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Groundcover Files
 

Just as a spectacular area rug can add life and warmth to a room, the right groundcover can do the same to complement a landscape or garden, taking it from "nice yard" to a stunning landscape. Do you need an erosion controller for that slope you can't get anything else to grow on? Need to replace the need for so much mulch? Or, are looking to fill those spaces between stepping stones or pavers? It's not too late to get a new cover on the ground: groundcovers. Ranging in height from an inch to four feet, groundcover plants serve several purposes. They not only provide soil cover, but they also slow weed growth and prevent soil from erosion. For many gardeners, they're the best answer to problem areas where too much sun or barely a ray falls, or where too dry or too moist conditions are a turnoff for other greenery. Below is a listing of groundcovers that perform well in Zone 8.

Name:
Asian Jasmine
Botanical:
 
Height x Width: 6-8" H - Space 18-24" apart
Exposure: Full Sun or Shade
Bloom Color:  
Bloom Time:  
Water: Low once established
Features: Fast growing evergreen groundcover with rich green, glossy foliage.
Companions: Abelias, Azaleas, Barberries, Cleyera, Gardenias, Hollies, Upright Junipers, Mahonias, Aucubas, Loropetalums, Indian Hawthorne, Ornamental Grasses, all types of trees, and many more.
 

Name:
Blue Star Creeper
Botanical:
Laurentia / Isotoma
Height x Width: 1/2" H - Space 15-18" apart
Exposure: Full Sun or Partial Shade
Bloom Color: Blue
Bloom Time: April to Frost!
Water: Low once established
Features: Fast spreading, matt-forming groundcover is excellent for use between stepping stones. We consider this to be the best plant for use between stepping stones in Zone 8.
Companions: Useful as a groundcover in perennial and rose gardens, shrub beds, or between stepping stones.
 
Name:
Cotoneaster 'Scarlet Leader'
Botanical:
Cotoneaster
Height x Width: 2'H x 3'+W / Space 3' apart
Exposure: Full Sun or Partial Shade
Bloom Color: White followed ball red berries in Fall
Bloom Time: Spring
Water: Low once established
Features: Low mounding shrub most often used as a groundcover on embankments or to cascade over walls. White flowers that cover the branches in Spring are followed by red berries in Fall.
Companions: Indian Hawthorne, Carissa Holly, Cleyera, Loropetalums, Ornamental grasses, Yucca, Rosy Glow barberry, and many more. Excellent asan underplanting for small trees such as Crape Myrtles and Japanese Maples.
 

 

Name:
Creeping Fig
Botanical:
Ficus
Height x Width: 2-3"H x 18"+W / Space 18-24" apart
Exposure: Full Sun or Mostly Shade
Bloom Color:  
Bloom Time:  
Water: Low once established
Features: Fast growing climber or groundcover will climb an 8' wall in 1 year!
Companions: Best planted on south or east wall. Grows on brick, stone, or stucco.
 

Name:
Creeping Jenny
Botanical:
Lysimachia
Height x Width: 2"H x 18"+W / SPace 18-24" apart
Exposure: Sun or Shade
Water: Low once esablished
Features: Outstanding, bright golden leaves on this matt-forming, fast growing evergreen. Useful as a groundcover or between stepping stones. One of the best steppables.
Companions: Use as a groundcover in shady or sunny garden or between stepping stones.
 

Name:
Creeping Raspberry
Botanical:
 
Height x Width: 6-8"H - Space 2-3' apart
Exposure: Full Sun or Partial Shade
Bloom Color:  
Bloom Time:  
Water: Low once established
Features: Crinkled leaves are very attractive on this fast spreadin groundcover excellent on the border of islands, around sitting areas, or as an erosion controller on embankments. Foliage becomes maroon tinted in Fall.
Companions: Hollies, Upright Junipers, Rosy Glow Barberry, Loropetalums, Yucca, Indian Hawthorne, Ornamental Grasses, and more.
 

Name:
Creeping Yew
Botanical:
Cephalotaxis harringtonia
Height x Width: 18-24"H - Space 3' apart
Exposure: Shade or Afternoon Shade
Bloom Color:  
Bloom Time:  
Water: Low once established
Features: The dark blue-green needle-like foliage on this low and mounding plant provides a unique contrast in shady gardens. Use as a border or plant in mass.
Companions: Azaleas, Aucubas, Mahonia, Nandinas, Hydrangeas, Florida Anise, Hosta Lilies, Perennial Ferns, Heucheras, and many other shrubs and perennials.
 

