Groundcovers are versatile, evergreen easy-grow and easy care plants. They can add colour and interest to a garden, a rockery, a shady corner or on those hard to mow slopes. These low-growing, trailing plants also provide protection from soil erosion and drought.

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aka Bidibidi

A very useful little native for use as a ground cover or to drape over the edge of a container. Creeping soft stems of small maroon coloured foliage quickly forms a dense colourful mat. Happiest growing in a sunny well drained position. Will even do well in gravel. Evergreen.

 

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aka Dark-purple Bugleweed

This ground cover has good contrast of erect, deep blue flowers with burnished purple foliage. It spreads by surface runners in the same way as a strawberry plant and can spread indefinitely. Excellent for moist areas. Wonderful for a shady border. Frost hardy trouble-free plant. Perennial.

 

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aka Bugleweed

This attractive spreading ground-cover has very interesting undulating foliage that is such a dark burgundy shade it looks black. Bright blue flowers appear in spring through to summer and contrast well with the leaves. Plant in sun or semi-shade. Perennial. PVR HOM220.

While Ajuga is a very hardy and tolerant plant it prefers a soil that does not completely dry out in summer. I have also found that the best results are achieved when Ajuga is not baking in NZ's hot afternoon sun.

 

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aka Bugleweed

An attractiv, spreading, ground cover with interesting foliage that is a dark burgundy shade. It will suppressing weeds and survive extremes of sun and shade. Bright blue flowers appear in spring through to summer and contrast well with the leaves. Plant in sun or semi-shade. Perennial.

 

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aka Bugleweed

If you want a carpet of blue then this is the plant for you! A great groundcover that is quick and easy to grow. Lush rosettes of bronze-green foliage and sturdy stems of bright blue flowers in early spring. Prefers a semi-shaded spot with protection from hot afternoon sun. Evergreen.

 

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aka Bugleweed

What's special about Ajuga in general is that it will grow in difficult shady spots, like the dry shade under trees. Ajuga 'Chocolate Chip' is shorter than other Ajuga, less invasive and has narrower, more delicate foliage. The leaves are dark green tinged with bronze or chocolate brown.

 

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aka Bugleweed

A quick growing and rewarding perennial ground-cover that forms bold rosettes of foliage and spreads by under-ground runners. In early spring spikes of beautiful bright blue flowers appear en masse. Prefers a semi-shaded spot with protection from hot afternoon sun. Evergreen.

It is important that Ajuga does not completely dry out in hot dry summer conditions.

 

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aka Bugleweed

A quick growing and rewarding perennial ground-cover that forms bold rosettes of multicoloured foliage and spreads by under-ground runners. In early spring spikes of beautiful bright flowers appear en masse. Prefers a semi-shaded spot with protection from hot afternoon sun. Evergreen.

It is important that Ajuga does not completely dry out in hot dry summer conditions.

 

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aka Bugleweed

A low growing plant that is ideal as a groundcover in the full sun or partial shade. Stems of pink flowers appear throughout Spring and early Summer. Bees love the flowers.

 

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aka Bugleweed

A beautiful groundcover with striking silvery wine colour foliage that deepens in colour in cooler temperatures. Topped with upright blue flower spikes through spring and into summer. Easily grown in most well drained soils in full sun to part shade. Evergreen

 

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aka Bugleweed

This ground cover is much larger and spreads more rapidly. The dark green leaves are tinged with purple. It spreads by surface runners in the same way as a strawberry plant and can spread indefinitely. Excellent for moist areas. Frost hardy and trouble-free.

 

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aka Prostrate Banksia

Dwarf prostrate/spreading groundcover with dusky-red flower heads. New leaf growth has a lovely rust colour. Likes light to medium well-drained soils in full sun or partial shade. Drought and frost tolerant once established. Great option for coastal or embankment planting and containers. Slow growing. Evergreen.

