Classic & Tough Ground Covers
These long-standing selections offer the best in winter hardiness, wide soil adaptability and time-tested low-maintenance for the busy landscaper. These plants can thrive in challenging sites and urban gardens where some natives won't.
Sold in 4" (10 cm) pots; other formats noted below. Some links will redirect to other subpages.
We currently grow:
Ajuga reptans 'Bronze Beauty' (Bronze Beauty Bugleweed)
Ajuga reptans 'Burgundy Glow' (Burgundy Glow Bugleweed)
Asarum europaeum (European Ginger)
Convallaria majalis (Lily of the Valley)
Euonymus fortunei 'Coloratus' (Purpleleaf Wintercreeper)
Galium odoratum (Sweet Woodruff)
Geranium xcantabrigiense 'Biokovo' (Dwarf Geranium)
Geranium macrorrhizum (Bigroot Geranium)
Hedera helix 'Baltic' (Baltic Ivy)
Hedera helix 'Thorndale' (Thorndale Ivy)
Hemerocallis (Daylilies)
Hosta (Hostas)
Lamium maculatum 'Pink Pewter' (Spotted Dead Nettle)
Lamium maculatum 'White Nancy' (Spotted Dead Nettle)
Lysimachia nummularia (Green Creeping Jenny)
Lysimachia nummularia 'Aurea' (Gold Creeping Jenny)
Pachysandra terminalis (Japanese Spurge)
Sedums (Russian Stonecrop), full sun, very drought tolerant
Thymus (Thymes), full sun very drought tolerant
Vinca minor (Periwinkle, Myrtle)
Bugleweed
Ajuga reptans 'Bronze Beauty'
Ajuga reptans 'Burgundy Glow'
Height 3-4 inches (8-10 cm), flowers to 6" (15 cm)
Spread 12-24 inches (30-60 cm), continually spreading
Foliage 'Bronze Beauty' has large dark burgundy and green leaves
'Burgundy Glow' has variegated cream, pink and gray leaves
Flower Bluish-violet, attracts bumblebees
Blooming Late spring
Hardiness Zone 3-9
Light Part shade
Moisture Average
Soil Well-drained, lighter soils best, but adaptable
Bugleweeds are colourful, fast-growing stoloniferous perennials for small to medium area coverage, or for use in mixed containers. Bumblebees flock to these plants in flower.
Recommendations for growing Bugleweed
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Sold in 4" (10 cm) pots or 24-clump grower's flats
Lily of the Valley
Convallaria majalis
Height 6-10 inches (15-25 cm)
Spread 24-36 inches (30-45 cm) or more
Flower White, very fragrant
Blooming Spring
Hardiness Zone 2-7
Light Part shade to full shade
Moisture Average to moist, tolerates periodic drought
Soil Humus-rich, neutral to acidic
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Recommendations for growing Lily of the Valley
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Purpleleaf Wintercreeper
Euonymus fortunei 'Coloratus'
Height 12-18 inches (30-45 cm)
Spread 24-36 inches (60-90 cm)
Foliage Evergreen
Hardiness Zone 5-9
Light Full sun to part shade
Moisture Average
Soil
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Recommendations for growing Wintercreeper
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Sold in 100-ct grower's flats, 4" (10 cm) pots and 1 gallon
Sweet Woodruff
Galium odoratum
Height 6-8 inches (15-20 cm)
Spread 12 inches (30 cm)
Flower White
Blooming Late spring
Hardiness Zone 3-8
Light Part shade to full shade
Moisture Average to dry
Soil Adaptable, may not persist in heavy clay
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Recommendations for growing Sweet Woodruff
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Spotted Dead Nettle
Lamium maculatum 'Pink Pewter'
Lamium maculatum 'Red Nancy' occasionally offered
Lamium maculatum 'White Nancy'
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Height 4-6 inches (10-15 cm)
Spread 12-16" inches (30-40 cm)
Flower Light pink, deep pink or white
Blooming Summer to Fall
Hardiness Zone 3-8
Light Part shade to shade
Moisture Average to dry
Soil Adaptable
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Recommendations for growing Spotted Dead Nettle
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Companions for Native Ground Covers
With the variety of adaptations and possible landscape uses, contact us for appropriate companions to suit your project.
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Companions for Native Ground Covers
With the variety of adaptations and possible landscape uses, contact us for appropriate companions to suit your project.
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Creeping Jenny
Lysimachia nummularia
Lysimachia nummularia 'Aurea'
Height
Spread
Flower
Blooming Spring to fall
Hardiness Zone 3-8
Light Sun to shade
Moisture Average to dry
Soil Adaptable
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Recommendations for growing Creeping Jenny
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Japanese Spurge
Pachysandra terminalis
Height
Spread
Flower
Blooming Spring to fall
Hardiness Zone 3-8
Light Sun to shade
Moisture Average to dry
Soil Adaptable
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Recommendations for growing Japanese Spurge
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