Photos of Groundcover

Photos of popular groundcovers used to cover slopes, beds, rock gardens and areas where mowing a lawn is not desirable or safe, or perhaps a new look is called for in the landscape. Common groundcover photos on this page include Ajuga, Euonymus, Ivy, Liriope, Myrtle, Pachysandra and Sedum.

Ajuga reptans 'Black Scallop' - BugleweedGrows in sun or shade to 10-inches tall, spreading, hardiness zone 4 to 11, deer resistant, blue flowers in late spring, glossy leaves with dark color makes it an excellent contrast with flowers.

Ajuga reptans ‘Black Scallop’

Bugleweed
Grows in sun or shade to 10-inches tall, spreading, hardiness zone 4 to 11, deer resistant, blue flowers in late spring, glossy leaves with dark color makes it an excellent contrast with flowers.


Ajuga reptans 'Burgundy Glow' - Bugle WeedSpreading low evergreen with green, pink and cream-colored dappled leaves, turning to more of a burgundy color during winter. Blue flowers appear on 5” stems. Deer resistant.

Ajuga reptans ‘Burgundy Glow’

Bugle Weed
Spreading low evergreen with green, pink and cream-colored dappled leaves, turning to more of a burgundy color during winter. Blue flowers appear on 5” stems. Deer resistant.


Ajuga reptans 'Bronze Beauty' - BugleweedSpreading low evergreen with bronze-tinted foliage. Prefers shade to partial sun. Produces short spikes of blue flowers. Deer resistant.

Ajuga reptans ‘Bronze Beauty’

Bugleweed
Spreading low evergreen with bronze-tinted foliage. Prefers shade to partial sun. Produces short spikes of blue flowers. Deer resistant.


Convallaria majalis - Lily of the ValleyA favorite with the ladies that does well in moist shade. Spreads.

Convallaria majalis

Lily of the Valley
A favorite with the ladies that does well in moist shade. Spreads.


Coronilla varia - CrownvetchCrownvetch isn't a groundcover you would normally plant in most home landscapes due to its weedy nature. However, it is used in many new home developments to prevent erosion on steep slopes. Most people will see crownvetch on slopes along interstate highways or in commercial developments in the northern US. Crownvetch is a legume that fixes nitrogen from the air.

Coronilla varia

Crownvetch
Crownvetch isn’t a groundcover you would normally plant in most home landscapes due to its weedy nature. However, it is used in many new home developments to prevent erosion on steep slopes. Most people will see crownvetch on slopes along interstate highways or in commercial developments in the northern US. Crownvetch is a legume that fixes nitrogen from the air.


Cotoneaster - CotoneasterMost Cotoneasters can be sheared into a nice uniform groundcover. Sun to partial shade. Royal Beauty ('dammeri') is considered an excellent ground cover with a height of 18-inches.

Cotoneaster

Cotoneaster
Most Cotoneasters can be sheared into a nice uniform groundcover. Sun to partial shade. Royal Beauty (‘dammeri’) is considered an excellent ground cover with a height of 18-inches.


Euonymus fortunei 'Colorata' - Purpleleaf WintercreeperHardy evergreen groundcover with reddish-purple fall color. Sun or shade. Monitor for scale insects.

Euonymus fortunei ‘Colorata’

Purpleleaf Wintercreeper
Hardy evergreen groundcover with reddish-purple fall color. Sun or shade. Monitor for scale insects.


Hedera canariensis 'Variegata' - Algerian IvyVariegated ground cover. Prefers moist soil and grows in sun or shade.

Hedera canariensis ‘Variegata’

Algerian Ivy
Variegated ground cover. Prefers moist soil and grows in sun or shade.


Hedera helix - English IvyShade loving evergreen ground cover. Requires periodic cutting back around ornamentals and along walks/edges.

Hedera helix

English Ivy
Shade loving evergreen ground cover. Requires periodic cutting back around ornamentals and along walks/edges.


Hedera helix 'Baltica' - Baltic IvyHardy variety of ivy that also tolerates drought. Shade to partial shade, plant on 12

Hedera helix ‘Baltica’

Baltic Ivy
Hardy variety of ivy that also tolerates drought. Shade to partial shade, plant on 12″ to 18″ centers. Prominent white veins in the leaves.


Hedera helix 'Gold Child' - Variegated English IvyShade to partial sun. Hardy in mild climates. Gray-green, triple-lobed leaves have yellow margins.

Hedera helix ‘Gold Child’

Variegated English Ivy
Shade to partial sun. Hardy in mild climates. Gray-green, triple-lobed leaves have yellow margins.


Hedera helix 'Thorndale' - Thorndale Baltic IvyVery hardy type of Baltic Ivy. Grows in sun or shade.

Hedera helix ‘Thorndale’

Thorndale Baltic Ivy
Very hardy type of Baltic Ivy. Grows in sun or shade.


