If you’re looking for low-maintenance ground cover plants to add to your garden, consider adding some native Oregon ground covers. Let’s look at some of the Oregon ground cover plants that can be added to your yard today! Long-leaf Oregon grape is an evergreen shrub with yellow flowers and purple berries. Sweet woodruff, yellow alyssum, and salal are also good options.
Oregon Ground Cover Plants
These Oregon ground cover plants are easy to grow, require little maintenance, and can brighten up any garden or landscape. They are also great for providing habitat and food sources for wildlife and beneficial insects.
Long-leaf Oregon grape
Long-leaf Oregon grape (Mahonia nervosa) is an evergreen shrub that produces yellow flowers in the spring and purple berries in the summer. The plant’s leaves turn red and orange in the fall.
The plant grows best in acidic soil and shaded areas and can grow to a height of 2 feet tall. It spreads via stollens and will spread to fill any bare areas of the earth over time. The foliage is dense and can form a thick mat, making it an excellent ground cover. It’s commonly found in areas of the Pacific Northwest.
The long-leaf Oregon grape should be sheltered from bad weather and should have organic matter added to the soil regularly.
Sweet woodruff
Sweet woodruff (Galium odoratum) is a fragrant, delicate ground cover with white blossoms in the spring. It prefers light shade and moist soil but will tolerate full sun if kept well-watered. Its tender leaves make it ideal for creating a soft, romantic path or bed.
Sweet woodruff is part of the Rubiaceae family and can grow via rhizomes. The plant can grow up to 12 inches tall.
Yellow alyssum
Yellow alyssum (Aurinia saxatilis) is a low-growing, drought-tolerant plant that produces small yellow flowers in the spring and summer. It’s commonly referred to as ‘basket of gold’ due to its beautiful yellow blooms. It prefers full sun and well-drained soil but will tolerate some shade. The foliage is very attractive and can spread to form a beautiful ground cover.
Salal
Salal (Gaulthoria shallon) is an evergreen shrub with shiny dark green leaves and white flowers in the spring. It commonly grows in woodland areas and prefers moist, well-drained soil and partial shade but can tolerate some sun. Its thick foliage makes it ideal for adding texture to a garden or landscape.
Sedum
Sedum is a low-growing, drought-tolerant ground cover plant that’s commonly called stonecrops. The plants produce pink, yellow or white flowers in the summer and autumn. It prefers bright sunlight but will also tolerate some shade. Its fleshy leaves are attractive, and it can spread quickly to form a lush carpet of foliage.
Ground Hog Aronia
Ground Hog Aronia is a deciduous shrub with dark green foliage and white blooms in the summer. This ground cover is an excellent choice for erosion control, as its extensive root system helps to stabilize the soil.
Clover
Clover is an easy-to-grow ground cover that produces purple, pink, or white flowers in the spring. It prefers moist soil and full sun but will tolerate some shade. Clover is an excellent choice for gardeners looking for a low-maintenance plant that provides nitrogen to the soil.
Clematis Princess Diana
Clematis Princess Diana is a fast-growing, evergreen ground cover with purple and white blooms in the summer. The plant grows best in moist soil and full sun but can tolerate some shade. This plant is perfect for creating a living wall or adding an interesting element to your garden landscape.
Conclusion
These Oregon ground cover plants are easy to care for and will provide color and texture to any garden or landscape. They can be used to create beautiful gardens that are easy to care for and greatly benefit your local ecology. Try adding some of these Oregon ground cover plants to your yard today!