The best ground covers are multi-purpose workhorses, suppressing weeds, preventing soil erosion, and adding another level of interest to garden beds. Naturally, we’d prefer them not to be invasive, and to look good over a long season. But why do so many gardeners seem to fall back on the same few choices? In this episode, Danielle, Carol, and expert guest Amanda Thomsen cover new ground in their quest to expand the definition of what a ground cover can be. Whether it’s a tough but underused North American native, a cheeky little annual, or an unusual self-seeding edible, we hope you will find something unexpected but garden-worthy in this episode. 

Expert: Amanda Thomsen is the author of Kiss My Aster: A Graphic Guide to Creating a Fantastic Yard Totally Tailored to You and owner of the Aster Gardens plant shop in Lemont, Illinois. 

More information from the episode: 

Ed Lyon’s article on ground covers from issue #204

For more of Amanda Thomsen’s favorite self-sowers

Danielle’s Plants 

Partridgeberry (Mitchella repens, Zones 3-8) 

Wild ginger (Asarum canadense, 3-8) 

Golden ragwort (Packera aurea, Zones 3-8) 

‘Limeglow’ juniper (Juniperus horizontalis ‘Limeglow’, Zones 3-9) 

Carol’s Plants  

Variegated Solomon’s seal (Polygonatum odoratum ‘Variegatum’, Zones 3-9) 

Eastern prickly pear cactus (Opuntia humifusa, Zones 4-9) 

‘Pixie Periwinkle’ baptisia (Baptisia australis ‘Pixie Periwinkle’, Zones 4-9) 

‘Profusion Cherry Bicolor’ zinnia (Zinnia ‘Profusion Cherry Bicolor’, annual) 

Expert’s Plants  

‘Dietrich’s Wild’ broccoli raab (Brassica rapa ‘Dietrich’s Wild’, biennial) 

Cardoon (Cynara cardunculus*, Zones 7-9) *Considered invasive in CA 

Chocolate daisy (Berlandiera lyrata, Zones 4–10) 

Globe thistle (Echinops ritro, Zones 3–9)