Fragaria virginiana

Wild or Virginia Strawberry has white flowers which provide early-season nectar. Decorative in a hanging pot and effective as a ground cover as it spreads readily by stolons. Having high ecological value, it provides early season nectar, pollen & serves as a larval host plant. Provenance: Kentucky.

Light: Full to Part Sun
Soil: Average
Height: 4 to 7 inches
Blooms: April-June
Flowers: White

Stylophorum diphyllum

Darling little plant useful as an early season ground cover. Self-sows in favorable conditions. Grown from Kentucky-source seed.

Light: Part Shade to Full Shade
Soil: Moist
Height: to 1.5 feet
Blooms: April-June
Flowers: Yellow

Equisetum hyemale

Belonging to a family of primitive vascular plants, this plant does not flower but forms cone-like heads that bear spores. Evergreen stems provide very interesting visual texture in all seasons. Be forewarned that containment in a large pot is highly recommended for home use of this plant. It can spread aggressively by rhizomes, even bypassing pavement underground to colonize new areas.

Light: Full Sun to Part Shade
Soil: Average to Wet
Height: 2 to 4 feet
Blooms: None

Sedum ternatum

Hardy & unique, this trailing succulent is ideal for use as a ground cover, in a window box or rock garden. Good source for early-season nectar. Drought-tolerant once established.

Light: Part Sun
Height: 3 to 6 inches
Soil: Average
Blooms: April to May
Flowers: White

Iris cristata

Typically 6 inches or less in height, this spring-blooming iris spreads to form a lovely ground cover in a shaded portion of the garden. Deer resistant. Provenance: Kentucky.

Light: Intermediate
Soil: Average
Height: 3 to 8 inches
Blooms: April
Flowers: blue to pale blue with yellow crest

Chrysogonum virginianum

Also know as Goldstar, this is a readily-spreading & low, mat-forming perennial bearing yellow flowers. Excellent ground cover.

Light: Intermediate
Soil: Average
Height: 6 to 12 inches
Blooms: May to October
Flowers: Yellow

Phlox divaricata

Lovely low mat-forming native perennial with abundant, fragrant blue-violet flowers in spring. Useful along a path or rock garden. Prefers rich, moist well-drained humus soil.

Light: Part to Full Shade
Soil: Average
Height: to 1 foot
Blooms: April to May
Flowers: Blue-Violet

Asarum canadense

Heart shaped leaves spread via rhizomes to form an attractive ground cover for shade.

Light: Part to Full Shade
Soil: Average to Wet, Well-drained
Height: to 1 foot
Blooms: April to May (but are low to ground, making them difficult to notice)

Pachysandra procumbens

Excellent ground cover with blue-green leaves often mottled. Flowers emerge in spring, before new leaves develop.

Light: Full to Part Shade
Height: to 1 foot
Soil: Average
Blooms: March to April
Flowers: White

Eurybia macrophylla

Aka Large Leaf Aster, this plant is useful as a ground cover in moist, well drained soil in part shade. Flowers provide important late season nectar. Spreads by rhizomes in optimal conditions.

Light: best in part shade
Soil: Medium
Height: 2 to 4 feet
Blooms: September to October
Flowers: white to violet

Valeriana pauciflora

Tubular pink-white flowers occur in clusters at top of stems in spring and look quite elegant. In nature, plant may be found in moist, well-drained soil adjacent to waterways. A good candidate to place where invasive exotic Garlic mustard has been removed. Give this plant room in optimal conditions. Tends to spread readily from stolons. Provenance: Kentucky.

Light: Intermediate
Soil: moist, well-drained
Height: 1 to 2.5 feet
Blooms: Spring

Hypericum sphaerocarpum

Looking for a low-maintenance, low ground cover for a full sun, hot & possibly dry, contained situation? Ideal for a median strip, island in a parking area, etc. We have seen very few weeds come up in our raised bed with this lovely, cheerful ground cover.

Light: Full Sun to Part Shade
Soil: Dry to Medium
Height 1.5 to 2.5 feet
Blooms: June to July