 

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aka Creeping Banksia

This prostrate cultivar produces short brownish red candle-like flowers that arise beyond the leaves. Great in rockeries and smaller gardens, mass plant for dramatic effect or in small groups, verandah or deck. Easy maintenance, simply cut away spent flowers. Evergreen

 

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Sasanqua groundcover/weeper. While most camellia sasanquas can be used in a woodland setting, as a specimen plant or even as a privacy screen, this new prostrate form is the first ever that can be used as a ground cover or weeping over walls. Has abundant breath-taking double pink flowers. Evergreen

 

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Unique, strange, fun! This plant has a character all of its own, with fine 'hairy' strands of evergreen cascading foliage. Use as a groundcover or feature plant in rockeries, where it will spread to 1.5m across but only 30cm high. Excellent weed suppression, low maintenance. Evergreen

 

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aka California Lilac

An attractive spreading evergreen shrub which features sparkling clusters of dark blue flowers in late spring. The shiny foliage turns a deeps ebony shade during winter, changing to dark chocolate-green during spring and summer. Quite hardy and tolerant of wind and cold. PVR 1334.

This is a very useful shrub for cascading over walls and banks. Benefits from a trim every now and then (after flowering) to encourage healthy new growth. Very striking in full flower.

 

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aka AKA Yoyo

'Snow in Summer' AKA Yoyo is so named as the tiny silver grey leaves are smothered in star-shaped white flowers throughout the summer. A sweet little perennial which is perfect to cascade over walls and hot dry banks. Quite vigorous and hardy. Evergreen.

 

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Traditional groundcover with bright green feathery foliage and erect stems of small, daisy-like flowers. Charmingly scented and magic to walk on. Chamomile Lawn thrive in full sun, but will tolerate dappled shade. Perennial.

 

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Deep blue, funnel like flowers are found in abundance on this low maintenance ground cover. Trail it over rocks and walls or would look great trailing from hanging pots. Dense neat habit. Evergreen perennial.

 

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Native. A spreading coprosma with dark brown foliage which darkens in winter to near black. Hardy and easy to grow. Makes a great groundcover for those tough spots in the garden. Will tolerate coastal conditions. Evergreen.

 

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Native. A wiry prostrate shrub at home in dry coastal conditions. Twisting interlacing branches with chocolate brown foliage. Bright blue bead-like berries in autumn. Makes a thick dense mat. Good on dunes, banks and walls. Evergreen.

 

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Poor old Freddy not only is he flat he's not really all that handsome and can easily be walked upon. However he is very tough and hardy and will cover a lot of ground. Great little native to plant in difficult sites. Interesting fine brownish foliage on flat brown stems. Evergreen.

 

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aka Sand Dune Coprosma

NZ Native. This form was discovered on cliffs near Hawera. It is a ground hugging native that forms a tight mat of small narrow olive green leaves. Excellent landscape plant for covering large areas of ground. Hardy, tolerant of cold and wind. Evergreen.

 

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Native. This quick growing coprosma creates a mat of rich green foliage. It is easily grown in a sunny position and make an excellent groundcover for banks. Tolerates most soil types, including coastal and exposed sites. Evergreen.

 

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This low growing vigorous coprosma creates a mat of rich rounded glossy green leaves and gold coloured stems. It is easily grown in a sunny position and makes an excellent groundcover for banks. Grows in almost any sunny site. Frost, seashore and coastal tolerant. Evergreen.

 

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Native. This low growing vigorous Coprosma creates a mat of rich rounded glossy sage green leaves with cream edges and gold coloured stems. It is easily grown in a sunny position and makes an excellent groundcover for banks. Grows in almost any sunny site. Frost, seashore and coastal tolerant. Evergreen.

 

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aka Mirror Plant

Native. If you have a lot of ground to cover then this little native will do the job for you with ease. Shiny green leaves that are edged with yellow and gold look good all year round. Grow in sun or part shade and protect from harsh frost. Great coastal plant. Evergreen.

 

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aka Mirror Plant

Native. Named for where it grows naturally - the Poor Knights Islands - this Coprosma is valued for the beautiful glossy green and evergreen foliage. Its growth habit is low and wide so it makes a good filler for banks etc. Likes the sun and can tolerate dry coastal conditions but not frost.

