Collection: Groundcover Potential

I would like to get you more excited about the concept of ground cover. It is not the ho-hum, quotidian afterthought we are all led to believe through how the plants in this category are often sidelined in garden centers. This collection contains plants that are (mostly) low-growing (about 12" or less in height at maturity, with a few exceptions) and either spread by runner or rhizome, or when massed will serve well as the lowest ground layer in a layered garden. This type of massing can be of a single species to create a uniform texture and color or can be a selection of low-growing species which knit together to create a tapestry garden of various textures and bloom times. This is where the creativity of the gardener comes in. These plants are not only beautiful, adding more texture, color, and bloom to your garden, they are also living mulch. This living mulch layer helps block the sunlight from the ground, which helps prevent dormant seeds from germinating. Ground covers also help regulate soil temperature, providing hospitable habitat for soil organisms and various invertebrates and small mammals that call this layer "home". Contrary to popular belief, they also help conserve moisture in the soil. I am often visited by gardeners who insist that no matter how beautiful my plants, they simply have no more room in their garden. Many of these gardeners also mulch around their plants every year. I offer all of you out there the challenge to establish living mulch around your larger plants instead of these periodically applied mulches. This can be as formal or "wild" feeling as you choose. I also think low-growing, mixed plantings are an excellent transition zone from mowed areas into borders containing larger plants and are also potential gardens within themselves where one would like to preserve sightline and an open feeling, but still make a garden. Plants (for the most part) prefer growing in association with each other. Your ground covers have evolved to grow cheek-by-jowl with larger perennials, trees, and shrubs via different strategies. There are a few on this list you may look askance at. My reasoning is made apparent in the plant descriptions. There are taller, and aggressive, native, ground-covering plants that can help enormously in holding ground against invasives or solve other specific challenges. A ground covering plant is any plant that covers the ground. Just sayin'.