Ground Cover
Achillea ageratifolia:
Greek Yarrow
Dense gray-green foliage with profuse small daisy-like
flowers in late spring. Slowly grows to 10" high and
1.5' wide. Deer and rabbit resistant.
Cutting-propagated. Requires well-drained soil, low water
needs once established.
Perennial, evergreen in mild winters. Full sun. USDA
hardiness zones 4-9.
Calylophus hartwegii: Sundrops
Dalea capitata:
Lemon Dalea
A ground cover that grows to 8-12" high and 3' wide.
Bright green, fine-textured, lemon-scented leaves. Rabbit resistant.
Small yellow flower spikes cover plant spring and fall. Variety
'Sierra Gold' is better bloomer. Attracts butterflies.
Possible scruffy appearance in winter. Trim back to spur
new growth in spring. Needs well-drained soil. Drought tolerant
but accepts regular water. Never fertilize. Full sun.
Deciduous at 27°F. USDA hardiness zones 7-11.
Oenothera speciosa: Mexican Evening Primrose
Oenothera stubbei:
Chihuahuan Evening Primrose
An evening blooming plant that becomes a dark green mat
5" high and 4' wide. Stems root along the ground,
forming offset plants. Yellow 2" flowers bloom in spring
and sporadically rest of year. Low water. Full sun to part shade.
Perennial. USDA hardiness zones 9-11.
Stemodia tomentosa:
Woolly Stemodia
A mat-forming, herbaceous ground cover with soft, silver-gray
foliage similar to Lamb's Ears.
Small blue-violet, long-blooming flowers.
Grows at moderate rate 1-6" tall if given good drainage. Low water.
Stem nodes root where they touch soil. Does not tolerate foot traffic.
Deer resistant. Full sun to part shade. Perennial.
USDA hardiness zones 8-10.
Thymus serpyllum 'Pink Chintz':
Pink Chintz Creeping Thyme
With extra water, a vigorous grower to 1" high and 1.5'
wide. Very tolerant of dry conditions. Green leaves with pink
flowers in early spring. Longer blooming than most. Rabbit and
deer resistant. Tolerates light foot traffic. Cutting-propagated.
Evergreen to cold-deciduous. Full sun. Drought tolerant.
USDA hardiness zones 4-9.
Thymus 'Reiter':
Reiter Creeping Thyme
A tough, vigorous grower to 3" high and 2.5' wide.
Olive-green foliage grows thickly and can choke out many weeds.
Tolerates more foot traffic than most thyme varieties.
Small, fragrant, purple flowers in mid-summer can be dead-headed
with lawn mower. Rabbit and deer resistant. Cutting-propagated.
Perennial. Full sun. Drought tolerant. USDA hardiness zones 4-9.
Ground Cover and Erosion Control
Buchloe dactyloides: Buffalo Grass
Calliandra eriophylla: Fairy Duster
Cynodon dactylon: Bermuda Grass
Dalea greggii:
Trailing Indigo Bush
A native ground cover with a moderate growth rate to 18" high and 6' to 9' wide.
Gray-green hairy leaves. Small rose to purple flowers in a flower head to 3/4" wide.
Attracts butterflies. Food plant for the Southern Dogface and Reakirt's Blue caterpillars.
Roots as it spreads. Erosion control on slopes.
Does not tolerate foot traffic. Water monthly in dry season for best appearance.
Never fertilize. Full sun. Evergreen. USDA hardiness zones 8b-11.
Duchesnea indica:
Mock Strawberry
Low to the ground with trailing stolons that root
firmly in the soil. Bright green strawberry-like leaves.
Yellow 1/2" flowers followed by red tasteless fruit
that stands above leaves. Drought tolerant once established.
Best used as a ground cover under trees or shrubs. Suitable
for erosion control on moist, shaded slopes. Invasive in
wet areas. Part shade in summer. Perennial.
USDA hardiness zones 5-10.
Hypericum calycinum:
St. Johns Wort
Rapidly spreads by vigorous underground stems.
Grows to 1' high. Leaves are medium green in sun,
yellow green in shade.
Dies back in hard freeze then returns in spring.
Yellow flowers throughout summer. Controls erosion on hillsides.
Set plants 1.5' apart. Mow every 3 years in dormant season.
Low to moderate water. Needs part shade in summer heat. Semi-evergreen.
USDA hardiness zones 4-9.
Lonicera japonica: Japanese Honeysuckle
Macfadyena unguis-cati: Cat's Claw Vine
Mahonia repens (berberis repens):
Creeping Oregon Grape
Slowly grows to 1' high and 3' wide. Spreads by
underground runners. Holly-like green leaves turn bronze
in cold weather. Excellent ground cover and erosion fighter.
Fragrant yellow flowers in dense clusters appear April to
June. Edible blue berries. Drought tolerant. Needs
well-drained soil. Full sun to part shade. Evergreen.
USDA hardiness zones 5-9.
Malephora crocea:
Gray / Copper Ice Plant
An evergreen perennial succulent.
Moderate to rapid growth to 1' high and 6' wide.
Reddish-orange flowers appear in spring and throughout year.
Leaves are smooth, gray-green, fleshy and grow to form a
dense mat. Provides erosion control on slopes. Does not tolerate
foot traffic. Salt tolerant. Water monthly during drought.
Full sun. USDA hardiness zones 9b-10. Variety purpureo-crocea
'Tequila Sunrise' survives USDA hardiness zones 7-9.
Myoporum parvifolium:
Myoporum
Grows 3" to 6" high and 9' wide. Dense covering
of light green leaves. Tiny white flowers bloom in summer
followed by purple fruit. Plant 6' to 8' apart
and plants will fill in within six months. Stems root
wherever moist soil is touched. Provides erosion control on slopes.
Does not tolerate foot traffic. Well-drained, enriched soil.
Low to moderate water. Part shade or north-facing slope.
Evergreen shrub. USDA hardiness zones 9-10.
Rosa banksiae: Tombstone Rose
Larger Plants for Erosion Control
Acacia angustissima: Fern Acacia
Atriplex canescens: Four-Wing Saltbush
Epilobium canum: Hummingbird Trumpet
Fallugia paradoxa: Apache Plume
Lupinus succulentus: Arroyo Lupine
Nandina domestica 'Harbor Dwarf': Heavenly Bamboo
Opuntia engelmannii:
Prickly Pear Cactus
A native cactus that grows to 8' tall and as wide.
Wide shallow roots and large area of vertical pads allow
this plant to provide good erosion control on slopes
and banks. If soil elsewhere is too hard for digging,
gardeners know that soil around prickly pear is soft and
can easily be planted. This cactus should be removed by
pickaxe and not by motorized scoop which will also remove
surrounding soil. Replace cactus with any non-prickly plant
that will provide erosion control.
USDA hardiness zones 8-12.
Robinia neomexicana: Desert Locust
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