Ground cover plants are often chosen for aesthetic considerations, such as to
introduce new colors or textures into a landscape. Or, they can be chosen for
practical purposes to cover ground where turf grass does not thrive or is not
practical.
For example, areas of a yard that are deeply shaded may be a good
spot for an alternative shade-tolerant ground cover plant, such as Goat's Beard or
Canada Anemone. Steep slopes that are difficult to mow may also be a good area to
plant a ground cover. In arid climates where the high-water demands of grass
are problematic, an alternative ground cover may replace grass entirely.
Ground cover plants can serve as a low maintenance, living weed barrier. They
can also provide some much-needed color to your landscape.
When covering large expanses of ground on the landscape, the initial cost will
be much greater than for sowing grass seed, but ground covers may save you
money in the long run, since they eliminate expenses such as extensive feeding,
watering, and lawnmower fuel and maintenance.
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Big Leaf Aster
Height: 1 - 2 feet
Bloom: August, Sept
Sun: Partial Shade
Zones: 3-8
Soil: Clay, Loam, Sand
Moisture: Dry, Medium
Color: White
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Description: Big Leaf Aster (Aster macrophyllus) is the perfect
plant for shady areas with less than perfect soil. Drought tolerant, it thrives in both dry sand and
heavy clay soils that possess a modicum of organic matter. Spreads by rhizomes to form a ground
cover. Great for stabilizing shaded hillsides and slopes. Big Leaf Aster hosts the larva/caterpillars of the
Pearl Crescent Butterfly (Phyciodes tharos).
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Canada Anemone
Height: 1 to 2 feet
Bloom: May, June, July
Sun: Full Sun, Partial Sun
Zones: 2-8
Soil: Loam, Clay, Sand
Moisture: Medium, Moist
Color: White
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Description: Canada Anemone, Anemone canadensis, has attractive foliage
and bright white flowers of Canada Anemone provide an excellent ground
cover for damp areas. Spreads rapidly by underground rhizomes to form
a solid groundcover. Install plants one foot on center to create a carpet of
color in one to two growing seasons.
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Canadian Wild Ginger
Height: 3-5 inches
Bloom: Apr, May, June
Sun: Partial Shade
Zones: 2-7
Soil: Loam
Moisture: Moist
Color: Green, Purple, Red, Brown
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Description: Wild Ginger (Asarum canadense) is a low, colony-forming perennial
bears a pair of large, velvety, heart-shaped leaves. Growing at ground level in the crotch
between 2 leafstalks is a single darkish red-brown to green-brown flower. The solitary
flower is at ground level, hidden below the leaves.
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Common Blue Violet
Height: 6-12 inches
Bloom: Spring
Sun: Full Sun, Partial Shade
Zones: 4-7
Soil: Loam
Moisture: Moist
Color: Pink,Purple,Blue
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Description: Common Blue Violet, Viola sororia, is a
low growing perennial with leaves and flowers that emerge directly from underground rhizomes.
This violet is 4-6 inches tall with an equal spread. Leaf blades are yellowish-green to dark green
and 2-3 inches long. Blades vary from oval or rounded to heart-shaped and have long petioles
and rounded teeth on the edges.
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Goat's Beard
Height: 3 - 6 feet
Bloom: May, June
Sun: Partial Shade
Zones: 3-8
Soil: Clay, Loam, Sand
Moisture: Medium, Moist, Wet
Color: White
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Description: Goat's Beard, Aruncus dioicus, has large feathery plumes of
flowers that rise from pinnately compound leaves. Goat’s Beard is an excellent
choice for a background plant in a border or woodland garden. Spreads
slowly by rhizomes to form attractive patches. Host plant to the Dusky Azure
Butterfly.
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Hay-Scented Fern
Height: 1 - 2 feet
Bloom: Summer
Sun: Full Sun, Partial Sun
Zones: 3-8
Soil: Clay, Loam, Sand
Moisture: Dry, Medium
Color: Green
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Description: Hay-scented Fern, Dennstaedtia punctilobula,
is commonly called that because fronds release a fragrance reminiscent of fresh mown hay when
brushed with a hand, crushed or bruised. It is a deciduous fern that is native to open woods and
wooded banks.
