Ground Cover Plants
Garden Guides | Garden Design ServiceDon't forget to read our article "Lawn Alternatives Using California Native Plants" (opens in a new window) for suggestions on ground covers and their use in a water-friendly garden setting.
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Sun | Sun-Part Shade | Sun-Shade | Part Shade | Shade-Part Shade
| Botanic Name | Common Name | Size | Exposure | Water | Type | Deer Tolerant? | Clay Tolerant? | Good w/ Oaks? |
Arctostaphylos 'John Dourley'  | 'John Dourley' Manzanita | 3'h x 8'w | Sun | Occ.H2O/dry | shrub |  Resistance: medium | ||
| Arctostaphylos 'Pacific Mist' | 'Pacific Mist' Manzanita | 2'h x 6'w | Sun | Occ.H2O/dry | shrub | Resistance: medium | ||
| Arctostaphylos 'Winterglow' | Winterglow Manzanita | 2'h x 6'w | Sun | Occ.H2O/dry | shrub | Resistance: medium | ||
| Arctostaphylos edmundsii 'Bert Johnson' | Bronze Mat Manzanita | 1'h x 6'w | Sun | Occ.H2O/dry | shrub | Resistance: medium | ||
| Arctostaphylos edmundsii 'Carmel Sur' | Bronze Mat Manzanita | 1'h x 6'w | Sun | Occ.H2O/dry | shrub | Resistance: medium |  |  |
| Arctostaphylos edmundsii 'Rosy Dawn' | 'Rosy Dawn' Manzanita | 1'h x 6'w | Sun | Occ.H2O/dry | shrub | Resistance: medium | ||
| Arctostaphylos hookeri 'Buxifolia' | Manzanita | 1'h x 5'w | Sun | Occ.H2O/dry | shrub | Resistance: medium | ||
| Arctostaphylos hookeri 'Ken Taylor' | Monterey Manzanita | 2'h x 6'w | Sun | Occ.H2O/dry | shrub | Resistance: medium | | |
| Arctostaphylos hookeri 'Monterey Carpet' | 'Monterey Carpet' Manzanita | 1'h x 8'+w | Sun | Occ.H2O/dry | shrub | Resistance: medium | ||
| Artemisia californica 'Canyon Grey' | California Sagebrush | 3'h x 6'w | Sun | Occ.H2O/dry | shrub | Resistance: high | ||
| Artemisia pycnocephala 'David's Choice' | Sand Hill Sage | 1'h x 3'w | Sun | Occ.H2O/dry | shrub | Resistance: high | ||
| Aster chilensis | Chilean Aster | 1'h x 3'w | Sun | Occ.H2O/dry | perennial | Resistance: medium | | |
| Baccharis pilularis pilularis 'Twin Peaks II' | Coyote Bush | 4'h x 8'w | Sun | Occ.H2O/dry | shrub | Resistance: high | | |
| Ceanothus maritimus 'Popcorn' | Maritime Ceanothus | 2'h x 4'w | Sun | Occ.H2O/dry | shrub | |||
| Epilobium 'Brilliant Smith' | California Fuchsia | 1'h x 2'w | Sun | Occ.H2O/moist | perennial | Resistance: medium | ||
| Epilobium canum 'Everett's Choice' | California Fuchsia | 1'h x 2'w | Sun | Occ.H2O/dry | perennial | Resistance: medium | ||
| Epilobium canum 'Hurricane Point' | California Fuchsia | 1'h x 2'w | Sun | Occ.H2O/dry | perennial | Resistance: medium | ||
| Epilobium canum 'UC Hybrid' | California Fuchsia | 1'h x 2'w | Sun | Summer dry | perennial | Resistance: medium | ||
| Epilobium canum latifolium | California Fuchsia | 1'h x 2'w | Sun | Occ.H2O/dry | perennial | Resistance: medium | ||
| Epilobium septentrionalis 'Wayne's Silver' | California Fuchsia | 1'h x 2'w | Sun | Occ.H2O/moist | perennial | Resistance: medium | ||
