Workhorses in the landscape, groundcovers spread to knit a tight, low-maintenance carpet of foliage that densely covers bare earth. Not just pleasing to look at, they serve a number of practical purposes as well: “Groundcovers can stabilize the soil, help it retain moisture, and prevent weeds from taking hold” says TOH landscape contractor Jenn Nawada, who prefers them to mulch where she knows they will thrive. And while there are times when filling a bare spot with a swath of a single plant provides a welcome rest for the eye, she loves the idea of combining two or more species for a pleasing mix of foliage shape, color, and texture, turning groundcovers into a design tool rather than just a backdrop.
What constitutes a groundcover plant? The most familiar are low-growing, creeping perennials that spread densely. Most of these have horizontal stems, either above or below the soil, that spread in all directions, sending down roots and sending up shoots as they go, like the familiar periwinkle and pachysandra. But taller clumping perennials, including hostas and some ferns, also fulfill this role. These plants expand in size more slowly by getting just a little wider each year. Consider working in flowering perennials that spread to a dense, hefty stand, too, such as lady's mantle, epimediums, and coral bells.
Of course, groundcover plants are generally grown for their foliage and bloom for only a short window each season. So it's most important to consider the texture of groundcovers' foliage and the color and sheen of their leaves when putting them together, like the fuzzy silver leaves of lamb's ears and the rounded, shiny deep-green leaves of European wild ginger. If flowering is also important to you, consider combining groundcovers that have different bloom times so that as one fades, another takes its place in the spotlight.
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