Groundcovers for Slopes

Groundcovers for slopes must be able to hold the soil and protect the ground. They must be able to withstand wind and rain. Their roots and foliage must grow quickly and laterally to hold the soil.

Many groundcovers for slopes have a matting habit—growing low and wide. The spreading nature of groundcovers keeps wind, rain, and irrigation from eroding the soil and leaving bare spots.

When planting groundcovers on slopes consider the spread of the plant at maturity then plant intensively so that stems and foliage of neighboring plants will overlap and protect the soil.

Groundcovers for Slopes

A-I Common Name	Botanical Name	Zones
Basket-of-gold	Aurinia saxatilis	4-8
Blanket flower	Gaillardia x grandiflora	2-9
Candytuft, evergreen	Iberis sempervirens	4-8
Coralberry, prostrate Chenault	Symphoicarpos x chenaultii	4-7
Cotoneaster, bearberry	Cotoneaster dammeri	5-9
Freeway daisy	Osteospermum fruticosum	8-10
Hens and chicks	Sempervivum tectorum	4-10
Ice plant, hardy	Delosperma nubigenum	6-9
Ivy, English	Hedera helix	5-9

J-P Common Name	Botanical Name	Zones
Jasmine, Asiatic	Trachelospermum asiaticum	7-10
Juniper, Andorra compact	Juniperus horizontalis ‘Plumosa Compacta’	3-9
Juniper, Bar Harbor	Juniperus horizontalis ‘Bar Harbor’	3-9
Juniper, Blue Chip	Juniperus horizontalis ‘Blue Chip’	3-9
Juniper, Blue Pacific shore	Juniperus conferta ‘Blue Pacifica’	5-9
Juniper, Blue Rug	Juniperus horizontalis ‘Wiltonii’	3-9
Lilyturf	Liriope muscari	7-10
Mondo grass	Ophiopogon japonicus	7-9
Phlox, moss	Phlox subulata	2-9
Pink, Bath’s	Dianthus gratianopolitanus	4-9

R-Z Common Name	Botanical Name	Zones
Rose, Alba Meidiland	Rosa ‘Alba Meidiland’	4-8
Sedum, goldmoss	Sedum acre	4-9
Spurge, cypress	Euphorbia cyparissias	4-8
Strawberry, alpine	Fragaria vesco	3-9
Verbena, moss	Verbena pulchella	8-10
Vinca, little leaf	Vinca minor	4-8

Also of interest:

Groundcovers in Garden Design

Groundcovers for Shade

Groundcovers for Hot, Sunny Areas