| Lessingia filaginifolia 'Silver Carpet' | California Beach Aster | 1'h x 4'w | Sun | Occ.H2O/dry | perennial | Resistance: high | ||
| Salvia 'Bee's Bliss' | Sage | 2'h x 6'w | Sun | Occ.H2O/dry | shrub | Resistance: high | ||
| Salvia 'Dara's Choice' | Dara's Choice Hybrid Sage | 2'h x 3'w | Sun | Occ.H2O/dry | shrub | Resistance: high | | |
| Salvia leucophylla 'Point Sal' | Purple Sage | 3'h x 6'w | Sun | Occ.H2O/dry | shrub | Resistance: high | ||
| Solidago californica | Californica Goldenrod | 2'h x 4'w | Sun | Occ.H2O/moist | perennial | | ||
| Solidago canadensis | Canada Goldenrod | 2'h x 4'w | Sun | Occ.H2O/dry | perennial | | ||
| Solidago multiradiata | Goldenrod | 2'h x 2'w | Sun | Occ.H2O/dry | perennial |
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Sun | Sun-Part Shade | Sun-Shade | Part Shade | Shade-Part Shade
| Botanic Name | Common Name | Size | Exposure | Water | Type | Deer Tolerant? | Clay Tolerant? | Good w/ Oaks? |
| Achillea millefolium 'Calistoga' | Grey-Leaved Yarrow | 1'h x 3'w | Sun-Part Shade | Occ.H2O/dry | perennial | Resistance: medium | | |
| Achillea millefolium 'King Range' | White Yarrow | 1'h x 3'w | Sun-Part Shade | Occ.H2O/dry | perennial | Resistance: medium | | |
| Achillea millefolium 'Pink Island Form' | Yarrow | 1'h x 3'w | Sun-Part Shade | Occ.H2O/dry | perennial | Resistance: medium | | |
| Achillea millefolium 'Sonoma Coast' | Sonoma White Yarrow | 1'h x 3'w | Sun-Part Shade | Occ.H2O/dry | perennial | Resistance: medium | | |
| Arctostaphylos 'Emerald Carpet' | 'Emerald Carpet' Manzanita | 1'h x 6'w | Sun-Part Shade | Occ.H2O/dry | shrub | Resistance: medium | | |
| Arctostaphylos 'Seaspray' | 'Seaspray' Manzanita | 1'h x 4'w | Sun-Part Shade | Occ.H2O/dry | shrub | Resistance: medium | | |
| Arctostaphylos hookeri 'Wayside' | 'Wayside' Monterey Manzanita | 3'h x 8'w | Sun-Part Shade | Occ.H2O/dry | shrub | Resistance: medium | | |
| Arctostaphylos uva-ursi 'Green Supreme' | 'Green Supreme' Bearberry | 1'h x 6'w | Sun-Part Shade | Occ.H2O/dry | shrub | Resistance: medium | | |
| Arctostaphylos uva-ursi 'Point Reyes' | 'Pt. Reyes' Bearberry | 1'h x 6'w | Sun-Part Shade | Occ.H2O/dry | shrub | Resistance: medium | | |
| Arctostaphylos uva-ursi 'Radiant' | 'Radiant' Bearberry | 1'h x 6'w | Sun-Part Shade | Occ.H2O/dry | shrub | Resistance: medium | | |
| Arctostaphylos uva-ursi 'San Bruno Mountain' | 'San Bruno Mtn.' Bearberry | 1'h x 6'w | Sun-Part Shade | Occ.H2O/dry | shrub | Resistance: medium | | |
| Baccharis pilularis 'Pigeon Pt.' | Dwarf Coyote Bush | 3'h x 8'w | Sun-Part Shade | Occ.H2O/dry | shrub | Resistance: high | | |
| Berberis aquifolium compacta | Oregon Grape | 2'h x 4'w | Sun-Part Shade | Occ.H2O/dry | shrub | Resistance: high | | |
| Bouteloua gracilis | Eyelash Grass | 1'h x 1'w | Sun-Part Shade | Occ.H2O/dry | grass | Resistance: high | ||