Name:
Dianthus (Perennial)
Botanical:
Dianthus
Height x Width: 4-6"H - Space 18-24" apart
Exposure: Full Sun
Bloom Color: Red, Fushia, Pink, or white shades
Bloom Time: Spring into Summer
Water: Low once established
Features: Attractive silver to grey evergreen foliage becomes covered in Spring with fragrant flowers.
Companions: Excellent as a border in sunny shrub beds or along a walkway or path.
 

Name:
Purple Winter Creeper
Botanical:
Euonymus coloratus
Height x Width: 8-10" H - Space 2' apart
Exposure: Full Sun or Full Shade!
Bloom Color:  
Bloom Time:  
Water: Very drought tolerant
Features: The most adaptable groundcover we know of! Handsome dark green foliage turns to burgundy-red in Winter. Useful as a groundcover in sunny or shady islands or embankments, foundation plantings, and under decks and large trees.
Companions: An excellent groundcover under large trees or on slopes.
 

Name:
Ice Plant
Botanical:
Delosperma cooperi
Height x Width: 3-4"H - Space 18-24" apart
Exposure: Full Sun or Partial Shade
Bloom Color: Purple, Yellow, or Salmon ('Mesa Verde')
Bloom Time: April to Frost
Water: Very drought tolerant
Features: Purple, Yellow, or salmon-pink flowers are repoduced in abundance atop the evergreen matt-forming succulent foliage. Useful as a groundcover or border in islands, perennial or rock gardens, or foundation plantings.
Companions: Combines nicely with just about any other plants. Knockout Rose, Stella De Oro Daylily, Barberries, Yuccas, and Abelias to name just a few.
 

Name:
English Ivy
Botanical:
Hedera helix
Height x Width: 6-8"H - Space 18-36" apart
Exposure: Shade or Afternoon Shade
Bloom Color:  
Bloom Time:  
Water: Low once established.
Features: Perhaps the most popular of Ivies. Highly ornamental, glossy foliage. Useful as a groundcover in larger islands or on embankments.
Companions: Dogwoods, Redbuds, Azaleas, Mahonias, Aucubas, Nandinas, Anise, Hydrangeas, and other plants and trees that prefer afternoon shade.
 

Name:
Wilson Ivy
Botanical:
Hedera
Height x Width: 4-6"H - Space 18-24" apart
Exposure: Full Sun or Shade
Bloom Color:  
Bloom Time:  
Water: Low once established
Features: Highly ornamental Ivy excellent for use as a groundcover or to climb walls or structures such as the mailbox shown in the picture to the left. A Wilson Bros. Favorite!
Companions: Just about any shrubs or trees that grow in sun or shade!
 

Name:
Juniber 'Bar Harbor'
Botanical:
Juniperus horizontalis
Height x Width: 4-6" H - Space 4-6' apart
Exposure: Full Sun
Bloom Color:  
Bloom Time:  
Water: Low once established
Features: Fast growing groundhugging Juniper excellent for use on embankments or as a groundcover in the borders of islands or foundation plantings. Much faster growing that Blue Rug.
Companions: Use as a groundcover around Hollies, Junipers, Spireas, Abelias. Lantanas, Barberries, Loropetalums, and many many more. Also good for underplant small trees such as Crape Myrtles and Japanese Maples.
 

Name:
Juniper 'Blue Pacific'
Botanical:
Juniperus conferta
Height x Width: 10-12" H - Space 3-6' apart
Exposure: Full Sun or light shade
Bloom Color:  
Bloom Time:  
Water: Low once established
Features: Trailing habit with attractive fur-like blue foliage. Fast growing groundcover excellent for covering large embankments.
Companions: Hollies, Indian Hawthorne, Rosy Glow Barberries, Yucca, Loropetalums, and many more. Also good for underplanting small trees such as Crape Myrtles or Japanese Maples.
 

Name:
Juniper 'Blue Rug'
Botanical:
Juniperus wiltonii
Height x Width: 3-4" H - Space 2-4' apart
Exposure: Ful Sun or light shade
Bloom Color:  
Bloom Time:  
Water: Low once established
Features: Silver-Blue foliage on this ground-hugging Juniper excellent as a groundcover in foundation plantings, the borders of islands, or to underplant small trees such as the Laceleaf Japanese Maples.
Companions: Hollies, Indian Hawthornes, Spireas, Abelias, Barberries, Loropetalums, Ornamental Grasses, Laceleaf Japanese Maples, Daylilies, and many many more.
 

