Ground cover plants are very useful in the garden in stopping erosion on slopes, keeping the weeds down and providing a low growing foreground for the garden.

Creeping Wire Vine (Muhlenbeckia axillaris) is a low growing mat that spreads by rhyzomes and may be deciduous in cold winters. Can be a little invasive.
Thyme (Thymus praecox arcticus)

Dwarf Thyme (Thymus polytrichus britannicus ‘Elfin’)
California Fuchsia (Zauschneria californica)
Carmel Creeper (Ceanothus griseus var. horizontalis)
Heterotheca jonesii
Dalmatian Bellflower (Campanula portenschlagiana)

Canadian Cinquefoil (Potentilla canadensis)


Bearberry (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi)
Arctostaphylos edmundsii ‘Carmel Sur’
Mecardonia ‘Magic Carpet Yellow’
Tanacetum densum ssp amani
Origanum vulgare ‘Aureum Prostratum’
Teucrium cossonii majoricum

Germander (Teucrium lucidrys)


Euonymus fortunei ‘Kewensis’
Groundcover Rosmary (Rosmarinus officinalis ‘Prostratus’)
Inside-out Flower (Vancouveria hexandra) Good groundcover for the shade. Native to California.

Bedstraw (Galium odoratum) Also a good shade groundcover.
Alchemilla mollis. The hairs on the leaves cause the water to bead up in this interesting pattern. For part shade.

Geranium ‘Biokovo’ part shade ground cover.
Sarcococca hookeriana humilus is a low slow growing sub-shrub.
Lily of the Valley (Convallaria majalis) Photo taken in the fall.

Blue Star Creeper (Pratia pedunculata)

Plectranthus ‘Irish Mocha’
Sonoma Sage (Salvia sonomensis)
Golden cultivar of Hypericum calycinum gets burned in too much sun.
St. John’s Wort (Hypericum calycinum) recently cut back.

Chrysocephalum ‘Desert Flame’

Burmese Plumbago (Ceratostigma griffithii)
Bramble (Rubus rolfei)

Falkia repens
Dwarf Golden Bamboo is very invasive but beautiful.
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