Juniperus sabina 'Buffalo'
Buffalo Juniper
Buffalo Juniper has appealing, bright green to olive green foliage. Leaves grow on long stems that spread horizontally close to the ground, forming a tight-knit mat. Accepts tough conditions. Attractive when it drapes and trails over ledges. Canopy coverage: 50 square feet.
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Lamium maculatum
Dead Nettle
A good choice for a shady location. Especially effective when "lighting up" a shadowy border due to its light colored foliage and flowers. Remains evergreen in mild climates. Canopy coverage: 7 square feet.
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Lonicera sempervirens
Scarlet Trumpet Honeysuckle
This twining vine can be evergreen, semievergreen or deciduous, depending on the severity of low temperatures. Striking, trumpet-shaped flowers are an attraction. Berries follow flowers, attracting birds. 'Magnifica' is said to produce larger flowers than the species. Canopy coverage: 79 square feet.
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Lysimachia nummularia
Creeping Jenny, Moneywort
Creeping Jenny does just that: creeps over the ground just a few inches high to form a colorful mat. It can be highly invasive, so plant only where you can contain it. Canopy coverage: 3 square feet.
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Mahonia repens
Creeping Oregon Holly
This Mahonia can be grown as a small shrub or groundcover. Hollylike leaves are dark blue-green, taking on reddish to bronze shades in winter. Yellow flowers in clusters are followed by blue berries that look like grapes. Accepts sandy to heavy clay soils. Canopy coverage: 3 square feet.
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Marrubium rotundifolium
Silvery Horehound
Silvery Horehound is a ground-hugging plant reaching just 2 to 4 inches tall, spreading 2 to 3 feet wide. Rounded leaves have a distinctive silver edging. Requires well drained soil; won't accept overwatering. Canopy coverage: 7 square feet.
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Nepeta racemosa
Catmint
This species is notorious for reseeding vigorously, so be aware plants may turn up where you don't want them. Improved selections are available; 'Walker's Low' makes a good groundcover. Also see Nepeta x faassenii, which produces sterile seeds. Canopy coverage: 3 square feet.
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Nepeta x faassenii
Faassen's Catmint
This Catmint hybrid is sterile, so does not set viable seed. It is an improved selection compared to Nepeta racemosa. Best with some protection from the sun in hot summer regions. Canopy coverage: 3 square feet.
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Oenothera berlandieri
Mexican Evening Primrose
The large, bright to dark pink flowers of Mexican Evening Primrose are profuse in spring. It evokes a lush, subtropical appearance. It is known to be invasive, so plant in containers or easily contained area. Freezes to the ground with cold temperatures but regrows the following spring. 'Siskiyou' is an improved selection. Canopy coverage: 13 square feet.
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Oenothera macrocarpa
Missouri Evening Primrose
Missouri Evening Primrose produces large, 4-inch flowers that are pure yellow. Flowers last only one day, but because flowering is so profuse it is hard to notice. Accepting of tough conditions. Better with afternoon shade in hottest climates. Canopy coverage: 3 square feet.
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Origanum vulgare
Common Oregano
Common Oregano, also known as Wild Marjoram, is variable regarding leaf scent and culinary flavor. Color comes from flowers as well as bracts, which are modified leaves that surround flowers. Spreads and reseeds on its own. May die down with winter cold but comes back from the roots. Useful in cooking. Canopy coverage: 7 square feet.
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Osteospermum 'Avalanche'
African Daisy, Sun Daisy
Large, 3-inch, pure white, daisy flowers are profuse on this perennial groundcover for months beginning in spring. Accepts a range of soils, even clay soil. A Plant Select plant. Canopy coverage: 3 square feet.
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Phlox subulata
Creeping Phlox
Creeping Phlox is a mat-forming groundcover that creeps over the soil, reaching to just 6 inches high. Leaves are needlelike and may be semievergreen. Good choice for bank cover and erosion control. Prefers dry, rocky or sandy soils. Canopy coverage: 3 square feet.
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Physostegia virginiana
Obedient Plant, False Dragonhead
"Vigorous" is a word often used to describe Obedient Plant. It spreads by rhizomes—underground or soil surface stems—and can be highly invasive. Flowers resemble those of Snapdragon and are excellent for cutting to enjoy indoors. Canopy coverage: 7 square feet.
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Salvia officinalis
Garden Sage, Common Sage
Garden Sage is often grown in the herb garden for its ornamental as well as its culinary attributes. 'Aurea' and 'Tricolor' are popular selections. It is common to replace plantings after a few years due to their woody growth. Must have well drained soil. Canopy coverage: 3 square feet.
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Santolina chamaecyparis
Lavender Cotton
Lavender Cotton is a reliable small shrub or groundcover that lends its silvery gray leaves as bright contrast to green-foliaged plants. Its leaves are aromatic. Plantings are easy to control; keep neat by trimming away spent flower stems. Canopy coverage: 13 square feet.
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Saponaria ocymoides
Rock Soapwort
Rock Soapwort is a candidate for the rock garden, spreading groundcover or spiller over the edge of a container or ledge. Masses of small pink flowers bloom late spring into summer. Canopy coverage: 7 square feet.
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Sempervivum species
Hens and Chicks
Sempervivum is a collection of succulents that work well as small-space groundcovers, in containers or tucked between rocks and boulders. Many species and selections are available in a range of sizes and leaf colors. It is important to plant in soil with good drainage and don't overwater. Canopy coverage: 1 square foot.
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Lamb's Ears
The fuzzy, silvery gray leaves of Lamb's Ears makes it a great choice to contrast with dark foliage plants. Better with afternoon shade in hot-summer climates. Spreads by runners. Selection 'Silver Carpet' does not produce flowers. Canopy coverage: 7 square feet.
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Tanacetum densum amani
Partridge Feather
Partridge Feather is a mat-forming groundcover to about 6 inches high. Lacy, feathery leaves are attractive. Requires soil with good drainage; nice in a rock garden. Plant Selection plant. Canopy coverage: 3 square feet.
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Teucrium chamaedrys 'Prostratum'
Creeping Germander
The mature height of Creeping Germander is listed at 1 foot high, but it actually stays lower—to just 6 inches high. Fragrant foliage is appealing when planted between stepping stones or other close-up locations. Canopy coverage: 7 square feet.
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