to 9 inches and spread to 24 inches
Foliage: Thick, medium green, spatulate leaves less
than 1 inch long with short scattered teeth toward the rounded tip
Flowers: Pure white, ¼ inch across in terminal cymes;
June
Seedheads: Not effective
Uses: Woodland
Propagation: Division, layering
Allegheny Foamflower
Tiarella
cordifolia
Saxifragaceae
Form: Rounded clumps rapidly become elegant,
uniform groundcover through stoloniferous habit; foliage height 9 inches and
spread 24 inches or more
Foliage: Basal foliage similar to American alumroot (Heuchera
americana) in shape and size on long petioles; leaves 3 to 4 inches wide,
heart-shaped with 3 to 5 lobes; margins more sharply toothed (dentate) than
alumroot. Evergreen with burgundy variegation along veins; winter color also
burgundy; effective all year; fine texture
Flowers: Vertical racemes like small candles to 6
inches long, held upright above foliage. Buds pale pink, individual flowers
creamy white, star-like, ¼ inch wide, 5 sepals half as long as the 5 petals and
10 stamens that prominently protrude (exserted). Flowers are effective for over
a month in cool conditions; April to May.
Seedheads: Not effective
Culture: Well-drained, organic, moist soils in part to
full shade; intolerant of dry conditions, infertile soil, or wet crowns,
particularly in winter. Also performs
poorly in full sun or locations exposed to dessicating winter winds or
temperature extremes. Remove matted
leaves or dense mulch from crowns to avoid rot
Uses: Woodland
Companions: large-foliaged purple coralbells or alumroot,
astilbe, ferns (especially Japanese painted fern), toadlily, corydalis
Propagation: Division after flowering, or seed
Cultivars: `Slick Rock’ - small foliage, to 2 inches in width, strong
producer of runners
`Dark Eye’ - burgundy
center in each heart-shaped leaf; vigorous
‘Iron Cross’ -
distinct center mark and cross-shape to leaves
Breeding
work is being done to produce cultivars with variegated foliage, larger
inflorescences
X Heucherella - An intergeneric cross between Heuchera and Tiarella
has produced X Heucherella,
foamy bells, which typically combines the flowers of coralbells with the
groundcover habit of foamflower. This is becoming a popular shade plant, with
wild foliage variegation in such cultivars as ‘Stop Light.’
Prairie Verbena
Verbena bipinnafitida
Verbenaceae
Form: Spreading from a mounded center, to a height
of 12 inches and spread of 24 inches or more
Foliage: Dark green, deeply lobed leaves 2 to 4 inches
long and 1 inch wide, with scattered stiff hairs
Flowers: Small bright purple flowers with 4 points, in
rounded terminal clusters; June to October
Seedheads: Not effective
Culture: Full sun, average to moist soils with good
drainage; shear after blooming if desired to reduce height and spread
Uses: Edger, rain gardens (top of berm), prairie,
naturalized locations
Armenian Speedwell
Veronica
armena
Scrophulariaceae
Form: Flat, prostrate, open groundcover with
creeping habit; height 1 inch, spread 18 to 24 inches
Foliage: Evergreen, needle-like; each leaf ½ inch or
less long, gray-green; very fine texture
Flowers: Single, five-petaled, brilliant sky blue, ½
inch across and spotted throughout foliage; April to May with sporadic rebloom
in August to October
Seedheads: Not effective
Culture: Full sun, average to dry well-drained loamy or
sandy loam soil; tolerates some alkalinity.
Keep leaves or mulch from matting on plants to avoid holding excess
moisture.
Uses: Walls, between stepping stones, hot spots
where the prostrate form can cover the ground beneath other plants. Will creep about in mulched areas and form a
very small groundcover, but is not generally dense enough to discourage
aggressive weed competition.
Companions: sedums, germander, dianthus, rock rose
Propagation: Division
Other Species: V. liwanensis, Turkish speedwell
Vinca/Periwinkle
Vinca
minor
Apocynaceae
Form: One of
the most reliable evergreen groundcovers, quickly filling in to form a dense
uniform mat 12 inches tall and 24 inches or more wide; non-flowering stems root
readily at all nodes, allowing the plant to travel quickly and propagate easily
Foliage: Glossy, almost leathery, elliptical, to 1 ½
inches long, opposite; entire margins.
Maintains its color and quality all year; fine texture
Flowers: Tubular, periwinkle blue, up to 1 inch across,
with sepals 1/3 as long as corolla tube; primary bloom time April to May but
will produce occasional flowers until heavy frost
Culture: Part to full shade; average to moist
well-drained, loamy soils; tolerant of full sun with adequate moisture and
protection from hottest west exposure.
Susceptible to a stem rot that blackens leaves and foliage in large
patches; remove infected stems and keep clean
Uses: Woodland
gardens, erosion control, groundcover under trees where root disturbance should
be avoided.
Companions: interplant with daffodils and other
persistent long-stemmed bulbs; ferns, hostas, coralbells, cranesbills,
variegated Solomon’s seal
Propagation: Division, layering, stem cuttings of
non-flowering stems
Cultivars: `La Grave’ - larger flowers, deeper blue; and more vigorous than
the species; supposedly the same as `Bowles’
`Ralph Shugart’
- white margins on leaves, not as vigorous.
Avoid sun to limit scorch.
‘Illumination’
- bright chartreuse margins on leaves. `Blue and Gold’ is similar. Avoid sun to
limit scorch.
Other Species: V. major has leaves and flowers twice the size of the species;
not reliably hardy in zone 5
