GROUNDCOVERS

ARCTOSTAPHYLOS (Ericaceae)

 

Arctostaphylos uva-ursi 'Massachusetts'

H: 10-15cm           Z:2          *O.C. 50cm (2)

Vigorous, disease-resistant selection with bright-green foliage.

 

Arctostaphylos uva-ursi 'Vancouver Jade'

(Kinnikinick/Bearberry)

H:10cm                  Z:4          *O.C. 50cm (2)

Mat-forming, evergreen ground cover with low, rooting branches, glossy leaves and small, pink flowers, becoming scarlet-red fruit.  A UBC Botanical Garden introduction.

 

ARDISIA

(see Broadleaved Evergreen section)

 

CASSIOPE                                       Ericaceae

 

C. mertensiana                                White Heather

H:to 25cm                            Z:3          *O.C. 30cm (2)

L/U: mass planting

Small, spreading, evergreen, alpine shrub with upwardly-flattened, scaly foliage and small, reddish, bell-shaped, axiliary flowers.  (Mtns of Western N. America)

 

COTONEASTER (Rosaceae)

 

Cotoneaster dammeri

H:to 10cm             Z:6          *O.C. 60cm (3)

Low, evergreen ground cover with long shoots, dark, glossy-green, 3cm long leaves and white, usually solitary flowers in summer, becoming red fruit.  (Hulei, Sichuan, Guizhou, Yunnan China)

 

Cotoneaster dammeri 'Lowfast'

( syn Skogholm)

H:to 60cm             Z:5          *O.C. 60cm (2)

Spreading shrub to 2-3m wide with rooting branches and large, smooth, pale-green leaves.  Flowers in groups of 2-6, become light-red fruit.

 

 

 

Cotoneaster salicifolius 'Repens' (Avonrood)

H:60cm                  Z:7          *O.C. 60cm (2)

Low-branching shrub with non-rooting branches, glossy-green leaves, blue beneath and small, light-red fruit.  (Southwestern China)

 

CYTISUS & GENISTA         BROOMS

The following two species carry the common name "Brooms" and are therefore listed together below.  Brooms are evergreen or deciduous, ranging in size and shape from large-growing to low-spreading shrubs.  Prefer full sun, but grow well in most conditions.

 

CYTISUS                                   Leguminosae

 

C. x praecox                      Warminster Broom

H:0.9-2.m                             Z:6          *O.C. 1m (3)

L/U: mass planting on steep slopes or banks

Semi-spreading shrub with graceful, arching branches covered with masses of creamy-white flowers in early-spring.  Garden origin.

 

GENISTA                                   Leguminosae

 

G. lydia (Spathulata)

H:60cm                                 Z:5          *O.C. 60cm (3)

L/U: ground cover

Outstanding dwarf shrub with slender, pendulous branches, covered with golden-yellow flowers in early-spring.  (E. Balkans)

 

G. pilosa 'Vancouver Gold'

H:to 45cm                            Z:5          *O.C. 50cm (3)

L/U: ground cover

Spreading, mound-forming broom with small, dark-green leaves and golden-yellow flowers in April.  A UBC Botanical Garden introduction.

 

EPIMEDIUM

(see Perennials & Ferns section)

 

EUONYMUS (Celastraceae)

 

Euonymus fortunei 'Coloratus'

H:to 50cm             Z:5          *O.C. 50cm (2)

Evergreen spreading shrub, with thin, 5cm long leaves, deep-purple in fall.  Stem and leaves used in medicine.  (Eastern China)

 

Euonymus fortunei 'Emerald Gaiety'

H:40-60cm            Z:6          *O.C. 50cm (3)

Hardy, compact shrub with silver-margined leaves.

 

Euonymus fortunei 'Emerald 'N Gold'

H:25-40cm            Z:6          *O.C. 50cm (2)

Variegated green, gold and pink leaves.

 

EURYA (see Broadleaved Evergreen section)

 

GAULTHERIA (Ericaceae)

 

Gaultheria procumbens (Wintergreen)

H:to 15cm             Z:3          *O.C. 20cm (2)

Stoloniferous, creeping shrublet with small, smooth, bristly, glossy leaves, very aromatic when crushed.  White to light-pink flowers, solitary or in small racemes in summer become red fruit.  (Eastern, Central N. America)

 

Gaultheria shallon (Salal)

H:to 60cm             Z:5          *O.C. 30cm (2)

Stoloniferous ground cover forming a dense thicket of tough, bristly, ovate, 10cm long leaves.  Numerous, pendulous, white to light-pink flower racemes in summer become red to black berries.  Can grow to 2m tall in full shade.  (Alaska to Oregon)

 

GENISTA

(see Broadleaved Evergreen section)

 

GUNNERA (Gunneraceae)

 

Gunnera magellanica

H:4-12cm              Z:7

Vigorous, wide-spreading perennial ground cover with round, ruffled leaves to 8cm wide.  Prefers full sun to partial shade and wet sites.  (Argentina, Southern Chile)

 

HEATHER

L/U: ground cover, border, rockery, planter

Calluna varieties usually bloom from summer-fall, Erica from fall to late-spring.  Prune or shear after blooming to stimulate new growth.  Prefers bright sites. Combine with other acid loving plants.

