Original article by David Graper, former SDSU Extension Horticulture Specialist and Master Gardener Program Coordinator. Updated by Kristine Lang, Assistant Professor and SDSU Extension Consumer Horticulture Specialist.
Spring and fall are both great times to look over your gardens again and find places to add new plants. Are there big patches of bare ground in your garden under trees or next to a spot that gets shade near your house? If so, you might want to plant perennial ground covers to fill in the space!
Shaded gardens can have plants of all sizes and shapes that grow to be several feet tall and have beautiful leaves or flowers. But ground covers, which are usually no more than 12 inches tall, are an important part of a shade garden.
Most ground cover plants will spread out over or in the soil, producing new plants as they grow. Rhizomes are underground stems that some plants, like lily of the valley, use. Stolons, on the other hand, are spreading stems that grow above ground and are made by other plants, like bugle weed. Grasses and other monocotyledonous plants can also make rhizomes, stolons, offsets, or tillers to cover more ground. All of these are great qualities for a ground cover to have, especially in tough spots like a hillside that needs to be stabilized because it is prone to erosion. However, because these plants like to spread, many of them can be tough competitors for other plants that you might want to use in your landscape. So, be careful when you choose your ground cover plants so that you don’t end up with a big plant that will take over your garden after a few years.
Adding ground cover plants to your landscape is an excellent way to fill in empty spaces, prevent erosion, and crowd out weeds. Green and white ground covers offer unique visual interest with their variegated or mottled foliage. The contrast between the green and white leaves creates eye-catching textures and patterns in the garden.
When selecting green and white ground cover plants, consider factors like sunlight exposure, climate, growth rate, height, and spread. With so many options available, you can find the perfect fit for your specific needs Here are some of the best green and white ground cover plants to consider
Hostas
Hostas are some of the most popular green and white ground cover plants. The leaves come in a stunning range of variegated patterns, with leaf colors like blue-green, yellow, and white. There are hundreds of hosta cultivars to choose from in a wide diversity of sizes. Some examples:
- ‘Patriot’ – Features dark green centers with wide white margins. Grows 18 inches tall.
- ‘Ground Master’ – Has thick blue-green leaves with irregular white edges Only reaches 8 inches in height
- ‘Francee’ – Displays heart-shaped green leaves outlined in white. Grows to 15 inches tall.
Hostas spread readily by rhizomes and are easy to divide and propagate. They thrive in shady locations and require little maintenance besides removing spent leaves in fall. Hostas also help crowd out weeds.
Ajuga
Ajuga, also known as bugleweed, carpets the ground with lush green and white foliage. The scalloped leaves often have pronounced white markings and veins. Ajuga spreads aggressively through underground runners (stolons) and makes an effective erosion control ground cover. Some ajuga varieties to consider:
- ‘Jungle Beauty’ – Features oval leaves with bold white edges. Grows 6-8 inches tall with a vigorous spreading habit.
- ‘Burgundy Glow’ – Has tricolored leaves in green, white, and pink. Reaches 4-6 inches in height.
- ‘Golden Glow’ – Displays rounded green leaves heavily splotched in bright yellow. Grows 4-6 inches tall.
Ajuga thrives in partial shade and tolerates a wide range of soils. Regular pruning of leggy growth encourages fullness. It blooms attractive spikes of blue flowers in spring.
Euonymus fortunei
Also called wintercreeper, Euonymus fortunei is a fast-growing spreading evergreen shrub that works well as a ground cover. There are many variegated cultivars to choose from, displaying leaves edged, spotted, or streaked in white, gold, or pink. Some popular options include:
- ‘Emerald Gaiety’ – Green leaves with white margins that turn pink in winter. Grows 1 foot tall with a 5 foot spread.
- ‘Emerald ‘n Gold’ – Bright yellow centers and green edges. Reaches 1 foot tall and spreads indefinitely.
- ‘Silver Queen’ – Dark green leaves edged in bright white. Grows 1 foot tall by 6 feet wide.
Euonymus does best in part sun to partial shade. It can become invasive, so regular pruning is needed to keep it contained. It has good fall color and salt tolerance.
Hedera Helix
English ivy is a vigorous spreading evergreen vine that performs beautifully as a ground cover. Look for variegated cultivars with streaked, splashed, or margined leaves in shades of white, cream, and yellow. Some options include:
- ‘Glacier’ – Deep green leaves with creamy white margins. Grows 6-8 inches tall.
- ‘Anne Marie’ – Green leaves irregularly blotched with yellow. Grows up to 1 foot tall.
- ‘Goldchild’ – Bright yellow leaves that hold color all year. Reaches 1 foot in height.
English ivy thrives in shady sites and spreads quickly across ground. It can climb walls and tree trunks if not trimmed back. Drought tolerant once established.
Lamium
Lamium, also called spotted deadnettle, displays stunning silver-marked leaves. There are many ornamental varieties to choose, often with contrasting flower colors for added visual interest. Some lamium cultivars to consider:
- ‘White Nancy’ – Silver leaves with green edges. White flowers. Grows 6-8 inches tall.