 

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aka Mirror Plant

NZ Native. Coprosma Prostrata has little shiny green leaves and makes an attractive groundcover. Great for thoAcer vise tough spots in the garden. Hardy and tolerant of dry conditions. Plant in full sun. Evergreen.

 

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aka Sand Dune Coprosma

This little Coprosma was discovered growing on the South Wellington coast so you know how tough and hardy it is to have survived there. Strong red/orange coloured leaves and stems. Tolerant of wind, salt and dry periods. Excellent ground cover that is happy to be trimmed. Evergreen.

 

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aka Coprosma

Native. A tough little native plant that is a useful ground-cover for large areas or difficult sites. Dainty dark green foliage, inconspicuous flowers that are sometimes followed by little blue berries. Hardy and easy to grow. Evergreen.

 

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aka Barberry Cotoneaster

An easy to grow ground cover shrub with small, dark green, glossy leaves that quickly forms a carpet of foliage. Tiny white flowers in spring are followed by bright red fruits that birds love. Hardy and tolerant. Semi-evergreen.

 

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Conifer A bright yellow spreading cypress, capable of spreading more than 2m in 10 years. Can build up in height with age. To maintain a low profile, it is essential to remove any upward growths. Evergreen

 

Excellent green leaved plant for hanging baskets, ground-cover, retaining walls or in a pot mixture. A vigorous cascading grower that performs best in full sun position being very drought and heat tolerant recovering quickly if wilting occurs. Expect a long season with this beauty.

 

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Excellent silver-leaved plant for use in hanging baskets, as a groundcover or in a mixed pot. A vigorous cascading grower that performs best in a full sun position being very drought and heat tolerant; recovering quickly if wilting occurs. Expect a long season with this beauty.

 

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Native. Fast growing ground cover that is a coastal creeping succulent, works well in hanging pots. Evergreen

 

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aka Fuchsia

A New Zealand native fuchsia that has the sweetest small but perfect fuchsia flowers followed by the most amazing large red berries. A groundcover plant that is best suited to a moist and semi shade to shaded position. Easily grown.

 

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aka Grevillea

A vigorous, ground-hugging shrub with divided green leaves that look a bit like an Oak leaf. The new shoots have a red tinge that matches the red 'toothbrush' flowers that appear from spring to autumn. Happy in the sun, tolerant of light or poor soils. Protect from frost. Evergreen.

 

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A hardy groundcover with variegated leaves. New growth has a pink tinge which later turns to white. Prune lightly after flowering. Ideal plant to cover large areas. Mass plant for quick effect. Fertilize with a low phosphorus fertilizer. Evergreen.

 

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A fast growing and dense ground cover plant, with toothed leaves and coppery red new growth. Fantastic quick grower for banks and slopes, and in large landscaping areas, and can cover up to 6 metres. Flowers winter to late spring with toothbrush like red flowers. Evergreen

 

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aka Hebe or Veronica

This Hebe has a low spreading habit making it useful as a ground-cover. It has small dark green leaves and pretty and plentiful racemes of bright pink flowers appear in autumn - winter. The flowers deepen in colour to burgundy tones in cooler weather. Prefers a sunny well drained spot. Evergreen

 

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Variegated Ivy. Fast growing, vigorous and self-clinging. This is a useful plant when quick coverage of unsightly areas is needed. Can also be used as an indoor plant. Glossy, broad, fresh green foliage always looks good and responds well to a trim. Tolerates just about anything. Evergreen.

 

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aka Spanish Shawl

A prostrate ground hugging perennial with a dense mat of green leaves that in summer becomes smothered by bright cerise pink flowers. Quite a show off really and easy to grow in a sunny well drained spot. Needs protection from frost. Evergreen.

 

aka Guinea Flower

A beautiful shrub with small glossy green leaves and bright yellow flowers with fluffy yellow stamens. Its flowers nearly all your round in the warm sun. Great for coastal planting and doesn`t mind salt spray. Can be used as a ground cover, border, in pots and hanging baskets, rockeries etc.