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Mistflower
Height: 1 - 3 feet
Bloom: July, Aug, Sept, Oct
Sun: Full Sun, Partial Sun
Zones: 5-10
Soil: Clay, Loam, Sand
Moisture: Medium, Moist
Color: Blue, Violet
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Description: Mistflower (Eupatorium coelestinum)
is an eastern U.S. native. Covered with blue-violet flowers from late summer until frost,
it is low growing, creeps rapidly by rhizomes and makes a fine groundcover for shade.
Also grows luxuriantly in full sun when provided with adequate moisture.
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Obedient Plant
Height: 1 - 2 feet
Bloom: August, September
Sun: Full Sun
Zones: 3-9
Soil: Clay, Loam, Sand
Moisture: Medium, Moist
Color: Pink
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Description: The Obediant Plant (Physostegia virginiana)
makes a great groundcover for damp soils. This showy member of the mint family thrives in
moist soil and creeps rapidly by rhizomes to keep weeds at bay. An excellent groundcover for
wet areas that is difficult to mow, plant it with Great Blue Lobelia for a great late summer
color combination.
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Purple Poppy Mallow
Height: 1 foot
Bloom: Apr through Sept
Sun: Full Sun
Zones: 3-8
Soil: Clay, Loam, Sand
Moisture: Dry, Medium
Color: Pink, Purple
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Description: Purple Poppy Mallow (Callirhoe involucrata), or Winecup,
has masses of chalice shaped magenta flowers on trailing, deeply lobed foliage. Excellent
as a rock garden plant or ground cover, each plant can spread up to three feet in width.
Callirhoe involucrata fits well into formal gardens as well as naturalized areas. It looks
great trailing over a wall.
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Rose Coreopsis
Height: 1 to 3 feet
Bloom: July, Aug, Sept
Sun: Full Sun
Zones: 3-8
Soil: Loam, Sand
Moisture: Medium, Moist, Wet
Color: Pink
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Description: Rose Coreopsis (Coreopsis rosea) is a showy, rare to
endangered native of eastern states. Readily propagated, fine, dense green foliage
gives way to numerous small pink flowers with yellow centers in mid-summer. A
profuse and lengthy bloomer, Coreopsis rosea can be cut back in late summer to
promote new early Autumn flowers.
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Vanilla Sweet Grass
Height: 1 to 2 feet
Bloom: Jul, Aug
Sun: Full Sun
Zones: 3-9
Soil: Clay, Loam, Sand
Moisture: Medium, Moist
Color: Green, Yellow, Straw
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Description: Vanilla Sweet Grass, Hierocloë odorata, is considered sacred
and used in Native American ceremonies; braided and burned as a smudge to purify
body and soul. The glossy leaves have a pleasant vanilla fragrance. Requires a moist
rich soil in full sun. Creeps slowly by rhizomes to form a patch.
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Wild Geranium
Height: 1.5 to 2 feet
Bloom: Apr, May
Sun: Full Sun, Partial Sun
Zones: 5-8
Soil: Loam
Moisture: Medium
Color: Pink, Lavender
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Description: Wild Geranium, Geranium maculatum, is a clump-forming, native, woodland
perennial which typically occurs in woods, thickets and shaded roadside areas
throughout the State. Forms a mound of foliage that grows to 24" tall and 18" wide.
Features 1 1/4" diameter, pink to lilac, saucer-shaped, upward facing, 5-petaled flowers
in spring for a period of 6-7 weeks.
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Wild Stonecrop
Height: 6-9 inches
Bloom: Spring
Sun: Full Sun, Partial Sun
Zones: 4-7
Soil: Loam
Moisture: Medium
Color: White
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Description: Wild Stonecrop, Sedum ternatum, also
called Three-Leaved Stonecrop or Whorled Stonecrop, is a small, spreading, native perennial
which typically occurs in damp locations along stream banks, bluff bases and stony ledges.
Grows 3-6 inches high and spreads by creeping stems which root at the nodes. Stems break
away and die in winter, leaving newly rooted plants separated from the mother plant.
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Wild Strawberry
Height: .25 - .5 inches
Bloom: April, May, June
Sun: Full Sun, Partial Sun
Zones: 3-8
Soil: Loam, Sand
Moisture: Dry
Color: White
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Description: Wild Strawberry, Fragaria virginiana, is the tastiest of wild strawberries!
Small stalked white flowers bloom among trifoliate leaves in mid to late spring. The
berries which appear in spring through early summer are considered to be the best
tasting of wild strawberries. Fragaria virginiana is a ground-hugging plant that spreads
by runners, forming patches in dry fields and woodland openings.
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