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)
Gaultheria mucronata 'Sneeuwwitje'
Wintergreen, Box berry, Canada tea, Prickly heath
Gaultheria procumbens
Creeping wintergreen, Checkerberry, Teaberry, Mountain tea, Partridge berry
Geum
Avens
Hebe 'Frozen Flame'
Hebe 'Little Red Rum'
Hebe pinguifolia 'Pagei'
Fat leaf hebe
Hebe pinguifolia 'Sutherlandii'
Fat leaf hebe
Hedera algeriensis 'Gloire de Marengo'
Algerian ivy, African ivy, Wildenow, Canary Island ivy
Hedera colchica 'Sulphur Heart'
Persian ivy, Colchis ivy, Bullock's heart ivy
Hedera helix
Common ivy, English ivy
Hedera hibernica
Atlantic ivy, Irish ivy
Helianthemum
Rock rose
Helianthemum 'Ben More'
Common sun rose, Rock rose
Helleborus
Hellebore
Helleborus argutifolius
Corsican hellebore
Helleborus foetidus
Stinking hellebore, Setterwort, Stinkwort, Bear's foot stinking hellebore
Helleborus x sahinii 'Winterbells'
Hellebore
Helleborus x sternii
Stern's hybrid hellebore
Hemerocallis
Day lily
Heuchera 'Boysenberry'
Coral bells
Heuchera 'Green Spice'
Coral bells, Alumroot
Heuchera 'Malachite'
Coral bells, Alumroot
Heuchera 'Paris'
Coral bells, Alumroot
Heuchera americana
Rock geranium, Satin leaf, American alum root
Hydrangea
Hypericum
St John's wort, St Peter's wort
Hypericum x moserianum 'Tricolor'
Moser's St John's wort, Gold flower
Iberis
Candytuft
Iberis 'Masterpiece'
Candytuft
Iberis sempervirens
Evergreen candytuft, Edging candytuft, Perennial candytuft
Ilex
Holly
Kniphofia
Red hot poker
Kniphofia 'Lemon Popsicle'
Red hot poker
Kniphofia 'Mango Popsicle'
Red hot poker
Kniphofia 'Papaya Popsicle'
Red hot poker
Kniphofia 'Redhot Popsicle'
Red hot poker
Koeleria glauca
Blue hair grass, Glaucous hair grass
Lamium maculatum Golden Anniversary = 'Dellam'
Spotted dead nettle, Spotted henbit
Lamium maculatum Pink Chablis = 'Checkin'
Spotted dead nettle, Spotted henbit
Leucothoe
Fetterbush
Leucothoe fontanesiana 'Makijaz'
Switch ivy, Dog hobble, Drooping laurel
Leucothoe keiskei 'Royal Ruby'
Keisks leucothoe
Leucothoe Lovita = 'Zebonard'
Switch ivy, Dog hobble, Drooping laurel
Leymus arenarius
Sea lyme grass, Wild rye, European dune grass
Liriope muscari
Big blue lily turf, Southern lilyturf, Blue lilyturf
Lobelia
Lonicera
Honeysuckle
Lupinus
Lupin