 

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aka Spreading Guinea Flower

Spreading Guinea Flower. A prostrate and spreading groundcover shrub with yellow flowers in autumn and spring. Grows best in full sun and well drained soil. Ideal for coastal gardens. Perennial.

 

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aka Guinea Flower

Guinea Flower. A compact evergreen groundcover with dark glossy green leaves and yellow buttercup flowers in spring. Plant in the sun in well drained soil.

 

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aka Lemon Scented Jasmine

Jasminum azoricum, commonly known as lemon-scented jasmine is an evergreen climbing vine. Small dark green glossy leaves and white highly scented star-shaped flowers in summer. Ideal for growing over a trellis or fence.

 

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An evergreen, ground cover conifer with silver-blue foliage that will spread widely. The foliage retains it colour all year long. Lovely planted around boulders or in a rock garden where its branches can be trained to unique forms. Will tolerate sandy soil and rocky gravel gardens. Hardy.

A reliable plant for extreme conditions. Plant on slopes for coverage or erosion control, along retaining walls and curbs where the creeping foliage will cover year-round.

 

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aka Juniperus conferta

This juniper forms a wonderful groundcover and has a fresh lawn-green colour. The foliage is very prickly, a common characteristic of many junipers. Most are pretty tolerant with soils, but they dislike a wet environment. Tolerant of alkaline conditions. This variety is often grown as bonsai.

 

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Bright lemon yellow foliage during spring and summer turns light golden in winter. Compact, low spreading ground cover. Evergreen.

 

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aka Juniper Gold Coast

A low, spreading juniper with a layered habit and flattened top. The fine, feathery, foliage is bright gold, even throughout winter when grown in an open position. The graceful spreading branches with drooping tips make excellent ground cover and provides good foliage colour. Evergreen.

 

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aka Creeping Juniper

A robust, spreading ground-cover that will tolerate just about any conditions including coastal Cushions of mounding grey-green foliage quickly form a foliage mat. Looks good in rock gardens or on the edge of walls etc. Prefers the sun. Evergreen.

 

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aka Carpet Juniper

The Carpet Juniper is tough, hardy, tolerant, easy care and evergreen. The ideal landscaping plant for rockeries or walls with its flat spreading habit. The soft closely knit foliage is an attractive pale green. Use to add texture and interest in those spots where nothing else will grow.

 

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aka Trailing Lantana

Lantana Montevidensis is a nice groundcover. The blooms are lilac pink to purple with yellow centers, appear in masses from spring to autumn. Purple Trailing Lantana’s foliage will change to a red to purple color in the colder months. The foliage is very aromatic.

 

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aka Shore Leptinella

Native. Interesting and attractive little ground-cover with fresh green, flat, fern like foliage that sometimes has a hint of bronze. Quite fast growing in sun or part shade and tolerant of coastal conditions. Sometimes used as a 'now mow' lawn substitute. Evergreen.

 

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aka Cotula Weed or Brass Buttons

Native Ground Cover. An extremely useful and attractive spreading perennial that has fern like foliage in interesting shades of lime and bronze-black. Lime yellow flowers appear in summer but the foliage is the main feature. Grow in sun or part shade. Will do best in humus rich soil. Evergreen.

 

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Rukuhia Beauty is the perfect, shade loving, groundcover for smaller gardens with its lush foliage of dark green. Likes moist earth and a dressing of slow release fert to support its growth periods. Low maintenance plant with high return, looks great planted enmasse. Perennial

 

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aka AKA Lithospermum

Lovely to spill over a wall or a bank this spreading groundcover has beautiful medium blue flowers in spring and summer. The dark green leaves are somewhat 'hairy' on trailing stems. Likes a well drained, warm spot but can cope with afternoon shade. Cut back after flowering. Evergreen.

 

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aka AKA Lithospermum

A great little spreading groundcover for those of you who love bright blue. Hairy green leaves on trailing stems are covered with masses of deep blue flowers in spring and summer. Likes a well drained, warm spot but can cope with afternoon shade. Cut back after flowering. Evergreen.

It is important to note that Lithodora resent root disturbance so take care when weeding to treat it tenderly.