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Plants: Herbaceous Ground Covers
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Herbaceous plants are usually perennials that add not only foliar interest, but color as well. Herbaceous plants are a large majority of ground covers in general. Ground covers are used for walkways, under trees to provide cover, and interest to your landscape. There are many different types of applications and uses for herbaceous ground covers. Choose your favorite and plant today. See below for helpful herbaceous ground cover tips.

Ajuga reptans ‘Bronze Beauty’ Ajuga  reptans  ‘Bronze Beauty’
Bronze Beauty Bugleweed
Flower: A blue spike flower from May to June
Foliage:
Glossy having some deep purples and green color
Exposure: Best in shade but will take full sun
Ajuga reptans ‘Burgundy Glow’ Ajuga  reptans ‘Burgundy Glow’
Burgundy Glow Bugleweed
Flower: A blue spike flower from May to June
Foliage: Variegated burgundy
Exposure: Best in shade but will take full sun
Ajuga reptans‘Catlin’s Giant’ Ajuga  reptans‘Caitlin’s Giant’
Caitlin’s Giant Bugleweed
Flower: A blue spike flower from May to June
Foliage: Large having some deep purples
Exposure: Best in shade but will take full sun
Ajuga reptans ‘Chocolate Chip’

Ajuga  reptans ‘Chocolate Chip’
Chocolate Chip Bugleweed
Flower: A blue spike flower from May to June
Foliage: Small chocolate purple wavy
Exposure: Best in shade but will take full sun

Asarum canadense

Asarum canadense
Canadian Wild Ginger
Evergreen
Height: 6-12”
Foliage: Large green leaves, native
Exposure: Part shade

Asarum europaeum

Asarum europaeum      
European Ginger
Height: 6-8”    
Foliage: Glossy leaves, tolerates moist/humus soils
Exposure: Part shade

Convallaria majalis

Convallaria majalis
Lily-of-the-Valley
Height:  6”
Flower: White, fragrant, May       
Exposure: Part shade

Cornus canadensis

Cornus canadensis
Bunchberry
Height:  3-5”
Flower: Eggshell white, spring
Foliage:  Green turning red n fall
Exposure: Part shade

Epimedium grandiflorum ‘Lilafee’ Epimedium grandiflorum ‘Lilafee’
Lilafee Barrenwort
Height:  8-10”
Flower: Violet, April-May
Foliage: Bronze to green
Exposure: Part shade
Epimedium youngianum ‘Niveum'

Epimedium youngianum ‘Niveum'
Barrenwort
Height:  6-12”  
Flower: White, May-June
Foliage: Red foliage in fall
Exposure: Part shade

Epimedium youngianum 'Roseum' 

Epimedium youngianum 'Roseum'         
Barrenwort
Height:  8-12”
Spread:  Indefinite
Flower: Pink, May-June
Exposure: Part shade

Epimedium x rubrum

Epimedium x rubrum
Barrenwort
Height:  10-12”
Flower: Red, May-June
Foliage: Red foliage in fall
Exposure: Part shade

Epimedium x versicolor 'Sulphureum'

Epimedium x versicolor 'Sulphureum'
Barrenwort
Height:  12”
Flower: Yellow, May-June
Exposure: Part shade

Ferns Dennstaedtia punctiloba

Ferns Dennstaedtia punctiloba
Hayscented Fern
Height: 24-30”
Habit: Will thrive in a wide variety of soils and tolerate wet or dry conditions, spreads rapidly
Foliage: Lacy fronds
Exposure: Sun/shade

Fragaria ‘Pink Panda’

Fragaria  ‘Pink Panda’
Ornamental Strawberry
Height:  6-8”
Flower: Pink, April-Oct., sandy soils
Foliage: Glossy dark green
Exposure: Full sun/part shade

Galium odoratum (Asperula) 

Galium odoratum (Asperula)    
Sweet Woodruff
Height: 3-9”    
Flower: White, May to June, tolerates dry condition
Foliage: Star like appearance
Exposure: Part shade/shade

Gaultheria procumbens

Gaultheria procumbens
Wintergreen
Height:  4-6”
Flower: White, Spring, edible red fruit in Fall, native
Foliage:  Dark green, mint fragrance when crushed
Exposure: Part shade

