Native Evergreen Groundcovers

I frequently reiterate the importance of using groundcovers in the landscape (as in my blog about controlling weeds without chemicals here). Groundcovers act as a natural mulch, helping to keep weed pressure down, retain moisture in the soil, hold soil in place, and reduce the need for repeat application of another mulch product. Often, there may be something like English Ivy (a non-native invasive plant) providing evergreen coverage to an area, while likely also smothering other plants in the vicinity. I’d like to provide just a couple examples of evergreen groundcover I use on my own property to give examples of some other options available. (All photos are taken in my yard currently, to give you an idea what they look like for the winter, rather than when they are in bloom.)

Penstemon digitalis

One that many people may not think of as a groundcover are plants in the Penstemon Genus. The one pictured is Penstemon digitalis, or Foxglove Beardtongue. When happy, this plant can spread fairly aggressively in a bed, providing a green mulch that will tolerate some light traffic. The basal leaves at the base of the flower tend to remain relatively evergreen for me in zone 8a, Virginia beach, though there is some loss and blackening of leaves often in the later part of winter, particularly if it’s a wet winter. The upper foliage has a lovely fall color as well before the flower stalks dry out for the winter with the seedheads intact. This one can get 3-5’ tall (the flowers), and spreads approx 1.5-2’. Prefers full sun and dry to medium conditions. Deer resistant, drought resistant, and doesn’t mind dry, clay soil!

Penstemon functions as host plant to 7 species of butterflies and moths in our area (Virginia Beach, VA).

Heuchera americana

A less aggressive, but lovely native semi-evergreen groundcover is Heuchera americana or Coral Bells (not to be confused with all the non-native somewhat flashier ones). This one has lovely variegated foliage, with small white to red flowers emerging in the summer. It can reach 1-2’ with its flowers, and spreads 1-1.5’. Spreads slowly by clumping. With a somewhat looser growth habit, this one doesn’t spread quite as densely as some others, and does not withstand foot traffic. Prefers full to part sun/ part shade, medium water, but very drought tolerant.

Chrysogonum virginianum

One of my favorite groundcovers for its dense aggressive foliage in the right conditions, Chrysogonum virginianum, Green and Gold, is a great evergreen groundcover for shady conditions (will tolerate heavy shade) though it will also tolerate some sun (if it stays moist). It’s especially lovely because it blooms from spring to fall with low, bright yellow flowers. A lower and denser plant than some of the others listed, it will tolerate quite a bit of foot traffic, and can be easily divided and spread. It grows .5-1’ and spreads to 1.5’. Prefers part to full shade and medium to wet conditions.

Tiarella cordifolia

Tiarella cordifolia, or Foamflower, colonizes nicely in moist, shady areas. With an attractive foliage and pretty spring flowers, it starts off a bit slowly, then begins to fill out densely by about the third growing season. Each plant reaches .75-1’ tall and 1-2’ wide. This one is also relatively tolerant of light foot traffic once established. Rabbit and deer resistant. It seems to want to naturally grow in areas with moisture-loving ferns and moss.

Fragaria virginiana

Fragaria virginiana, Wild Strawberry, is a lovely evergreen groundcover that spreads quickly and aggressively, will tolerate full sun to mostly shade (though it thins out a bit in darker shade), and produces a delicious edible (though relatively small) berry! I often find my resident box turtles hiding in this bed, and even laying their eggs here, so it seems to provide great habitat, too! This plant, though aggressive in its spread (spreads by stolon, similar to traditional edible strawberry), does not seem to spread quite as densely and so can be mixed in with other things. My Strawberry bed has Wild Columbine mixed in and seeding into gaps as they open up, as well as Wild Viola and Carolina Petunia, with their exploding seed capsules - they all seem to work together to fill the bed in nicely. This plant only reaches .25-.75’, and can spread indefinitely (so does well in a bed that has something bordering it - my strawberry beds border a stone patio and concrete driveway, containing it). Moderate water requirement, deer resistant, drought resistant, and relatively tolerant of very light traffic once established.

Fragaria functions as host plant to 73 species of butterflies and moths in our area (Virginia Beach, VA).

Viola sororia (?)

Violas, like those often found in lawns, can make a great lawn replacement or evergreen groundcover in the right conditions (seen here mixing with the native Wild Strawberries).These spread by seed in average soil in full sun to part shade. They have a purple flower spring to summer, and are deer resistant, and very tolerant of clay soil and Black Walnut. They are fairly diminutive with a height and spread of less than 1’. With tough foliage, they are very tolerant of foot traffic.

Viola functions as host plant to 30 species of butterflies and moths in our area (Virginia Beach, VA).

Erigeron pulchellus ‘Lynnhaven Carpet’

Erigeron pulchellus ‘Lynnhaven Carpet Flower’ is a locally found cultivar of Robin’s Plantain. Mine (pictured) was just planted this summer and has not had an opportunity to begin filling in yet, but this will spread well in optimal conditions by seeding and stolons. The basal leaves remain very low, though the white spring flowers can reach 1.5-2’ tall, with similar spread. These prefer full sun, though they’ll tolerate part sun, and need dry to medium, well-drained POOR soil. Basal leaves clump fairly densely and tolerate occassional foot traffic.

Erigeron functions as host plant to 20 species of butterflies and moths in our area (Virginia Beach, VA).

This is just a quick glimpse at several of the evergreen groundcovers growing around my own property and not nearly a complete list (it doesn’t even touch the Carex genus!).

What are your favorite evergreen groundcovers? Leave your comments below!

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