Arctostaphylos x coloradoensis
Panchito Manzanita
This is a ground-hugging Manzanita useful as a low shrub or groundcover, reaching less than 1 foot high. It spreads wide, to 3 feet or more, and will drape nicely over ledges. Red berries follow the flowers in fall. A Plant Select plant. Definitely requires soil with good drainage. Canopy coverage: 7 square feet.
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Bergenia cordifolia
Heartleaf Bergenia
Heartleaf Bergenia is a slow-spreading, clumping perennial that does best in shady locations. The thick, leathery leaves are large, up to 10 inches long and 8 inches wide. Dark pink flowers are borne on sturdy stems 1 foot or more high above the leaves, which grow in a rosette form. Canopy coverage: 3 square feet.
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Calylophus hartwegii var. fendleri
Calylophus, Sundrops
Calylophus produces masses of large yellow flowers, blooming for a long period in spring. Excellent in rock gardens. Canopy coverage: 3 square feet.
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Cerastium tomentosum
Snow-in-Summer
This is a versatile but short-lived perennial groundcover. Grows 6 to 8 inches high and spreads rapidly to 2 feet or more. Silvery gray leaves serve as background for the profuse white flowers. Accepting of tough conditions, including poor,dry soils. Canopy coverage: 3 square feet.
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Chamaemelum nobile
Roman Chamomile
Use Roman Chamomile as a small area groundcover, edging or between stepping stones. Foliage is fragrant when crushed. Canopy coverage: 3 square feet.
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Clematis viticella
Italian Clematis
Italian Clematis is typically grown as a vine or less often as a rambling groundcover. It produces large, deep purple flowers with distinct, golden yellow stamens. Add mulch over the root area to keep roots cool and moist. Cut back plants in late winter to early spring for fresh growth in spring. Selection shown in photos is 'Etoile Violette'. Canopy coverage: 113 square feet.
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Cotoneaster adpressus
Creeping Cotoneaster
Creeping Cotoneaster works well as a low-maintenance bank cover. Birds flock to the red fruits that follow flowers in fall. Purple-hued fall color. Canopy coverage: 28 square feet.
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Cotoneaster apiculatus
Cranberry Cotoneaster
Grow Cranberry Cotoneaster as a shrub, mounding groundcover or bank cover. Leaves are small and round, dark green, turning deep red in fall. Reddish orange fruit that look similar to large cranberries appear in fall. Accepts most any soil, even poor soil, as long as it is well drained. Canopy coverage: 28 square feet.
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Cotoneaster dammeri
Bearberry Cotoneaster
Bearberry Cotoneaster is a reliable groundcover, remaining low to the ground while spreading wide. Best with some protection from the sun in hot summer regions. Orange-red berries adorn plants in late summer. Reddish bronze fall color. Popular selections are 'Coral Beauty' and 'Lowfast'. Canopy coverage: 79 square feet.
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Delosperma 'John Proffitt'
Table Mountain Ice Plant
Table Mountain Iceplant, 'John Proffitt', is surprisingly cold hardy. Bright, iridescent fuchsia flowers blanket plants from summer to fall. They are low growing, hugging the ground a few inches high, ideal as small area groundcovers or in rock gardens. Canopy coverage: 3 square feet.
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Delosperma hybrids
Ice Plant
These hybrid iceplant are surprisingly cold hardy. Flowers in bright iridescent colors blanket plants in summer. They are low growing, hugging the ground just a few inches high, ideal as small area groundcovers or in rock gardens. Look for 'Psfave', light lavender flowers, (shown) and 'John Proffitt', described in this database. Canopy coverage: 3 square feet.
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Epilobium canum garrettii
Hummingbird Trumpet
Hummingbird Trumpet is a colorful, low-growing subshrub (small shrub) that can also serve as a groundcover. Ideal for a naturalistic garden. Strong blooming period comes on late in the season when color is not as common so it is more appreciated. It may be sold as Zauschneria. 'Orange Carpet' is an improved selection. Canopy coverage: 13 square feet.
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Fragaria vesca
Runnerless Strawberry, Alpine Strawberry
This is not the strawberry to grow if you seek large, succulent fruit, but it does produce small, tasty edible fruit in summer. Does not spread by runners but grows rapidly from seed. Canopy coverage: 1 square foot.
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Galium odoratum
Sweet Woodruff
Sweet Woodruff is a spreading, low-growing plant that works well in a shady spot as a groundcover or edging. The small, starlike flowers are fragrant. Canopy coverage: 1 square foot.
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Gazania linearis 'Colorado Gold'
Colorado Gold Gazania
This is a cold-hardy Gazania with a long bloom season, lasting from summer into fall. Reaches just a few inches high, it self-sows to spread. Large, yellow, daisylike flowers grow 2 to 3 inches across. Canopy coverage: 1 square foot.
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Genista tinctoria 'Royal Gold'
Royal Gold Woadwaxen
The cultivar 'Royal Gold' Woadwaxen can be grown as a compact, rounded shrub or groundcover. It puts on a color show in summer with a profusion of pea-shaped, golden yellow flowers. Accepts almost any soil, even poor soil, as long as it is well drained. Canopy coverage: 7 square feet.
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Helianthemum cultivars
Sun Rose
Sun Rose has multiple uses in the landscape: as a shrubby perennial, summer color plant and groundcover. Flowers come in many colors. Prune dead branches to renew in late winter to early spring. Be ready to protect plants during winter in cold regions. Canopy coverage: 3 square feet.
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Houttuynia cordata 'Chameleon'
Chameleon Plant
Chameleon Plant typically produces heart-shaped leaves adorned with multiple splashes of pink, red, yellow and cream. Plants spread by rhizomes and can be invasive, so plan controls accordingly. Canopy coverage: 3 square feet.
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Hypericum calycinum
Mounding St. John's Wort, Aaron's beard
Fast, aggressive growth makes St. John's Wort a worthy groundcover, including slopes for erosion control. Provide afternoon shade and regular summer water in warm summer regions. It roots rapidly by underground stems, so it can be invasive. Cut back dormant plants for renewed growth in spring. It often dies to the ground in cold-winter regions. Canopy coverage: 3 square feet.
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Iberis sempervirens
Evergreen Candytuft
Easy-to-grow perennial or groundcover. Flowers are profuse and pure white. Lower-growing, more compact selections are available, such as 'Snowflake' and 'Alexander's White'. Canopy coverage: 3 square feet.
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Juniperus horizontalis 'Blue Chip'
Blue Chip Juniper
This is a mat-forming Juniper that literally hugs the ground. Plant 'Blue Chip' where it will have plenty of space to spread. Best with some protection from the sun in hot summer regions. Canopy coverage: 28 square feet.
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