Hedera helix ‘Baltica’ Hedera helix ‘Baltica’
Hardy English Ivy
Evergreen
Height: 6-8”
Foliage: Dark green
Spread: Indefinite
Exposure: Shade to sun
Liriope muscari ‘Big Blue’ 

Liriope muscari ‘Big Blue’        
Big Blue Lilyturf
Semi-evergreen Ground Cover          
Height: 10-12”
Foliage: Green, grass-like        
Spread: 12-15”
Flower: Blue-purple spikes; Aug.
Exposure: Sun/part shade    

Liriope muscari ‘Variegata’  Liriope muscari ‘Variegata’ 
Variegated Lilyturf
Semi-evergreen Ground Cover
Height: 15-18”
Foliage: Dark green with gold and cream
Spread: 15-18”
Flower: Lavender; Aug.
Exposure: Sun/part shade
Osmunda cinnamomea

Osmunda cinnamomea
Cinnamon Fern
Height: 36-60”
Foliage: Large, graceful fronds, excellent for moist soil
Exposure: Sun/shade

Pachysandra terminalis 

Pachysandra terminalis 
Japanese Pachysandra
Evergreen Ground Cover       
Height: 6-8”
Foliage: Light green with white flowers March to April
Spread: Indefinite
Exposure: Shade/part sun
 

Pachysandra procumbens

Pachysandra procumbens
Alleghany Pachysandra
Foliage: Blue-green leaf color with pinkish white flowers

Pachysandra terminalis ‘Green Sheen’ 

Pachysandra terminalis ‘Green Sheen’ 
Green Sheen Pachysandra
Evergreen Ground Cover
Height: 6-10”
Foliage: Extremely glossy dark green
Spread: Indefinite
Exposure: Shade/part sun

Phlox stolonifera 'Blue Ridge

Phlox stolonifera 'Blue Ridge
Blue Ridge Creeping Phlox
Height:  6-12”
Flower: Lilac blue, May-June
Exposure: Shade/ part sun

Phlox stolonifera 'Bruce's White'

Phlox stolonifera 'Bruce's White'
Bruces White Creeping Phlox
Height:  8”
Flower: White, April-May
Exposure: Shade/ part sun

Phlox stolonifera 'Home Fires'

Phlox stolonifera 'Home Fires'
Home Fires Creeping Phlox
Height:  8”
Flower: Pink, May-June
Exposure: Shade/ part sun

Phlox stolonifera 'Sherwood Purple’

Phlox stolonifera 'Sherwood Purple’
Blue Ridge Creeping Phlox
Height:  8”
Flower: Purple, May, fragrant
Exposure: Shade/ part sun

Phlox subulata 'Candy Stripe'

Phlox subulata 'Candy Stripe'
Candy Stripe Ground Phlox
Height:  3-6”
Flower: Pink and white, bicolor
Exposure: Sun/ part shade

Phlox subulata 'Emerald Cushion Blue'

Phlox subulata 'Emerald Cushion Blue'
Emerald Cushion Blue Ground Phlox
Height:  3-6”
Flower: Blue, April-May
Exposure: Sun/ part shade

Phlox subulata 'Emerald Pink'

Phlox subulata 'Emerald Pink'
Emerald Pink Ground Phlox
Height:  3-6”
Flower: Pink, April-May
Exposure: Sun/ part shade

Phlox subulata 'Fort Hill'

Phlox subulata  'Fort Hill'
Fort Hill Ground Phlox
Height:  3-6”
Flower: Deep pink, fragrant
Exposure: Sun/ part shade

Phlox subulata 'Scarlet Flame'

Phlox subulata 'Scarlet Flame'
Scarlet Flame Ground Phlox
Height:  3-6”
Flower: Magenta-red,   April-May
Exposure: Sun/ part shade

Phlox subulata 'Snowflakes'

Phlox subulata 'Snowflakes'
Snowflakes Ground Phlox
Height:  3-6”
Flower: White, April-May
Exposure: Sun/ part shade

Sedum ‘Bertram Anderson

Sedum ‘Bertram Anderson
Bertram Anderson Stonecrop
Height: 6-12”
Flower: Dusty pink, July-Sept.
Foliage: Gray-purple
Exposure: Full sun

Sedum ‘Purple Emperor’

