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 PLANT
LIST: GROUNDCOVER
The
following groundcover is well adapted for use in the High Desert.
There are many more water efficient plants carried by local nurseries,
or ones you have had good success with that expand your plant choices.
Using
the following plants will help save High Desert water resources
only if you combine them with thoughtful garden planning and proper
watering strategies.
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Achillea
spacies, Yarrow, fern-like foliage used as groundcover
or accent plant, fire retardant, spreading, 18 inch high maximum,
good for slopes, free blooming white or yellow summer to fall,
use dried flowers in arrangements. |
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Artemisia
species, Wormwood Sage, commonly with silver or gray
foliage and pungent odor. Many varieties of varied sizes, all
sun loving and drought tolerant. Use as a foliage accent color
with other green shrubs or groundcovers, flowers generally inconspicuous.
Cut back in winter if needed. |
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Baccharis
pilularis, "Centennial," Coyote Brush,
full sun to part shade, glossy green leaves, 3 feet high, 5
foot spread. Use as ground cover, on level or sloping ground,
prune back once per year to maintain appearance. |
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Cerastium
tomentosum, Snow-in-Summer, low growing groundcover
or edging plant, gray foliage, mass of white flowers in late
spring and summer, mix as an underplanting with green groundcover,
and shrubs, best with light shade, will easily recover from
poor winter looks. |
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Festuca
ovina glauca, Blue Fescue, clumping bluegreen grass
which forms 3 - 4 inch high mounds. Takes sun but does best
in partial shade and with consistent water. Tolerates no foot
traffic. Use in rock gardens, on north or east exposures, or
as a border to lawns or walks. Cut back after flowering. |
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Gazania
species, Gazania, low growing groundcover with a
spectacular display of daisy-like flowers ranging from yellow
to dark red in late spring and summer. Both clumping and trailing
varieties. Gazania usually dies out in two to three seasons,
requiring replanting. Native to South Africa. Full sun. |
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Helianthemum
nummularium, Sunrose, evergreen, small shrub to 12
inches, grayish green foliage with a variety of spring flowers,
cut back to encourage tall blooms, use in rock gardens to drape
over planters, fire retardant. Partial shade or east exposures. |
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Oenothera
berlandieri, Mexican Evening Primrose, deciduous
low growing, spreading roots, with bright pink flowers, use
for annual color, good for slopes, fire retardant. Full sun
or partial shade. |
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Pyracantha
species, Pyracantha, a hardy, evergreen shrub with
cream white flowers in spring and numerous colorful red berries
through the fall and winter. Grows 5 - 12 feet high and wide.
Stems are quite thorny. Use as a screen, on a fence, or as a
spreading groundcover. Full sun. Can freeze back during High
Desert winters. |
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Rosmarinus
officinalis, Rosemary, evergreen, aromatic foliage,
2 feet high with 4 feet or more spread, light blue winter and
spring flowers, attracts birds and bees. Sun to partial shade.
Comes in both low spreading and tall (6 feet or more) varieties. |
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Santolina
chamacyporissus, Lavender Cotton, 1 foot high clumping
groundcover with gray foliage, yellow summer flowers. Or try
Santolina virens, same as above but with deep green foliage,
cut back to keep low. Full sun with welldrained soil. |
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Thymus
species, Thyme, herbaceous groundcovers for full
sun or part shade, best as edging plants and in rock gardens.
Grows to 12 inches, moderate spreader, purple flowers in summer.
Cut back after bloom ends. Note: many herbs do well in the High
Desert, but may freeze back during the winter. |
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Verbena
peruviana, Verbena, attractive, low-growing, perennial
groundcover with profuse pink to red spring flowers. Takes full
sun, good for use in narrow planting beds, rock gardens, or
to cover moderate slopes. |
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