| Calamagrostis foliosa | Leafy Reed Grass | 1'h x 2'w | Sun-Part Shade | Occ.H2O/moist | grass | Resistance: high | | |
| Carex praegracilis | Clustered Field Sedge | 1'h x 2'w | Sun-Part Shade | Occ.H2O/moist | sedge | Resistance: high | | |
| Ceanothus 'Centennial' | Wild Lilac | 1'h x 6'w | Sun-Part Shade | Occ.H2O/dry | shrub | | ||
| Ceanothus 'Diamond Heights' | Variegated Carmel Creeper | 2'h x 6'w | Sun-Part Shade | Occ.H2O/dry | shrub | |||
| Ceanothus gloriosus 'Anchor Bay' | Point Reyes Ceanothus | 2'h x 6'w | Sun-Part Shade | Occ.H2O/dry | shrub | Resistance: medium | | |
| Ceanothus gloriosus 'Heart's Desire' | Glory Mat | 1'h x 6'w | Sun-Part Shade | Occ.H2O/dry | shrub | Resistance: medium | | |
| Ceanothus gloriosus exaltatus 'Emily Brown' | Point Reyes Ceanothus | 3'h x 8'w | Sun-Part Shade | Occ.H2O/dry | shrub | Resistance: medium | | |
| Ceanothus hearstiorum | Hearst Ceanothus | 1'h x 6'w | Sun-Part Shade | Occ.H2O/dry | shrub | Resistance: medium | | |
| Ceanothus maritimus 'Frosty Dawn' | Maritime Ceanothus | 2'h x 4'w | Sun-Part Shade | Occ.H2O/dry | shrub | Resistance: medium | | |
| Ceanothus maritimus 'Point Sierra' | Maritime Ceanothus | 2'h x 4'w | Sun-Part Shade | Occ.H2O/dry | shrub | Resistance: medium | ||
| Deschampsia caespitosa | Tufted Hair Grass | 2'h x 2'w | Sun-Part Shade | Occ.H2O/moist | grass | Resistance: high | | |
| Epilobium 'Bowman's #1' | California Fuchsia | 1'h x 2'w | Sun-Part Shade | Occ.H2O/dry | perennial | Resistance: medium | ||
| Epilobium canum 'Calistoga' | California Fuchsia | 1'h x 2'w | Sun-Part Shade | Occ.H2O/dry | perennial | Resistance: medium | ||
| Epilobium canum 'Carman's Gray' | California Fuchsia | 1'h x 2'w | Sun-Part Shade | Occ.H2O/dry | perennial | Resistance: medium | ||
| Epilobium canum 'Sierra Salmon' | Pink Flowered California Fuchsia | 1'h x 2'w | Sun-Part Shade | Occ.H2O/dry | perennial | Resistance: medium | ||
| Epilobium canum 'Solidarity Pink' | California Fuchsia | 1'h x 2'w | Sun-Part Shade | Occ.H2O/dry | perennial | Resistance: medium | ||
| Epilobium canum canum | California Fuchsia | 1'h x 2'w | Sun-Part Shade | Occ.H2O/dry | perennial | Resistance: medium | | |
| Epilobium septentrionalis 'Select Mattole' | California Fuchsia | 1'h x 2'w | Sun-Part Shade | Occ.H2O/moist | perennial | Resistance: medium | ||
| Festuca rubra | Red Fescue | 1'h x 2'w | Sun-Part Shade | Occ.H2O/moist | grass | | | |
| Fragaria chiloensis | Beach Strawberry | 1'h x 2'w | Sun-Part Shade | Occ.H2O/moist | perennial | Resistance: medium | | |
| Heterotheca sess. bolanderi 'San Bruno Mtn.' | Golden Aster | 1'h x 3'w | Sun-Part Shade | Occ.H2O/dry | perennial | Resistance: high | | |
| Melica sp. | Native Melic | 1'h x 1'w | Sun-Part Shade | Occ.H2O/dry | grass | Resistance: high | ||
| Salvia mellifera 'Terra Seca' | 'Terra Seca' Black Sage | 2'h x 6'w | Sun-Part Shade | Occ.H2O/dry | shrub | Resistance: high | | |