Sedum ‘Purple Emperor’
Purple Emperor Stonecrop
Height:  12-15”
Flower: Red, August
Foliage: Deep purple fleshy
Exposure: Full sun

Sedum reflexum ‘Angelina’

Sedum reflexum ‘Angelina’
Angelina Stonecrop
Height:  3-6”
Flower: Yellow, June-July
Foliage: Gold
Exposure: Full sun

Sedum sieboldii

Sedum sieboldii
Height:  6-8”
Flower: Deep pink
Foliage: Blue-gray
Exposure: Full sun

Sedum spurium 'Fulda Glow'

Sedum spurium 'Fulda Glow'
Fulda Glow Stonecrop
Height: 6”
Flower: Red, July.-Sept
Foliage: Red-tinged or purple
Exposure: Full sun

Sedum spurium ‘John Creech’

Sedum spurium ‘John Creech’
John Creech Stonecrop
Height: 2-3”
Flower: Pink, Aug.
Foliage: Purple-blue
Exposure: Full sun

Sedum spurium 'Tricolor'

Sedum spurium 'Tricolor'
Tricolor Stonecrop
Height: 4-6”
Flower: Red buds, pink flower, Aug.
Foliage: Pink, white and green foliage
Exposure: Full sun

Sedum ‘Vera Jameson’

Sedum ‘Vera Jameson’
Vera Jameson Stonecrop
Height: 10-12”
Flower: Pink, Sept.
Foliage: Green turning reddish brown in summer
Exposure: Full sun

Tierella cordifolia ‘Running Tapestry'

Tiarella cordifolia ‘Running Tapestry'
Running Tapestry Foamflower
Height:  12”
Spread:  Indefinite
Flower: White, May-June
Foliage: Light green with red specks
Exposure: Part shade

Vinca minor

Vinca minor
Common Periwinkle or Myrtle

Evergreen Ground Cover
Height: 3-6”
Foliage: Dark green
Spread: Indefinite
Flowers: Lilac-blue, March to April
Exposure: Shade/part sun

Vinca minor ‘Bowles’ Variety’ 

Vinca minor ‘Bowles’ Variety’ 
Bowles’ Variety Periwinkle
Evergreen Ground Cover
Height: 4-8”
Foliage: Dark green
Flowers: Large lavender-blue, March to April; sporadic blooms in summer
Spread: Indefinite
Exposure: Shade/part sun

Vinca minor ‘Illumination’ 

Vinca minor  ‘Illumination’ 
Bowles’ Variety Periwinkle
Evergreen Ground Cover
Height: 4-8”
Foliage: Dark green
Spread: Indefinite
Flowers: Large lavender-blue March to April
Exposure: Shade/part sun

Vinca minor ‘ Ralph Shugert’

Vinca minor ‘ Ralph Shugert’
Ralph Shugert Periwinkle
Height: 4-8"
Foliage: Green with white edge
Flower: Blue
Spread: Indefinite
Exposure: Shade/part sun

   

Here is information to successfully maintaining and caring for herbaceous ground covers:

Maintenance

Proper maintenance of ground cover herbaceous plants ensures:

  • Promotes growth
  • Rapid coverage
  • Acceptable plant health
  • Control and uniformity
  • Prevents competition from weeds and grasses
  • Leads to good plant health and vigor

The first maintenance task should be the application of light mulch to recently planted ground covers:

  • Conserves moisture
  • Reduces weed competition
  • Promotes a cooler soil environment
  • Adds color interest depending on the mulch you purchase

Many herbaceous plants can:

  • Tolerate being near walkways
  • Prefer being trimmed
    • Two times a year
    • Every few years thin the ground cover
  • Weed to prevent competition of other plants

Watering

Water ground covers to ensure the plant’s successful establishment.

Plants should be well watered the first season after planting:

  • This will provide a well developed root system
  • Established plants do not need regular watering
  • Some plants may need supplemental watering during drought periods
  • When water is needed
    • Apply enough to penetrate the soil to a depth of 12 inches
    • Check the soil twice a week to determine soil moisture
    • Remember that some plants prefer more moisture than others

Fertilizer

During the installation process:

  • Use Healthy Start fertilizer to establish your plant.

After your ground cover is established:

Planting Tip
When planting trees and shrubs we recommend incorporating planting mix.

Pest Control
There are many pests out in the landscape that can damage your plantings. Learn how to combat them.

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