Ground Covers
Gurney’s Ground Covers & Vines – $20 Off $40
Bugleweed
A member of the mint family, this perennial herb is commonly grown as a ground cover because of its low growing, spreading habit. Varieties of bugleweed produce a carpet of blue, pink, or white blooms in spring and early summer.
Description: Dense mats of green, bronze, or variegated oval shaped leaves form close to the ground. The plants spread rapidly by stolons. An abundance of blue flower are produced on 3 to 6 inch stalks for several weeks in the spring. Grow bugleweed in mixed boarders or on an embankment as an effective, low maintenance erosion control ground cover.
How to grow: Bugleweed grows well in any ordinary, moist, garden soil with adequate drainage. It is easy to grow in sun or shade, but prefers shade where summers are hot. Bronze leaf forms hold their leaf color best in sunny locations.
Propagation: Start new plants in spring or fall by division or by separating new plants from stolons; plant them directly into the garden on 12 to 18 inch centers to form a dense carpet.
Cranberry Cotoneaster
Due to their shiny foliage, red berries, and diversity in size and form, many species of cotoneaster grow in the North American landscapes. Cotoneasters are woody shrubs, with stiff arching branches. Pink or white flowers cover the plant in mid to late spring. Many species develop showy red or orange berries that persist deep into winter.
Description: Cranberry cotoneaster is a semi evergreen or deciduous, low branching, wide spreading shrub, growing to three feet in height. The leaves are small, oval, and a glossy dark green. Pale pink flowers in spring produce 3/8 inch round, scarlet fruit that holds through winter. Use cotoneaster where the long sweeping branches are allowed to sweep over embankments and retaining walls. It is a plant for large areas.
How to grow: Cranberry cotoneaster prefers full sun or partial shade in well drained, neutral or slightly alkaline soil. Established plants are tolerant of drought conditions. Annual pruning is necessary to keeps the plants in a confined area.
Propagation: Take softwood cutting in late spring or layer stems in fall. Grow rooted cutting in containers or beds until they are large enough to plant in your landscape. Plant on three to five foot centers for mass plantings.
Dichondra
Grown as a warm season lawn substitute. dichondra has round to kidney shaped leaves and spreads by runners.
Description: The light green, round leaves of dichondra are ½ to 1 inch across on stems less than 1 ½ inches long. The pale green flowers are small and inconspicuous. It spreads by underground runners, forming a dense mat. Use dichondra as a lawn grass substitute in areas of low foot traffic where winter temps do not drop below 25 degrees.
How to grow: Dichondra can be gown in full sun to full shade, in rich, fine textured soils of slight acidity. Dichondra demands high moisture and it requires regular watering. Fertilize in early spring with one pound of nitrogen per 1000 square feet; repeat in late spring, summer and fall. Dichondra requires little mowing to a height of ½ to 1 inch when the lawn becomes uneven in appearance.
Propagation: Start new lawns by seed or from plugs. Seed germinate easily; sow seed in spring or fall to allow seedling to establish during cool weather. Plant plugs on 6 to 12 inch centers. Water seed and plugs frequently to encourage rapid establishment.
English Ivy
English ivy has long been used to cover walls, climb tree trunks and blanket embankments. A woody vine that creeps along the ground or over supports while attaching itself with little roots. English ivy may be trained to grow upright or as a ground cover.
Description: English ivy is an evergreen, woody vine that develops long trailing stems. The leaves of juvenile English ivy are five lobed, dark green, and glossy; Mature plants develop oval or triangular leaves. Adult plants produce inconspicuous green flowers that mature into clusters of black fruit. Ivies grown as ground covers will grow 6 to 12 inches high and seldom produce adult foliage or flowers. Use English ivy to cover large areas in sun or shade. Regular pruning allows ivy to be used in small spaces.
How to grow: Grow English ivy in rich, well-drained soil in sun or shade. Once established, English ivy will tolerate drought. To prevent leaf burn, grow yellow and white variegated forms in partial shade. Fertilize annually with a complete fertilizer in the spring. Prune trailing stems any time of the year to confine the planting to small spaces. English ivy can easily become invasive, so it should be trimmed and regulated in order to keep it under control.
Propagation: Start new plants by stem cuttings from immature plants in late spring. Plant rooted cutting in 12 to 18 inch centers for a fast growing dense ground cover.
Goutweed
Goutweed, or Bishop’s-weed is a fast growing European native that has become naturalized in North America. The variegated form, which is not as fast spreading, is a popular ground cover for shady areas. The plant is grown for its easy care and white edged leaves.
Description: Goutweed is a deciduous, perennial, foliage ground cover used for edging and massing. The variegated form produces divided green leaves that are edged in white. Small white flowers bloom in early summer atop 14 inch stems, above the 6 inch leaf stalks. Brightening dark, shady beds, this aggressive heard spreads from underground rootstocks. It is a good choice for dry, shady areas, where it is less invasive.
