Ground cover - evergreen plants
These are especially useful to quietly cover a large area, possibly under trees. They may have no flowers (ivies) or their variegated foliage may brighten the area. Periwinkles, for example^, have flowers in spring, and a great capacity to make uniform ground cover. For smaller, more open areas, ornamental plants can be used to make an attractive repetition of shape. Hebes such as Hebe rakaiensis, give repeating fresh green rounded shapes. Areas that are difficult to maintain, such as steep banks, can be covered with plants such as Hypericum calycinum. Many ground coverers need some maintenance, and others, such as ivy - may climb - and will need containment. Think about planting effects that appeal to you, and the time available before you make your choice.
Plants (1042)
Melissa officinalis 'All Gold'
Lemon balm, Balm, Bee balm, Honey plant, Sweet Mary
Melissa officinalis 'Aurea'
Golden balm, Lemon balm, Balm, Bee balm, Honey plant, Sweet Mary
Microbiota decussata 'Carnival'
Groundcover Siberian cypress
Microbiota decussata 'Clouded Carpet'
Groundcover Siberian cypress
Milium effusum
Wood millet, Woodrush
Milium effusum 'Yaffle'
Bowles golden grass
Mitraria coccinea
Mitre flower
Molinia
Moor grass
Molinia caerulea subsp. arundinacea 'Heidebraut'
Purple moor grass, Mountain's friend, Tall purple moor grass
Muhlenbergia
Muhly
Muhlenbergia japonica 'Cream Delight'
Muhy, Japanese muhy
Myosotis
Forget-me-not
Myosotis alpestris
Alpine forget-me-not
Myosotis sylvatica 'Victoria White'
Bedding forget-me-not
Nandina
Chinese sacred bamboo
Omphalodes
Navelwort, Navelseed
Ophiopogon
Snake's beard, Mondo grass, Lilyturf, Dwarf lilyturf
Ophiopogon japonicus 'Minor'
Dwarf Japanese mondo grass, Dwarf lily turf
Ophiopogon planiscapus Nakai Black Beard = 'Yapard'
Japanese mondo grass
Ourisia coccinea
Elegant ouris foxglove
Oxalis spiralis vulcanicola 'Crazy Plum'
Spiral, Volcanic sorrel
Oxalis spiralis vulcanicola 'Sunset Velvet'
Spiral, Volcanic sorrel
Pachysandra terminalis 'Variegata'
Japanese pachysandra, Japanese spurge
Panicum
Panic grass, Crab grass, Millet
Panicum virgatum
Switch grass, Wild red top thatch grass, Wobsqua grass, Black bent grass
Parahebe 'Pink Delight'
Irregular hebe
Pelargonium
Tender geranium
Pelargonium Americana White Splash 09 = 'Amri Wits09'
Tender geranium
Penstemon 'Elgar Crown of India'
Beard tongue
Penstemon 'Lilac Frost'
Beard tongue
Penstemon hartwegii 'Picotee Red'
Hartweg's beard tongue
Penstemon Phoenix Rose = 'Penharros'
Beard tongue
Phalaris arundinacea var. picta
Gardener's garters, Reed canary grass, Ribbon grass
Phalaris arundinacea var. picta 'Arctic Sun'
Gardener's garters, Reed canary grass, Ribbon grass
Phleum phleoides
Cat tail
Phlox 'Bedazzled Lavender'
Hybrid spring phlox, Creeping phlox
Phlox subulata 'Bavaria'
Moss phlox, Mountain phlox, Moss pink
Pieris japonica 'Sarabande'
Lily of the Valley Bush, Japanese pieris
Pinus
Whitebark pine, Pine
Pinus mugo
Mountain pine, Swiss mountain pine
Pinus mugo 'Corleys Mat'
Mountain pine, Swiss mountain pine
Pinus mugo 'Golden Glow'
Mountain pine, Swiss mountain pine
Pinus mugo 'Laarheide'
Mountain pine, Swiss mountain pine
Pinus strobus 'Sea Urchin'
Weymouth pine, Eastern white pine, Deal pine
Pleioblastus
Bamboo
Pleioblastus pygmaeus
Pygmy bamboo, Dwarf fern-leafed bamboo, Keoroshima-chiku
Pleioblastus variegatus
Dwarf white striped bamboo, Chigo-zasa
Pleioblastus variegatus 'Tsuboi'
Dwarf white striped bamboo, Chigo-zasa