Stephen Albert
Groundcover plants are used to cover the ground and to conceal all signs of soil beneath. Groundcovers can be used to smother weeds, act as a living mulch to conserve soil moisture and to hold in place, and stem soil erosion.
Low-growing shrubs can be used as groundcovers. Most are deep-rooted and longer lived than perennials used as groundcovers. Once established low-growing shrub groundcovers will likely require less maintenance than herbaceous perennial groundcovers.
Here are shrubs well-suited to act as groundcovers:
| Common Name | Botanical Name | Zones |
| Bearberry | Arctostaphylos uva-ursi | 2-7 |
| Blackberry, prostrate | Rubus pentalobus | 7-9 |
| Blueberry, lowbush | Vaccinium angustifolium | 4-9 |
| Bunchberry | Cornus canadensis | 2-7 |
| Candytuft | Iberis sempervirens | 4-8 |
| Cotoneaster, bearberry | Cotoneaster, dammeri | 6-9 |
| Cotoneaster, cranberry | Cotoneaster apiculata | 5-8 |
| Euonymus, wintercreeper | Euonymus fortunei | 4-8 |
| Heath | Erica carnea | 5-7 |
| Heather | Calluna vulgaris | 3-8 |
| Honeysuckle | Lonicera pileata | 5-9 |
| Japanese spurge | Pachysandra terminalis | 4-8 |
| Junipers, low spreading | Juniperus spp. | 3-9 |
| Lantana | Lantana spp. | 8-10 |
| Mahonia, creeping | Mahonia repens | 5-8 |
| Purple-leaf winter creeper | Euonymus fortunei‘Coloratus’ | 5-9 |
| Roses, low spreading | Rosa spp. | Varies |
| St. Johnswort | Hypericum calycinum | 5-9 |
Also of interest:
