A garden is made up of many layers and, though they don't always get the same attention as their taller counterparts, groundcovers are an essential part of your landscape's composition. There's no need for these plants to take a backseat, though — this list of our favorite groundcovers for Pacific Northwest gardens offers the best of both form and function.
Groundcovers Insulate the Soil
Groundcovers are often called “living mulch” because they fulfill the same role: shading the ground, reducing moisture loss, and slowly building up organic matter that enriches the soil over time. All of that means healthier soil and less supplemental water.
Groundcovers Suppress Weeds
In nature, bare soil is recently disturbed soil — and that’s an invitation for weeds to move right in! By planting groundcovers, you can choose what fills the void and shade out competitors to save the hassle of all that weeding.
Groundcovers Create Habitat
Ground-level habitat is essential for beneficial insects like ground beetles and soil-nesting bees, as well as the soil microbiome beneath the surface.
Erosion Control Groundcovers
Hold onto your precious soil! These groundcovers are powerful soil stabilizers that help retain topsoil against erosion from wind, rain, and other disturbance.
Ajuga reptans (Bugleherb)
Dense, rapidly-spreading perennial plant with dark, glossy leaves. In the spring, the mat of foliage lights up with small spikes of periwinkle flowers. 'Black Scallop' offers deep purple-black leaves, while 'Burgundy Glow' brings in red tones.
Phlox sublata (Creeping Phlox)
Sun-loving evergreen plant that forms moss-like mats of foliage. Serves a vibrant display of spring flowers in pinks, purples, and whites (depending on the cultivar).
Rubus calycinoides (Creeping Raspberry)
A multi-functional raspberry that grows horizontally into a low-growing thicket of textured foliage and, in late summer and fall, edible berries. Has a slow creeping habit that provides soil stabilization without being too aggressive.
Pachysandra terminalis (Pachysandra)
Elegant shade groundcover with glossy rosettes of deep evergreen foliage and tiny white flower spikes in the spring. Creates a gorgeous green carpet for a garden bed, but be mindful of planting near wild woodlands.
Drought-Tolerant Groundcovers
When few other plants can survive in a dry, full-sun area, these drought-tolerant groundcovers will thrive. Plus, they really excel at that coveted moisture-retention for far healthier soil than a bare patch.
Iberis sempervirens (Candytuft)
Mounding evergreen groundcover with long-blooming white flowers throughout the growing season. Fast-growing and relatively low-maintenance with a lovely cascading habit. A favorite of spring bees.
Delosperma (Ice Plant)
Low-growing succulent groundcover with profuse and vibrant daisy-like blooms throughout the summer. Profoundly drought-tolerant and excellent in a rock garden. Beloved by pollinators.
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi (Kinnickinnick)
A suberb native groundcover with graceful branches of glossy evergreen leaves. As a low-growing manzanita, they produce adorable bell-shaped flowers in the spring and bright red berries to feed wild birds in the winter.
Sedum sp. (Stonecrop)
A family of succulent groundcovers that make excellent candidates for rock gardens and other dry, well-drained spots. A range of textures and colors allow for diverse designs. Small white to yellow flowers are a magnet for bees and other pollinators. Sedum oreganum and Sedum spatulifolium are great native options.
Helianthemum (Sunrose)
Easy-going and supremely drought-tolerant plant that loves full sun. 2" flowers resemble a wild rose and come in a range of colors, depending on the cultivar. Technically a low-growing shrub with a neat mounding habit — closely related to the larger rockrose (Cistus sp.).
Steppable Groundcovers
Whether you want to replace your lawn or fill in the spaces around your stepping stones, these groundcovers are soft to the touch and can handle light to moderate foot traffic.
Sagina sublata (Irish Moss)
Supremely soft, mosslike carpet of evergreen foliage that weaves beautifully around stepping stones. Flowers in spring, handles foot traffic, and stays incredibly low for a no-mow lawn alternative. The standard form is a lush green, while 'Aurea' has vibrant chartreuse foliage.
Leptinella sp. (Brass Buttons)
Low-growing groundcover that spreads rhizomatically into soft mats of fern-like foliage. Colors range from green to brassy to almost black. Tolerant of moderate foot traffic.
Cymbalaria aequitriloba (Kenilworth Ivy)
Small, scalloped green leaves with a trailing habit. Come summer, the eye-catching purple blooms resemble snapdragons and offer some of the most attractive floral displays among the groundcovers.
Thymus sp. (Creeping Thyme)
Aromatic evergreen groundcover with clouds of gray-green foliage that can hold up to light traffic. If you're looking for a flowering groundcover, thyme delivers prolific pink-to-lavender flowers in the summertime.
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