Explore More Ground Covers for Shade

Bugleweed

Ajuga species – Bugleweed

Moderate sun to shade, relatively fast grower, and semi-evergreen. Moderate foot traffic. Color of foliage ranges from burgundy to variegation with variety.

Lady's Mantle

Alchemilla mollis – Lady’s Mantle

Prefers moist, rich soil, deciduous. Pleated gray-green foliage with chartreuse flowers.

Plant with medicinal properties. Bearberry Leaves, Arctostaphylos uva-ursi - Plant with medicinal properties. Leaves and flowers of Bearberry, bear grape, Arctostaphylos uva-ursi — Bearberry Plant

Kinnikinnick

Arctostaphylos uva-ursi – Kinnikinnick

Evergreen. Tolerates full sun to afternoon shade. Requires little water and care once established. Pinkish-white urn-shaped flowers.

Wild Ginger

Asarum caudatum – Wild Ginger

Prefers moist, humus rich soil. Heart-shaped leaves.

Bunchberry

Cornus Canadensis – Bunchberry

Prefers moist, acidic soil, slow growing and spreading, white flowers.

Cymbalaria muralis is a wild and medicinal plant with purple flowers. — Cymbalaria Muralis

Kenilworth Ivy

Cymbalaria muralis – Kenilworth Ivy

Prefers moist, rich soil, semi-evergreen. Dainty creeper.

close-up of yellow inflorescences of epimedium or barrenwort in a spring garden — Epimedium

Epimedium Species

Epimedium species

Semi-evergreen to evergreen. Tolerates dry conditions but best with moderate water. Low maintenance. Flowers in spring.

A closeup of pink blossoming redstem filaree or Erodium cicutarium in a garden — Erodium Cicutarium

Alpine Geranium

Erodium – Alpine Geranium

Adds a beautiful detail to a site in need of a small scale ground cover. Members of the geranium family.

Bedstraw (Galium odoratum) blooms in spring in the wild in the forest — Galium Odoratum

Sweet Woodruff

Galium odoratum – Sweet Woodruff

Prefers rich, moist soil, dense mats of green foliage, fragrant, white flowers.

Wintergreen

Gaultheria procumbens – Wintergreen

Evergreen. Slow growing. Glossy, oval leaves. White flowers followed by scarlet berries.

a lot of flowers on the bush with bright green leaves, Vancouver Island, Canada — Salal

Salal

Gaultheria shallon – Salal

Evergreen. Native to Pacific NW. Tolerates sun, moist. Prefers acidic soil, excellent for covering large areas. Edible fruit.

Cotula leptinella potentillina many plant green background — Cotula Leptinella Potentillina

New Zealand Brass Buttons

Leptinella species – New Zealand Brass Buttons

Evergreen. Can tolerate sun, moderate foot traffic, tight growing ground cover.

Golden Creeping Jenny

Lysimachia nummularia ‘Aurea’ – Golden Creeping Jenny

Prefers rich, moist soil, low and fast growing, moderate foot traffic, bright yellow flowers.

Corsican Mint

Mentha requienii – Corsican Mint

Prefers moist, rich soil. Mint fragrance, forms tight green carpet, can take light foot traffic.

blue forget-me-not flowers, sky color flowers on a green background, evening summer evening, close-up flowers on a blurred background, natural development, photo for inspiration — Forget-Me-Not Flowers

Myosotis Sylvatica Varieties

Myosotis sylvatica varieties

Prefers average to moist well-drained soil. Self sows, blue, white or rose flowers, grows easily and thickly.

Oxalis oregana

Oxalis oregana

Native to Oregon, prefers frequent watering, flowers in spring, sometimes again in fall, green, clover like leaves.

Japanese Spurge

Pachysandra terminalis – Japanese Spurge

Evergreen. Prefers moist, acidic soil, will cover an area rapidly. Dark, glossy foliage, blooms in spring, excellent under trees.

Creeping Phlox

Phlox stolonifera – Creeping Phlox

Evergreen. Prefers rich, well drained, moist soils, slowly forms dense cover, blooms May-June. Needs some direct sun.

Macro photo of a Blue Star Flower, Isotoma fluviatilis. — Blue Star Flower

Star Creeper

Pratia – Star Creeper

Tolerant of heavy foot traffic, a great choice for pathways and between stepping stones. The seed pods attract birds and the plants make a good lawn substitute.

Saxifraga Stolonifera

Saxifraga stolonifera

Evergreen. Prefers well drained, moist soil. Can take soil on the dryer side more than other species. Forms dense mat of glossy green foliage with scalloped edges. Flowers May-June.