| Salvia sonomensis | Creeping Sage | 1'h x 3'w | Sun-Part Shade | Summer dry | shrub | Resistance: high | | |
| Salvia spathacea | Hummingbird Sage | 2'h x 4'w | Sun-Part Shade | Occ.H2O/dry | perennial | Resistance: high | | |
| Salvia spathacea 'Avis Keedy' | Yellow-Flowered Hummingbird Sage | 2'h x 4'w | Sun-Part Shade | Occ.H2O/dry | perennial | Resistance: high | | |
| Salvia spathacea 'Powerline Pink' | Hummingbird Sage | 2'h x 4'w | Sun-Part Shade | Occ.H2O/dry | perennial | Resistance: high | | |
| Sidalcea malvaeflora 'Palustre' | Checker Bloom | 1'h x 1'w | Sun-Part Shade | Occ.H2O/dry | perennial | Resistance: medium | | |
| Solidago sp. | Goldenrod | 2'h x 4'w | Sun-Part Shade | Occ.H2O/dry | perennial |
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Sun | Sun-Part Shade | Sun-Shade | Part Shade | Shade-Part Shade
| Botanic Name | Common Name | Size | Exposure | Water | Type | Deer Tolerant? | Clay Tolerant? | Good w/ Oaks? |
| Lonicera hispidula vacillans | Hairy Honeysuckle | 10'h x 10'w | Sun-Shade | Occ.H2O/moist | vine | Resistance: medium | | |
| Rubus ursinus | Western Blackberry | 1'h x 4'w | Sun-Shade | Occ.H2O/moist | vine | Resistance: high | | |
| Symphoricarpos mollis | Creeping Snowberry | 1'h x 3'w | Sun-Shade | Occ.H2O/dry | shrub | Resistance: medium | |
View By Exposure Type:
Sun | Sun-Part Shade | Sun-Shade | Part Shade | Shade-Part Shade
| Botanic Name | Common Name | Size | Exposure | Water | Type | Deer Tolerant? | Clay Tolerant? | Good w/ Oaks? |
| Whipplea modesta | Yerba de Selva | 1'h x 2'w | Part Shade | Occ.H2O/dry | perennial | Resistance: medium | |
View By Exposure Type:
Sun | Sun-Part Shade | Sun-Shade | Part Shade | Shade-Part Shade
| Botanic Name | Common Name | Size | Exposure | Water | Type | Deer Tolerant? | Clay Tolerant? | Good w/ Oaks? |
| Asarum caudatum | Wild Ginger | 1'h x 2'w | Shade-Part Shade | Moist | perennial | Resistance: medium | | |
| Berberis nervosa | Northern Holly Grape | 1'h x 4'w | Shade-Part Shade | Occ.H2O/moist | shrub | Resistance: high | | |
| Berberis repens | Creeping Barberry | 2'h x 4'w | Shade-Part Shade | Occ.H2O/dry | shrub | Resistance: high | | |
| Dicentra formosa | Western Bleeding Heart | 1'h x 2'w | Shade-Part Shade | Occ.H2O/dry | perennial | Resistance: high | | |
| Festuca 'Siskiyou Blue' | Fescue | 2'h x 2'w | Shade-Part Shade | Occ.H2O/dry | grass | Resistance: high | | |
| Fragaria californica (vesca) | Woodland Strawberry | 1'h x 2'w | Shade-Part Shade | Occ.H2O/moist | perennial | Resistance: medium | | |
| Oxalis oregana | Redwood Sorrel | 1'h x 2'w | Shade-Part Shade | Occ.H2O/moist | perennial | Resistance: medium | | |
| Ribes viburnifolium | Catalina Currant | 4'h x 4'w | Shade-Part Shade | Occ.H2O/moist | shrub | Resistance: high | | |
| Satureja douglasii | Yerba Buena | 1'h x 1'w | Shade-Part Shade | Occ.H2O/dry | perennial | Resistance: high | | |