Evergreen Groundcovers

Ground cover plants provide an important touch to a garden spot giving the garden depth, extra dimension and a more finished look. Use ground covers underneath trees, woody shrubs or large perennials to provide a background element that will set off your larger ornamentals. The following ground covers are all evergreen plants available through Sooner Plant Farm that will not only accent your other plantings, but also provide year-round color and interest of their own.

Evergreen Ground Covers
Non-Stop Color Ground Cover Plants from Sooner Plant Farm

Ajuga (Ajuga repans) - Ajuga plants are hardy ground covers that survive winters through zone 3 and will tolerate summer heat through zone 7. Ajuga is evergreen and has beautiful slightly-oval shaped leaves that vary from dark green to bronze depending on the specific cultivar. Spiky blue flowers grow on flower stalks above the foliage in spring and summer, adding to the Ajuga's interest as a garden specimen. Ajuga is fast spreading making it a perfect ground cover to fill in a bare spot. It is easy to pull up any runners that are out of place. Ajugas are easy to propagate through division and will not crowd out your other perennial plants. Ajuga prefers part shade, and is especially welcoming of afternoon shade in southern areas with hot summers.
'Burgundy Glow, 'Chocolate Chip, 'Bronze,

Euonymus (Euonymus fortunei spp.) - A semi-woody shrub, some euonymus varieties have a spreading or creeping habit that makes for a beautiful and unique ground cover. Hardy in zones 4 or 5 through 10, euonymus does well in either sun or shade. Small oval leaves are often variegated in shades of green, yellow and white. Two euonymus cultivars particularly well-suited for use as ground covers include 'Coloratus', and 'Moonshadow', . Euonymus is a fantastic, non-invasive ground cover that does well in containers, rock gardens or as under plantings for larger shrubs and trees. Euonymus is considered by many gardeners to be the perfect evergreen ground cover.

Lenton Rose (Helleborus spp.) - The ultimate shade loving perennial, hellebores have not only lovely evergreen foliage, but also a unique flowering habit. Lenton roses are sometimes also called Christmas roses because of their habit of blooming in the middle of winter. Slightly larger than a typical ground cover, hellebores won't hug the ground but rather form clumps of pleasing evergreen foliage approximately 18" tall. Full sun is only tolerated in winter, making these perennial evergreens a perfect ground cover under deciduous shrubs or trees. Find out more about growing and caring for hellebores Click here
To see the selection available from Sooner Plant Farm. 'Sunshine Selections', 'Red Lady', 'Blue Lady', 'Pink Lady' 'Yellow Lady'

Chinese Sedum (Sedum tetracticum 'Chinese') - One of the hardiest evergreen groundcovers, this sedum is extremely drought tolerant once established. Only an inch or two high, the 'Chinese Sedum, slowly spreads to create a full mat of evergreen, succulent foliage that is highly attractive. A sedum with year-round interest the Chinese sedum has white flowers in late spring. The foliage is bright green in summer and the plump succulent leaves turn orange-red in the winter. Hardy and long-lived in zones 3-11 this evergreen ground cover will tolerate a wide range of growing conditions including sun or part shade. Using this sedum ground cover is the perfect way to add color to the places where other plants have difficulty surviving.

This 'Plant Highlight' was written exclusively for Sooner Plant Farm by Angela England
.To read more from this talented writer about other highlighted plants and interesting gardening stories click here.

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