Name:
Juniper 'Green Mound'
Botanical:
Juniperus procumbens 'Nana'
Height x Width: 5-6" H - Space 3-5' apart
Exposure: Full Sun or light shade
Bloom Color:  
Bloom Time:  
Water: Low once established
Features: Outstanding blue foliage that mounds at the center and is trailing. Excellent as a groundcover on embankments, borders of islands or to underplant small trees such as Japanese Maples.
Companions: Hollies, Indian Hawthornes, Abelias, Barberries, Loropetalums, Ornamental Grasses, Japanese Maples, Daylilies, and many more.
 

Name:
Juniper 'Parsoni'
Botanical:
Juniperus parsonii
Height x Width: 18-24" H - Space 4-6' apart
Exposure: Full Sun or light shade
Bloom Color:  
Bloom Time:  
Water: Low once established
Features: Handsome dark blue-green foliage with a branching habit. Exceelent on embankments, the edges of islands, to underplant small trees such as Crape Myrtles, or upright Japanese Maples. Very hardy and pest resistant.
Companions: Rosy Glow Barberry, Hollies, Indian Hawthorne, Yucca, Upright Japanese Maples, Ornamental Grasses, Cleyera, Loropetalums, and many more.
 

Name:
Liriope 'Big Blue' - (Monkey Grass)
Botanical:
Liriope muscari
Height x Width: 12" H - Space 15-18" apart
Exposure: Shade or afternoon shade
Bloom Color: Violet-Purple
Bloom Time: Summer
Water: Very drought tolerant
Features: The violet-purple flower spikes rise above the dark blue-green grassy foliage in Summer. 'Big Blue' Liriope forms neat clumps and does not become invasive like other older varieties of Liriope. Easy to grow and useful as a groundcover or border in situations with afternoon sahde or shade. You can't kill this one!
Companions: Useful to underplant small trees such as Japanese Maples, as a groundcover under large shade trees, or a border in islands or foundation plantings. Space 15-18" apart.
 

Name:
Liriope 'Silver Dragon'
Botanical:
Liriope spicata
Height x Width: 12" H - Space 18-24" apart
Exposure: Full Sun or Partial Shade
Bloom Color: Violet-Purple
Bloom Time: Summer
Water: Low
Features: Outstanding white blades with a dark green stripe make for an excellent contrast in the landscape. This one is a spreader and is best used as a groundcover in contained areas. Easy to grow! You can't kill this one!
Companions: Useful as a groundcover in foundation plantings, under trees, or in sitting areas. Space 15-18" apart.
 

Name:
Liriope 'Variegated' (Monkey Grass)
Botanical:
Liriope
Height x Width: 12" H - Space 15-18" apart
Exposure: Full Sun or Part Shade
Bloom Color: Violet-Blue
Bloom Time: Summer
Water: Low
Features: Outstanding variegated leaves make for an excellent contrast in the landscape. Forms neat clumps and is not invasive. Easy to grow. You can't kill this one!
Companions: Useful to underplant small trees such as Japanese Maples and Crape Myrtles, as a groundcover under large shade trees, or a border in islands or foundation plantings. Space 15-18" apart.
 

Name:
Dwarf Mondo Grass
Botanical:
Ophiogon
Height x Width: 2-3" H - Space 12-15" apart
Exposure: Shade or Afternoon Shade
Bloom Color: Pale violet
Bloom Time: Summer
Water: Low
Features: Grass-like, dark blue-green slender foliage spreads by underground stolons. Forms a dense carpet wherever planted.
Companions: Excellent for underplanting small trees such as Japanese Maples or use as a groundcover around sitting areas or under the canopy of large trees. Also useful between stepping stones or pavers.
 
Name:
Sedums
Botanical:
Sedum
Height x Width: 2-4" H - Space18" apart
Exposure: Full Sun or Partial Shade
Bloom Color: Assorted
Bloom Time: Summer
Water: Very drought tolerant
Features: Sedums are in the succulent family which means they are very drought tolerant. Many interesting and unique varieties are available.
Companions: Other Sedums, Abelias, Barberries, Upright Junipers, Hollies, Nandinas, Yucca, Ornamental Grasses, Japanese Maples, Crape Myrtles, Loropetalums, Daylilies, and many more shrubs, trees, and perennials.
 

Name:
Vinca Minor - Periwinkle
Botanical:
Vinca minor
Height x Width: 2-4" H - Space 18-24" apart
Exposure: Shade
Bloom Color: Lilac
Bloom Time: Spring
Water: Low once established
Features: Ground-hugging, trailing evergreen vine becomes covered in Spring with lilac periwinkle flowers. Useful as a groundcover in the shade perennial garden as Hostas will pop right thru it in Spring, shady foundation plantings, and under the canopy of trees.
Companions: All shade loving perennials plants, shrub, and trees.

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