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Groundcovers for Xeriscaping
Groundcovers for your xeriscaping are an important part of the overall design. Lots of other plants besides Sedum, Sempervivum and thyme make great groundcovers for xeriscaping. Here are some that are particularly well suited for the tough conditions they’ll find in your xeric garden. Best Xeric Groundcover Tips Use them in multiples of the same plant throughout your garden to surround trees, cover banks or cascade down cliffs, or in island beds to reduce your water sucking lawn. Don't use the 'polka dot' method of planting, with one of every different kind of plant dotted around the landscape - always plant in groups to give more emphasis.Many of these groundcovers do double duty in Fire Smart gardens too, such as Arctostaphylos uva-ursi and Cerastium tomentosum. If you garden in a potential fire risk zone, this is something to think about when planning your xeric garden. Some of these drought smart ground covers have the advantage of weed suppressing foliage, many with bright flowers in season. Others have texture and colour in the foliage. All of the plants on this list of ground covers are hardy to Zone 5b or colder using
this map.
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi - bearberry or kinnickinnick is one of the most beautiful, and hardy groundcovers, especially in acid and sandy conditions. Glossy green foliage on long prostrate stems twine along the ground. In the spring it has little pink urn shaped blooms which ripen to red berries in the fall. Grouse love these berries!
Bergenia cordifolia - also known as pig squeak from the noise the leaves make when rubbed together. Succulent looking green leaves turn burgundy red in fall.
Cerastium tomentosum, or white rock is a great small scale drought tolerant and heat tolerant groundcover. It's covered in small white rose shaped blooms in spring, then the clean grey blue foliage always stays in good shape, even into the fall.
Corydalis lutea - blue green lacy foliage which looks like maidenhair ferns, except for the bright gold flowers in spring. This plant has the survival technique of going dormant and disappearing when the weather gets really hot in late July, to emerge in spring after the snow melts.
Fragaria vesca and Fragaria virginiana, or wild strawberries make a pretty, hardy groundcover, and you might even get some fruit, if you can find it before the robins do!
Gallium odoratum, or ladies bedstraw, is a lovely, although somewhat invasive ground cover. I recommend this for very droughty shaded areas to keep it in bounds. You can cut and dry this for pot-pourri or to stuff pillows for a fresh hay scent. In medieval times it was spread on the stone floors to alleviate smells.
Many Heuchera varieties are unparalleled for the beauty of the veined or crinkled foliage in metallic purple, mahogany, fluorescent lime green or caramel coloured. The tall minarets of blooms are irresistible to bees.
Iberis or candytuft has great texture as a non-steppable groundcover, and will be covered for weeks in white, pink or purple flowers. Added attraction – solitary bees and wasps love the blooms!
Many rock garden plants, such as Saxifraga arendsii ‘Purple Robe’ with its pink to red rose-like blooms in spring are superlative as groundcovers. Fresh green finely cut leaves cascade down rock walls and fill in between boulders.
Vinca minor or periwinkle are great for a dry shaded area, such as under tall coniferous trees. Covered in blue, white or pink flowers on shiny green or variegated leaves make this vining groundcover valuable for areas that won’t be walked on, but where you want to totally squelch weeds. I’ve seen this listed as a bit invasive, so please don’t let it escape captivity in your area!
Viola makes a misleadingly tough ground cover under trees. Pretty blue - purple blooms have that evocative scent in early spring. These self seed, but are easy to move to wherever you want them.
Caveat; Here are a few to stay away from, even if you think they’re nice: Lamium species - Dead nettle, Hedera helix - ivy, creeping Charlie..
go to Drought Smart Plants home page
go to Xeric Gardens
go to Xeric Plants page
go to Shrubs for Xeriscaping page
go to Xeric Garden Wildlife page
go to Xeriscape Design page
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