Native Ground Covers for Beauty and Biodiversity at the Ground Level

by Heather McCargo

Groundcovers are low-growing plants that fill in quickly to make a dense carpet of foliage. Once established, they’ll crowd out weeds, provide year-round protection to the soil, and offer overwintering habitat for native fauna.

Ideally, a groundcover should include several species combined to create a beautiful tapestry of foliage and blooms, offering a long season of interest to humans and pollinators. Choose species with a similar growth rate for low-maintenance planting.

Below are some favorite groundcover combinations for a variety of growing conditions ranging from shade to sun. Choose at least three species suited to your site conditions. For a visually dynamic planting and to create a more diverse habitat with safe places for birds and pollinators to forage and hide, include larger shrubs and trees.

Species marked with an * are tolerant of tough urban and roadside conditions such as infertile soil and salt spray.
Species marked with a # indicate species native south or west of Maine.

Part to Full Shade for Large Sites

These four species are vigorous growers for large, low-maintenance shady sites. These species are too dominant for small landscapes, unless bordered by pavement or lawn:

• May-apple (Podophyllum peltatum) #

• Canada windflower (Anemone canadensis)

• Eastern hay-scented fern (Dennstaedtia punctilobula)

• Large-leaved wood aster (Eurybia macrophylla)

may apple, Canada windflower, hay-scented fern, large-leaved wood aster

Part to Full Shade with Medium Moisture and Moderately Fertile soils

• Canada wild ginger (Asarum canadense)

• Golden star (Chrysogonum virginianum) #

• Wild bleeding-heart (Dicentra eximia) #

• White wood-aster (Symphyotrichum divaricata)

• Creeping wood phlox (Phlox stolonifera) #

• Foam-flower (Tiarella cordifolia)

• Maidenhair fern (Adiantum peltatum)

• New York fern (Thelypteris noveboracensis)

• Lady fern (Athyrium filix-femina)

• Sensitive fern (Onoclea sensibilities)

• Allegany spurge (Pachysandra procumbens) #

• Golden groundsel (Packera aurea)

• Spreading Jacob’s-ladder (Polemonium reptans) #

• King Solomon’s-seal (Polygonatum biflorum var. commutatum)

• New England violet (Viola novae-angliae)

wood phlox, wild ginger, foam flower, maidenhair fern & solomon seal, bleeding heart

Part Shade, Moist to Dry Acid Soils (near spruce, firs, and pines)

• Bunchberry (Chamaepericlymenum canadense)

• Wintergreen (Gaultheria procumbens)

• Large-leaved wood-aster (Eurybia macrophylla)

• White wood-aster (Symphyotrichum divaricatus)

• Canada-mayflower (Maianthemum canadense)

• Eastern hay-scented fern (Dennstaedtia punctilobula)

• New York Fern (Thelypteris noveboracensis)

• Common strawberry (Fragaria virginiana)

• Lowbush blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium)

strawberry, white wood aster, bunchberry, hay-scented fern, low-bush blueberry

Full Sun and Dry Sandy or Gravelly Soil

• Bearberry (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi)

• Sand/moss phlox (Phlox bifida, P. subulata) #

• Common strawberry (Fragaria virginiana)

• Bush-honeysuckle (Diervilla lonicera) *

• Juniper (Juniperus horizontalis)

• Fragrant sumac (Rhus aromatica) # *

bush honeysuckle, strawberry, bearberry, moss phlox, fragrant sumac

Full to Part Sun for Medium Moisture and Fertile Soils

• Canada windflower (Anemone canadensis)

• Heart-leaved golden Alexanders (Zizia aptera) #

• Wild bleeding-heart (Dicentra eximia) #

• Spreading Jacob’s-ladder (Polemonium reptans) #

Note: In full sun with moist fertile soil, weeding will still be needed.

heart-leaved golden alexander, spreading jacob’s ladder, bleeding heart, Canada windflower

Woody Shrubs for Low-Maintenance Plantings

• Bearberry (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi)

• Sweet-fern (Comptonia peregrina) *

• Bush-honeysuckle (Diervilla lonicera) *

• Juniper (Juniperus horizontalis)

• Virginia-creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia)

• Fragrant sumac (Rhus aromatica) # *

• Flowering raspberry (Rubus odoratus)

• Shrub yellowroot (Xanthorhiza simplicissima) #

• Bearberry (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi)

sweet-fern, virginia creeper, fragrant sumac, bush honeysuckle, flowering raspberry