- ‘Orchid Frost’ – Silvery leaves with green veins. Purple flowers. Reaches 10-12 inches in height.
- ‘Chequers’ – Silver leaves marked with green. Pink flowers. Grows to 8 inches tall.
Lamium grows well in shade and spreads aggressively. Prune back spent flower stems after blooming to encourage leafy growth. Cuttings root easily. Lamium may become invasive in some regions.
Lysimachia
Also called creeping jenny, Lysimachia nummularia is a fast-spreading ground cover with bright yellow foliage. Look for the cultivar ‘Aurea’, which has golden leaves splashed and streaked with green. It grows 4-6 inches tall and spreads rapidly across ground or in containers, trailing over edges.
Creeping jenny thrives in part sun to full shade. It appreciates consistent moisture. To control spread, simply pull out unwanted runners. Works well spilling from hanging baskets. The foliage turns greener in too much sun.
Vinca Minor
A popular flowering ground cover, Vinca minor displays glossy green leaves edged in white. It spreads aggressively to form a thick carpet across the ground. The common name periwinkle refers to the abundant blue flowers produced in spring. Some options include:
- ‘Illumination’ – Large periwinkle flowers. Grows 6 inches tall.
- ‘Bowle’s Variety’ – Produces light lavender flowers. Reaches 4 inches in height.
Periwinkle grows well in sun or shade and tolerates poor soils. It requires little care except watering during droughts. To limit spread, remove stems rooting in unwanted areas. Avoid planting near wild areas where it can become invasive.
Options for Full Sun
The above ground covers all grow best in part to full shade. For plants that can tolerate full sun, consider:
- Sedum (angelina, dragon’s blood, blue spruce)
- Creeping phlox
- Thyme (mother of thyme, creeping)
- Ice plant
- Creeping juniper
Combining Shapes, Textures, and Colors
The key to creating an attractive, cohesive ground cover planting is to combine plants with diverse shapes, textures, and hues. For example, pair fine, rounded hosta leaves with ajuga’s broad pointed foliage. Combining silver lamium with bright variegated euonymus shrubs generates eye-catching contrast.
Repeating certain colors and textures helps tie the scheme together. Vary heights to make the design more dynamic. Use taller ground covers to anchor corners or define edges. Let trailing plants spill over walls or down slopes.
Caring for Ground Covers
Ground covers require minimal care once established. Apply a thin layer of organic mulch around plants to inhibit weeds and retain moisture. Most appreciate consistent watering during dry periods for the first year. Once rooted in, ground covers become quite drought tolerant.
Prune back any diseased, damaged, or leggy growth as needed. Cutting back rampant spreaders will keep them contained within desired areas. Some species like hostas and lamium can be divided every few years to encourage fullness.
With the right selection and placement of green and white ground covers, you can create a lush living carpet that transforms your landscape into a beautiful and lush outdoor space. Make sure to control aggressive spreaders and combine colors, shapes, and sizes for optimal visual appeal.
10 Popular Drought Tolerant Groundcover Plants for Water Conscious Gardening
FAQ
What are green and white leaves called?
Can you walk on Creeping Phlox?
Is creeping thyme native to America?
What plant has green leaves and white spots?
Do ground cover plants have white flowers?
Ground cover plants with white flowers are ideal for creating a floral mat in beautiful shades of white. However, white-flowering ground cover plants offer more than just beauty. Their spreading nature and mat-forming habit help keep weeds under control and prevent soil erosion.
What is an evergreen ground cover plant?
An evergreen ground cover plant is beneficial to your garden in many ways. Evergreen foliage provides year-round visual interest. Ground covers offer ways to lower yard maintenance, such as suppressing weeds, fighting erosion, and helping you avoid dangerous mowing on sloped areas where they grow.
What are ground cover plants for shade?
Generally, ground cover plants for shade are hardy types of creeping or spreading plants that are green all year long. The reasons to use plants that provide good ground cover in the shade is to help control weeds, prevent erosion, or landscape areas of your garden where other plants don’t thrive.
Are white-flowering ground cover plants good for shade?
However, white-flowering ground cover plants offer more than just beauty. Their spreading nature and mat-forming habit help keep weeds under control and prevent soil erosion. Ground cover plants for shade also help improve the appearance of a bare landscape where other plants won’t grow.
Are evergreen ground cover plants good?
Growing evergreen ground cover plants has many advantages in any garden. Ground cover plants help prevent water loss from the soil, keep weeds at bay, stop soil erosion—especially on slopes, and provide year-round interest. Another benefit of evergreen ground cover plants is that they require little care to thrive—in full sun or shade.
What is the best evergreen ground cover for full sun?
The best evergreen ground covers for full sun are creeping phlox for its stunning flowers, candytuft to create a blanket of white blooms, and evergreen wintercreeper. The best evergreen ground cover plants for shade are deadnettle for its bright variegated foliage and perennial sweet woodruff due to its dainty white flowers.