The ideal groundcover is one that will form a dense mat of roots and foliage, reduce soil erosion, exclude weeds, and have an attractive year-round appearance. Grasses are an option for cover but mowing or turf maintenance must be taken into consideration. Make sure to plant groundcover further apart rather than close together to prevent crowding and restricting spread.
Considerations
- Size of area to be covered and to what height you want your plants
- Exposure of sun to shade Pedestrian traffic Steepness of slope – use dense, fibrous roots
- Drainage and aeration – check your soil constant
- Maintenance – most will fill in within 2-3 years, but at a higher altitude it may to take 3 or more
- Nurse crops – may be needed to stabilize the soil. Select carefully, not one that may become too aggressive with the permanent groundcover. Plant during early spring or late fall and avoid hot or dry periods. After seeding, rake in and cover with topsoil, peat, straw, etc.
Perennials (under 50 sq. ft. coverage)
- Achillea tom. - Wolly Yarrow
- Aethionema pul. - Pink Candytuft
- Ajuga rep. - Bugleweed
- Alyssum mon. - Mtn Gold
- Antennaria ssp. - Pussytoes
- Arabis alp. - Alpine Rockcress
- Arenaria mar. - Common Thrift
- Arenaria ver. - Sandwort
- Cerastium tom. - Snow-in-Summer
- Dianthus del. - Pinks
- Dianthus plu. - Cottage Pink
- Galium - Sweet Woodruff
- Hedera - Ivy
- Lamium - Silver Nettle
- Papaver nud. - Iceland Poppy
- Penstemon cae. - Creeping
- Saponaria ocy. - Soapwort
- Teucrium can. - Germander
- Veronica - Creeping Speedwell
Broadleaved Evergerens (50-100 sq ft)
- Arctostaphylos uva. - Kinnikkinnick
- Euonymus for. - Wintercreeper Euo.
- Euphorbia ssp - Spurge
- Mahonia rep. - Creeping Holly-Grape
- Vinca min. - Periwinkle
Narrowleaved Evergreens
- Juniperous com. - Rocky Mountain Juniper
- Juniperous hor. - Creeping Junipers (Andorra, Bar Harbor, Plumosa, Wilton)
- Juniperous sab. - Savin Junipers (Broadmor, Buffalo)
Deciduous Shrubs and Herbs (over 100 sq ft)
- Cornus sto. - Dogwood
- Coronilla var. - Crown Vetch
- Duchesnea ind. - Mock Strawberry
- Potentilla fru. - Shrubby Cinquefoil
- Rhus cis. - Mtn Sumac
- Rhus tri. - Three-leaved Sumac
- Tanacetum vul. - Feverfew
Deciduous Vines (large areas, steep slopes)
- Fallopia jap. - Silver Lace Vine
- Humulus amer. - Hop Vine
- Lycium hal. - Matrimony Vine
- Parthenocissus qui. - Virginia Creeper