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.
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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 |
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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
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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 |
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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 |
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Asarum canadense
Canadian Wild Ginger
Evergreen
Height: 6-12”
Foliage: Large green leaves, native
Exposure: Part shade |
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Asarum europaeum
European Ginger
Height: 6-8”
Foliage: Glossy leaves, tolerates moist/humus soils
Exposure: Part shade |
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Convallaria majalis
Lily-of-the-Valley
Height: 6”
Flower: White, fragrant, May
Exposure: Part shade |
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Cornus canadensis
Bunchberry
Height: 3-5”
Flower: Eggshell white, spring
Foliage: Green turning red n fall
Exposure: Part shade |
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Epimedium grandiflorum ‘Lilafee’
Lilafee Barrenwort
Height: 8-10”
Flower: Violet, April-May
Foliage: Bronze to green
Exposure: Part shade |
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Epimedium youngianum ‘Niveum'
Barrenwort
Height: 6-12”
Flower: White, May-June
Foliage: Red foliage in fall
Exposure: Part shade |
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Epimedium youngianum 'Roseum'
Barrenwort
Height: 8-12”
Spread: Indefinite
Flower: Pink, May-June
Exposure: Part shade |
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Epimedium x rubrum
Barrenwort
Height: 10-12”
Flower: Red, May-June
Foliage: Red foliage in fall
Exposure: Part shade |
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Epimedium x versicolor 'Sulphureum'
Barrenwort
Height: 12”
Flower: Yellow, May-June
Exposure: Part shade |
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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 |
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Fragaria ‘Pink Panda’
Ornamental Strawberry
Height: 6-8”
Flower: Pink, April-Oct., sandy soils
Foliage: Glossy dark green
Exposure: Full sun/part shade |
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Galium odoratum (Asperula)
Sweet Woodruff
Height: 3-9”
Flower: White, May to June, tolerates dry condition
Foliage: Star like appearance
Exposure: Part shade/shade |
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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
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Hedera helix ‘Baltica’
Hardy English Ivy
Evergreen
Height: 6-8”
Foliage: Dark green
Spread: Indefinite
Exposure: Shade to sun |
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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 |
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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 |
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Osmunda cinnamomea
Cinnamon Fern
Height: 36-60”
Foliage: Large, graceful fronds, excellent for moist soil
Exposure: Sun/shade |
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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
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Pachysandra procumbens
Alleghany Pachysandra
Foliage: Blue-green leaf color with pinkish white flowers
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Pachysandra terminalis ‘Green Sheen’
Green Sheen Pachysandra
Evergreen Ground Cover
Height: 6-10”
Foliage: Extremely glossy dark green
Spread: Indefinite
Exposure: Shade/part sun |
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Phlox stolonifera 'Blue Ridge
Blue Ridge Creeping Phlox
Height: 6-12”
Flower: Lilac blue, May-June
Exposure: Shade/ part sun |
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Phlox stolonifera 'Bruce's White'
Bruces White Creeping Phlox
Height: 8”
Flower: White, April-May
Exposure: Shade/ part sun |
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Phlox stolonifera 'Home Fires'
Home Fires Creeping Phlox
Height: 8”
Flower: Pink, May-June
Exposure: Shade/ part sun |
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Phlox stolonifera 'Sherwood Purple’
Blue Ridge Creeping Phlox
Height: 8”
Flower: Purple, May, fragrant
Exposure: Shade/ part sun |
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Phlox subulata 'Candy Stripe'
Candy Stripe Ground Phlox
Height: 3-6”
Flower: Pink and white, bicolor
Exposure: Sun/ part shade |
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Phlox subulata 'Emerald Cushion Blue'
Emerald Cushion Blue Ground Phlox
Height: 3-6”
Flower: Blue, April-May
Exposure: Sun/ part shade |
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Phlox subulata 'Emerald Pink'
Emerald Pink Ground Phlox
Height: 3-6”
Flower: Pink, April-May
Exposure: Sun/ part shade |
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Phlox subulata 'Fort Hill'
Fort Hill Ground Phlox
Height: 3-6”
Flower: Deep pink, fragrant
Exposure: Sun/ part shade |
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Phlox subulata 'Scarlet Flame'
Scarlet Flame Ground Phlox
Height: 3-6”
Flower: Magenta-red, April-May
Exposure: Sun/ part shade |
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Phlox subulata 'Snowflakes'
Snowflakes Ground Phlox
Height: 3-6”
Flower: White, April-May
Exposure: Sun/ part shade |
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Sedum ‘Bertram Anderson
Bertram Anderson Stonecrop
Height: 6-12”
Flower: Dusty pink, July-Sept.
Foliage: Gray-purple
Exposure: Full sun |
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Sedum ‘Purple Emperor’
Purple Emperor Stonecrop
Height: 12-15”
Flower: Red, August
Foliage: Deep purple fleshy
Exposure: Full sun |
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Sedum reflexum ‘Angelina’
Angelina Stonecrop
Height: 3-6”
Flower: Yellow, June-July
Foliage: Gold
Exposure: Full sun |
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Sedum sieboldii
Height: 6-8”
Flower: Deep pink
Foliage: Blue-gray
Exposure: Full sun |
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Sedum spurium 'Fulda Glow'
Fulda Glow Stonecrop
Height: 6”
Flower: Red, July.-Sept
Foliage: Red-tinged or purple
Exposure: Full sun |
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Sedum spurium ‘John Creech’
John Creech Stonecrop
Height: 2-3”
Flower: Pink, Aug.
Foliage: Purple-blue
Exposure: Full sun |
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Sedum spurium 'Tricolor'
Tricolor Stonecrop
Height: 4-6”
Flower: Red buds, pink flower, Aug.
Foliage: Pink, white and green foliage
Exposure: Full sun |
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Sedum ‘Vera Jameson’
Vera Jameson Stonecrop
Height: 10-12”
Flower: Pink, Sept.
Foliage: Green turning reddish brown in summer
Exposure: Full sun |
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Tiarella cordifolia ‘Running Tapestry'
Running Tapestry Foamflower
Height: 12”
Spread: Indefinite
Flower: White, May-June
Foliage: Light green with red specks
Exposure: Part shade |
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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 |
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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
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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
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Vinca minor ‘ Ralph Shugert’
Ralph Shugert Periwinkle
Height: 4-8"
Foliage: Green with white edge
Flower: Blue
Spread: Indefinite
Exposure: Shade/part sun |
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Water ground covers to ensure the plant’s successful establishment.
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. |