Hosta - Plantain Lily or FunkiaUsually considered as a Perennial, but close enough spacing allows it to qualify as a ground cover in our book. Grown for the attractive foliage. Prefer some afternoon shade. Don't plant in deer browse areas.

Hosta

Plantain Lily or Funkia
Usually considered as a Perennial, but close enough spacing allows it to qualify as a ground cover in our book. Grown for the attractive foliage. Prefer some afternoon shade. Don’t plant in deer browse areas.


Houttuynia cordata 'Chameleon' - Chameleon PlantHeart-shaped multi-colored leaves. Extremely hardy and vigorous ground cover.

Houttuynia cordata ‘Chameleon’

Chameleon Plant
Heart-shaped multi-colored leaves. Extremely hardy and vigorous ground cover.


Lamium 'White Nancy' - White Nancy LamiumUsed as a spreading ground cover or in a hanging basket. Silver-green foliage with purple blooms in early summer.

Lamium ‘White Nancy’

White Nancy Lamium
Used as a spreading ground cover or in a hanging basket. Silver-green foliage with purple blooms in early summer.


Liriope muscari 'Big Blue' - Big Blue Lily TurfGrowth to 1 ft across x 2 ft tall with bluish-green foliage. Lilac colored flower in summer. Prefers sun. Green-white variegated Liriope is bright colored, adding additional interest to a planting.

Liriope muscari ‘Big Blue’

Big Blue Lily Turf
Growth to 1 ft across x 2 ft tall with bluish-green foliage. Lilac colored flower in summer. Prefers sun.
Green-white variegated Liriope is bright colored, adding additional interest to a planting.



Pachysandra terminalis - PachysandraSpreading evergreen groundcover. Our favorite for shade to partial sun in our northeastern landscapes. Deer leave it alone.

Pachysandra terminalis

Pachysandra
Spreading evergreen groundcover. Our favorite for shade to partial sun in our northeastern landscapes.
Deer leave it alone.


Sedum cauticola Blueberry Pie™ - Blueberry Pie™ Groundcover SedumFrosty-blue foliage with magenta flowers in late summer. Drought tolerant with no maintenance other than removing dead foliage. Grow in full sun, hardiness zones 3 to 9.

Sedum cauticola Blueberry Pie™

Blueberry Pie™ Groundcover Sedum
Frosty-blue foliage with magenta flowers in late summer. Drought tolerant with no maintenance other than removing dead foliage. Grow in full sun, hardiness zones 3 to 9.


Sedum reflexum 'Angelina' - Stone Orpine or OrpinInteresting shape and texture for rock gardens.

Sedum reflexum ‘Angelina’

Stone Orpine or Orpin
Interesting shape and texture for rock gardens.


Sedum reflexum 'Sea Mist' - Seas Mist StonecropBlue-green evergreen foliage, grows to 4-inches tall, hardiness zones 3 to 9, yellow blossoms in early summer, drought tolerant.

Sedum reflexum ‘Sea Mist’

Seas Mist Stonecrop
Blue-green evergreen foliage, grows to 4-inches tall, hardiness zones 3 to 9, yellow blossoms in early summer, drought tolerant.


Sedum sieboldii 'October Daphne' - October Daphne StonecropBluish-green rock garden style groundcover, scalloped foliage with a pink edge. Foliage turns pink in fall. Attracts butterflies. Once established it is drought tolerant. Hardiness zone 3 to 9.

Sedum sieboldii ‘October Daphne’

October Daphne Stonecrop
Bluish-green rock garden style groundcover, scalloped foliage with a pink edge. Foliage turns pink in fall. Attracts butterflies. Once established it is drought tolerant. Hardiness zone 3 to 9.


Sedum spathulifolium 'Cape Blanco' - Stonecrop or OrpinNice color contrast for rock gardens.

Sedum spathulifolium ‘Cape Blanco’

Stonecrop or Orpin
Nice color contrast for rock gardens.


Sedum spectabile 'Variegatum' - StonecropGood for rock gardens and hardy in sunny, dry locations.

Sedum spectabile ‘Variegatum’

Stonecrop
Good for rock gardens and hardy in sunny, dry locations.


Sedum spurium - 'Dragon's Blood'Good for rock gardens and hardy in sunny, dry locations.

Sedum spurium

‘Dragon’s Blood’
Good for rock gardens and hardy in sunny, dry locations.


Stachys byzantina - Lamb's EarSilver-gray, wooly foliage. Often used in rock gardens and perennial beds.

Stachys byzantina

Lamb’s Ear
Silver-gray, wooly foliage. Often used in rock gardens and perennial beds.


Vinca minor - MyrtleShiny evergreen foliage with attractive lilac-blue colored flowers in spring. Best in partial sun to shade. Grass and weeds can be a problem in the weaker plantings we've seen.

Vinca minor

Myrtle
Shiny evergreen foliage with attractive lilac-blue colored flowers in spring. Best in partial sun to shade. Grass and weeds can be a problem in the weaker plantings we’ve seen.

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