 

CALLUNA                                        Ericaceae

 

C. vulgaris (assorted varieties)

H:0.50m                        Z:6          *O.C. 60cm (3)

 

ERICA                                              Ericaceae

 

E. carnea (assorted varieties)

H:0.50m                               Z:5          *O.C. 50cm (3)

HEDERA (Araliaceae)

 

Hedera canariensis (Algerian Ivy)

H:30cm                  Z:7          *O.C. 60cm (2)

A tropical-looking, rampant, shallowly-lobed, large-leaved, tender ivy with red stems and petioles.

 

Hedera helix (English Ivy)

H:to 30cm             Z:5          *O.C. 50cm (2)

L/U: ground cover, wall-covering

Hardy, evergreen, spreading shrub with small, dark-green leaves.  Tolerates sun or shade.

 

 

 

 

Hedera helix 'Baltica'

H:10cm                  Z:5          *O.C. 50cm (2)

Dark-green, medium-sized, conspicuously white-veined leaves.

 

HYPERICUM (Hypericaceae)

 

Hypericum calycinum (St. Johnswort)

H:20-60cm            Z:6          *O.C. 30cm (2)

Evergreen shrub with creeping, branching stolons, upright stems, 5-10cm long, leathery leaves.  Solitary, star-shaped, bright-yellow flowers in summer.  Shear in winter to maintain form.

 

LIRIOPE (Liliaceae) (Lily Turf)

 

Liriope muscari

H:to 45cm             Z:6

L/U: ground cover, border

Clump-forming with its tufts of dark-green, grass-like leaves.  Blooms in summer.  Prefers partial shade.

 

LONICERA (Carifoliaceae)

 

Lonicera pileata

H:to 45cm             Z:6          *O.C. 60cm (2)

Low, often prostrate evergreen to semi-deciduous shrub with purple young shoots, small, glossy dark-green, diamond-shaped leaves.  Paired, yellowish-white flowers in spring become dark-blue fruit.  (Northern, Central China)

 

 

 

OPHIOPOGON (Liliaceae)

 

Ophiopogon japonicus (Dwarf Lily Turf)

H:to 25cm             Z:7          *O.C. 30cm (2)

Clump-forming shrub when young, becoming a dense, grass-like, dark-green ground cover with 25cm long leaves.  Small, pink flowers become blue berries.  Prefers warm, protected sites.  Rhizomes used in medicine.  (Southern China)

 

 Ophiopogon japonicus 'Gyoku Ryu'

H:to 5cm                Z:7          *O.C. 20cm (2)

Low maintenance ground cover similar to the species but with a very low, compact habit and purple berries.  Introduced by Piroche Plants, 1989.  (Japan)

 

PACHYSANDRA (Buxaceae)

 

Pachysandra terminalis (Japanese Spurge)

H:20cm                  Z:5          *O.C. 20cm (2)

L/U: ground cover

Evergreen stoloniferous sub-shrub with dark-green, glossy leaves and 2-3cm wide flower spikes in spring, becoming drupe-like fruit in summer.  Prefers shade.  (Central, Zhejiang, Ganshu China)

 

PHYLLODOCE                                            Ericaceae

MOVE TO GROUNDCOVERS

P. glanduliflora

(Yellow Mountain Heather)

H:20-40cm           Z:3

Upright Heather with fragrant, yellow to olive green, single or clustered flowers with purple anthers.  (Alpine areas from Alaska to Oregon).

 

RUBUS (Rosaceae)

 

Rubus calycinoides 'Emerald Carpet'

H:to 10cm             Z:7          *O.C. 50cm (2)

Carpet-forming, semi-evergreen ground cover with rich, hairy, silvery-green leaves.  White, solitary flowers become red fruit.  A UBC Botanical Garden introduction.

 

VACCINIUM (Ericaceae)

 

Vaccinium vitis-idaea (Foxberry)

H:10-30cm            Z:5          *O.C. 30cm (2)

Creeping, evergreen shrub with dark-green, 1.5cm long leaves.  White to pink flowers from late spring to early summer become bright-red, edible fruit.  Leaves used in medicine and tea, fruit edible.  (N. America, Europe, Asia)

 

VINCA (Apocynaceae)

 

Vinca minor (Periwinkle)

H:20cm                  Z:3          *O.C. 30cm (2)

Creeping, evergreen ground cover with 10-20cm long shoots, 1-3cm long, shiny, pointed leaves and violet-purple flowers.

 

Vinca minor 'Alba'

H:20cm                  Z:3          *O.C. 30cm (2)

White-flowering variety.