How to grow: Grow goutweed in ordinary soil: goutweed spreads rapidly if the soil is rich and moist. It does best in shade to partial shade but is tolerant of sun. Goutweed can become invasive if it not controlled; it can be mowed to slow its growth.
Propagation: Start new plants by digging the plants in spring or fall and dividing their slender rootstocks. Replant directly in the garden on 12 inch center for a solid ground cover mass.
Trailing Ice Plant
Ice plant is a trailing perennial with succulent, curved, three sided gray green foliage. Flowers bloom during late winter and spring.
Description: Trailing ice plant sprawls across the ground, rooting into the soil as it spreads. It reaches 8 inches in height, and the 3-inch, gray green leaves are thick and succulent. In winter and early spring the daisy like flowers reach 2 to 3 inches in diameter in shades of pick and purple. Use ice plant in a rock garden or in dry beds and slopes.
How to grow: Ice plant prefers well-drained dry soil in full sun. Once established, it tolerates drought conditions; do not overwater.
Propagation: New plants start easily by cuttings any time of the year, or by seeds in the spring. Plant 18 inch centers to quickly produce a covering plant.
Japanese Spurge
Pachysandra has become a popular ground cover in the North. Originating in Japan, pachysandra forms dense covering in shaded areas with whorls of evergreen foliage and small clusters of white flowers. Use Japanese spurge under trees and in shade of building where there is ample moisture.
Description: Pachysandra is an evergreen ground cover that spreads by underground stems. It forms a dense mat up to 12 inches high. At the terminal stems grow, stems mat down and root in the soil. The 4-inch leaves are dark green and glossy and formed in whorled clusters. Small, insignificant white flowers bloom in the spring.
How to Grow: Japanese spurge prefers partial to full shade. Leaves will turn yellow and burn in sunny sites. Grow pachysandra in rich, fertile, well drained soil. In cool climates, it tolerates drought. Fertilize with a complete fertilizer in early spring.
Propagation: Stem cuttings root easily in spring or fall, or divide plants in spring or early summer. Plant on 12-inch centers
Creeping Juniper
The Juniperus genus includes many species of evergreen trees and shrubs. Some are low growing and are used as ground covers. Leaves are scale like and may be dark green, yellow green or blue green..
Description: Creeping juniper is a prostrate shrub with wide spreading branches and grows to 24 inches high. The leaves a scale like and bluish green, turning purple in winter. The flowers are inconspicuous and female plants produce small, round, blue green berries. Use junipers in full sun where low maintenance is desired. Junipers withstand hot, dry situations in the landscape.
How to grow: Plant junipers in full sun in well-drained, dry soil. They are tolerant of heavy and slightly alkaline soil. Fertilize in early spring with a well-balanced, complete fertilizer.
Propagation: Start plants from stem cutting in late spring. Grow rooted plants in containers or propagation beds until they are big enough to place in your landscape. Plant on 4 to 5 foot centers for a massed ground cover.
Moss Pink
The Phlox family includes many diverse species of garden plants. Some grow several feet in height, while other grow close to the ground. Spreading species grow several inches high and produce flowers in shades of red, pink, blue and white. Moss pink is an effective ground cover where low maintenance is desired.
Description: Phlox subulata is an evergreen ground cover that develops woody stems that creep along the ground and reach 6 inches in height. Its small, needlelike leaves are deep green to reddish green. The ¾ inch flowers cover the plant for several weeks in the spring. Use moss pink in full sun on dry banks. It is also attractive when allowed to spill over walls or blanket the ground.
How to grow: Grow moss pink in ordinary garden soil in full sun. Once established, it can withstand drought conditions. After the blooms have faded, shear plants to 4 inched to keep plants compact.
Propagation: Start new plants by division at any time of the year, or from stem cutting in early summer. Spreading stems that have not rooted in the soil can be cut from the plant and moved to a new location. Plant on 18 centers to create a dense mat.
Rock Cress
Rock cress is a perennial member of the mustard family. It is used as a long flowering ground cover. Varieties of rock cress grow in many parts of the world, producing white, pink, or purple flowers.
Description: Rock cress is an evergreen, flowering ground cover that spreads through creeping stolons. The oblong, green leaves are rounded at the base of the 12-inch plant. Heavy clusters of small, white, showy flowers bloom from late winter through spring.
How to grow: Rock cress grows best in well-drained soil; it prefers dry soils with low fertility. Grow rock cress in full sun or, for an extended bloom period, in partial shade. Rock cress does best in climates with low humidity and cool summers.
Propagation: Propagate by division or by runners in the spring or fall. Set new plants directly in the garden on 12 to 20 inch centers to establish a ground cover. Water new plants well and allow soil to dry once roots are established.
