Broadleaf Evergreen Groundcovers: A Toronto Master Gardeners Guide

Groundcovers are plants that typically cover the growing surface with dense, low-growing foliage. They comprise various forms and sizes, such as grasses, vines, perennials or shrubs. These plants include varieties that thrive in a wide array of growing conditions, from deep shade to bright sunlight and from fertile to sandy or even poor soils.

Broadleaf evergreen groundcovers have broad (i.e., not needle-like) leaves that they maintain throughout the year.

This gardening guide provides introductory information about growing broadleaf evergreen groundcovers.

Uses

Broadleaf evergreen groundcovers are often chosen for their year-round characteristics of visual interest, such as plant shape and leaf, stem and flower colour or texture. They can be used to meet many landscape design objectives:

  • Planting along building foundations
  • Creating borders and accents in garden beds
  • Facilitating spring flower displays (bulbs will grow through many groundcovers)
  • Filling shady sites and other areas where grass will not thrive
  • Covering sloping terrain
  • Providing a lower-maintenance alternative to grass

Groundcovers in general offer several benefits:

  • Inhibiting the germination and growth of weeds
  • Stabilizing soil, especially on slopes, and reducing erosion
  • Reducing soil moisture loss and thus lessening watering requirements
  • Acting as a living mulch that helps to build up humus levels in the soil
  • Creating habitat for beneficial insects, predators and birds

Groundcovers do have a few negative attributes. Even as they support beneficial fauna, they can also provide habitat for pests. Additionally, groundcovers compete with other plants for sunlight, nutrients and water, and in some cases, they may overgrow nearby plants.

What to Consider When Choosing Broadleaf Evergreen Groundcovers

Before plant shopping, determine your design requirements. What size, shape, texture and colour are you looking for in your garden? For ideas and inspiration, you may want to peruse gardening websites, books and catalogues. It can also be helpful to window shop at garden centres and tour your neighbourhood to find out what grows well in your area.

These questions will help you decide if a candidate plant will meet your needs:

  • What is the ultimate size (height and width) of the plant?
  • What is the foliage colour in each season? Is there attractive fall and/or winter colour?
  • When and for how long does it bloom? What colour are the flowers, and are they showy or insignificant?
  • How will the groundcover relate to its surroundings through all seasons? Will the plant provide “visual balance” when positioned in your garden?
  • Will the plant thrive where you intend to situate it? Check that the location meets the plant’s growing requirements, including hardiness zone, sun or shade tolerance, soil preference and moisture needs.
  • What ongoing care does the plant require?
  • Are disease-resistant varieties available?

Take caution because groundcovers often spread quickly. If plants become too dense, reduced airflow can enable the spread of disease and pests. Always check the estimated mature width of the plants so that you can space new transplants accordingly.

Planting and Care

Follow the instructions on the plant tag. If there are no instructions, ask the garden centre how to plant and care for the groundcover.

Water thoroughly when you plant. Spread organic mulch (such as shredded leaves, bark chips or compost) around each plant to enhance moisture retention and reduce weed growth.

Water regularly and deeply (keeping the soil wet about three centimetres below the surface) until the plant is established. This could take a couple of years. Then, water as needed, depending on the plant’s moisture requirements.

With suitable plant choice and the right growing conditions, broadleaf evergreen groundcovers are generally long lived and require minimal maintenance.

Prune groundcovers, if needed, to retain your desired size and shape. Follow the method and time of year recommended for the particular species or cultivar.

