Groundcover - Definition and Overview

Groundcover is any plant used for the purpose of growing over an area of ground to hide it or to protect it from erosion or drought.

Strictly speaking, the most widespread groundcover are grasses of various types. In common parlance, however, the term groundcover refers to non-grass plants that are used in place of grasses.

Three general types of plants are commonly used as groundcovers:

• Vines, which are woody plants with slender, spreading stems
• Herbaceous plants, or non-woody plants
• Shrubs of a low-growing, spreading variety

Of these three types, some of the most common groundcovers include:

Vines

• English ivy, Hedera helix
• Japanese honeysuckle, Lonicera japonica
• Kudzu
• Periwinkle, Vinca minor

Herbaceous Plants

• Goutweed
• Mints of various types

Shrubs

• Junipers of various low-growing types