Ground cover

This term is generally used to refer to any plants which quickly cover the surface of the soil, suppressing weeds and helping to retain moisture in the soil. They are frequently also chosen for their ornamental properties.

Ground cover plants are often low growing, although taller plants can equally provide ground cover. They can be evergreen or deciduous (since their weed suppressing and moisture retentive benefits are needed less over winter months).

These are a few examples of ground cover plants:

• Ajuga reptans ‘Atropurpurea’.
• Alchemilla mollis (Lady’s Mantle).
• Cerastium tomentosum.
• Crocosmia.
  
• Dianthus cultivars.
• Dicentra spectabilis.
• Hedera (ivy) varieties such as Hedera colchica ‘Dentata Variegata’, Hedera canariensis ‘Variegata’ and Hedera helix ‘Green Ripple’.
• Hostas.
• Pachysandra terminalis.
• Pulmonaria.
• Rosa ‘Surrey’.
• Thymus serpyllum.
• Tiarella cordifolia.
• Waldsteinia ternata.