While attacks by pests and disease occur infrequently in most broadleaf evergreen groundcovers, both Pachysandra and Euonymus are susceptible to scale infestation and should be carefully monitored. Euonymus can also succumb to crown gall. It should also be noted that  both Pachysandra and Euonymus are officially considered invasive species in Ontario and should NOT be planted. Invasives: What not to plant in Ontario

Recommended Broadleaf Evergreen Groundcovers

Arctostaphylos uvaursi, bearberry or kinnikinnick

  • Native
  • Hardiness zone 1b
  • Full sun to partial shade
  • Height: 20 cm; spread: 100 cm
  • Small, glossy, round leaves; pale pink flowers form at branch ends in mid-spring, developing into small, red fruits
  • Prefers acidic, sandy soil
  • Drought tolerant once established

Asarum europaeum, European ginger

  • Hardiness zones 4–7
  • Partial to full shade
  • Height: 15 cm; spread: 30 cm
  • Glossy, kidney-shaped leaves; insignificant flowers
  • Prefers well-drained, acidic soil
  • Slow growing

Cotoneaster dammeri, bearberry cotoneaster

  • Hardiness zone 6a
  • Full sun to partial shade
  • Height: 60 cm; spread: 150 cm
  • Small, glossy, dark green, oval leaves turn red in fall; small, white flowers form along branches in late spring, followed by red berries
  • Evergreen leaves need winter protection in exposed locations
  • Prefers well-drained, rich soil
  • Drought and pollution tolerant once established
  • Note: other cotoneasters, such as apiculatus and C. franchetti, are deciduous

 Adaptable to a variety of soil conditions; highly tolerant of urban pollution

Gaultheria procumbens, creeping wintergreen

  • Native
  • Hardiness zone 2a
  • Full sun to full shade
  • Height: 20 cm; spread: 90 cm
  • Ground-hugging, aromatic, dark green, oval leaves turn burgundy in fall; white, bell-shaped flowers form at branch ends in mid-spring to mid-summer, developing into red berries in fall

Broadleaf Evergreen Groundcovers to Avoid

Hedera helix (English ivy), Vinca minor (periwinkle or creeping myrtle), Pachysandra terminalis, (Japanese spurge ), Euonymus fortunei, (wintercreeper or wintercreeper euonymus)  once popular evergreen ground covers, are officially considered invasive species in Ontario and should NOT be planted. Invasives: What not to plant in Ontario

The arching branches of Cotoneaster are decorated in spring with small white or pink flowers, which become brightly coloured berries that can persist into winter. (Photo: Helen Battersby)

References

Ontario’s Invading Species Awareness Program.  Invasive ground covers. http://www.invadingspecies.com/?s=ground-covers

Plants for a Future. Ground cover plants. https://pfaf.org/user/cmspage.aspx?pageid=81

Savvy Gardening. Evergreen groundcover plants: 20 choices for year-round interest.  https://savvygardening.com/evergreen-groundcover/

Date revised: March 2022

Prepared by the Toronto Master Gardeners, these Gardening Guides provide introductory information on a variety of gardening topics.  Toronto Master Gardeners are part of a large, international volunteer community committed to providing the public with horticultural information, education and inspiration.  Our goal is to help Toronto residents use safe, effective, proven and sustainable horticultural practices to create gardens, landscapes and communities that are both vibrant and healthy.

Statement on Invasive Plants: When choosing plants, avoid invasive plants, which can spread quickly and dominate gardens.  Invasive plants are sold by nurseries, big box stores or even at community plant sales.  Invasives may already be present in your garden.  They can invade gardens by spreading from under a neighbour’s fence or may be transported by wildlife.  For beautiful, sustainable options to invasive plants, see the Ontario Invasive Plant Council’s “Grow Me Instead – Beautiful Non-Invasive Plants for your Garden” at https://www.ontarioinvasiveplants.ca/resources/grow-me-instead/ before purchasing or accepting “gifts” of plants.

Statement on Home Remedies: The Toronto Master Gardeners do not recommend home remedies, as these have not been proven effective through scientific investigation, and may even damage other living organisms in the soil or plants in your garden.  There are other garden friendly options you can use.

If you have further gardening questions, reach us at our gardening advice line 416 397 1345 or by posting your question here in the Ask a Master Gardener section.  To book Toronto Master Gardener volunteers for talks, demonstrations, advice clinics, or other services, please contact us at 416 397 1345  or bookamg@torontomastergardeners.ca