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Ground Covers

Groundcovers are an essential element of a Southern California plant palette, providing practical solutions for soil erosion, weed suppression, and moisture retention in this region’s arid climate. A sampling of recommended and primarily native species, with pictures, is included in the following section.

Pacific Mist Manzanita

Arctostaphylos ‘Pacific Mist’

Pigeon Point Coyote Brush

Baccharis pilularis ‘Pigeon Point’

Yankee Point Wild Lilac

Ceanothus thyrsiflorus var. griseus ‘Yankee Point’

Sonoma Sage

Salvia sonomensis

Catalina Currant

Ribes viburnifolium

Baby Blue Eyes

Nemophila menziesii

Canyon Gray Sagebrush

Artemisia californica ‘Canyon Gray’

Common Lippia / Frogfruit

Phyla nodiflora (also called Lippia nodiflora)

Theodore Payne Buckwheat

Eriogonum fasciculatum ‘Theodore Payne’

  Groundcover Species Table

Coastal
Basin
Inland
Water
Origin
Scientific Name
Common Name
Family
Sunset Zones
Coastal
Basin
Inland
Height
Spread
Accent
Screen
Water
Leaves
Origin
Flower
Season
Arctostaphylos ‘Pacific Mist’
Pacific Mist  Manzanita
Ericaceae
7-9, 14-24
Y
Y
Y
1’-2’
5’-8’
Y
Low, Med
Evergreen
California
White
All
Arctostaphylos ‘Emerald Carpet’
Emerald Carpet Manzanita
Ericaceae
6-9, 14-24
Y
Y
Y
6”-12”
3’-5’
Y
Med
Evergreen
California
White
All
Arctostaphylos edmundsii ‘Carmel Sur’
Carmel Sur Manzanita
Ericaceae
6-9, 14-24
Y
Y
Y
6”-12”
4’-6’
Y
Low
Evergreen
California
Pink
Fall, Winter
Arctostaphylos hookeri ‘Monterey Carpet’
Monterey Carpet Manzanita
Ericaceae
6-9, 14-24
Y
Y
Y
6”-12”
4’-5’
Y
Low
Evergreen
California
White
Spring
Artemisia californica  ‘Canyon Gray’
Canyon Gray Sagebrush
Asteraceae
7-9, 14-24
Y
Y
Y
1’-2’
8’-10’
Y
Low
Deciduous
California
Grey Green
Spring
Artemisia californica ‘Montara’
Montara Sagebrush
Asteraceae
7-9, 14-24
Y
Y
Y
1’-2’
3’-6’
Y
Low
Deciduous
California
Grey Green
Summer, Fall
Baccharis pilularis ‘Pigeon Point’
Pigeon Point Coyote Brush
Asteraceae
5-11, 14-24
Y
Y
Y
1’-2’
6’-8’
Y
Low, Med
Evergreen
California
Cream
Summer-Winter
Berberis aquifolium ‘Compacta’
Compact Oregon Grape
Berberidaceae
2-12, 14-24
Y
Y
Y
18”-24”
3’-5’
Y
Low
Evergreen
California
Yellow
Spring
Berberis repens
Creeping Barberry
Berberidaceae
2-9, 14-24
Y
Y
Y
2’-3’
~5’
Y
Low
Evergreen
California
Yellow
Spring
Ceanothus thyrsiflorus var. griseus ‘Yankee Point’
Yankee Point Wild Lilac
Rhamnaceae
5-9, 14-17, 19-24
Y
Y
Y
2’-3’
8’-10’
Y
Low
Evergreen
California
Blue
Spring
Epilobium canum
California Fuschia
Onagraceae
2-11, 14-24
Y
Y
Y
1’-2’
2’-3’
Y
Low
Deciduous
California
Red
Summer, Fall
Eremophila glabra ‘Mingenew Gold’
Gold Emu Bush
Myoporaceae
8-9, 14-24
Y
Y
Y
~1’
6’-12’
Y
Low
Evergreen
Australia
Yellow
Winter, Spring
Eriogonum fasciculatum ‘Theodore Payne’
Theodore Payne Buckwheat
Polygonaceae
7-9, 12-24
Y
Y
Y
6”-12”
3’-6’
Y
Low
Evergreen
California
Pink, White
Spring
Helianthemum nummularium spp.
Rock Rose
Cistaceae
1-9, 14-24
Y
Y
Y
6”-1’
2’-3’
Y
Low
Evergreen
United Kingdom
Varied
Spring, Summer
Iva hayesiana
San Diego Marsh-Elder
Aseraceae
9-Jun
Y
Y
Y
2’-4’
6’-9’
Y
Y
Low
Evergreen
California
Yellow
Spring, Summer
Limonium californicum
Western Marsh Rosemary
Plumbaginaceae
5, 15-17, 21-24
Y
Y
1’-2’
1’-2’
Y
Low, Med
Evergreen
California
Purple, White
Summer, Fall
Lippia nodiflora
Common Lippia
Verbenaceae
24-Aug
Y
Y
Y
1”-2”
~1.5’
Y
Low
Evergreen
California
Pink
Spring-Fall
Nemophila menziesii
Baby Blue Eyes
Boraginaceae
24-Jan
Y
Y
Y
~6”
~6”
Y
Low
Deciduous
California
Blue
Spring
Ribes viburnifolium
Catalina Currant
Grossulariaceae
5, 7-9, 14-17, 19-24 
Y
Y
Y
2’-3’
~8’
Y
Low
Evergreen
California
Red, Purple, Pink
Spring, Winter
Rosmarinus officinalis ‘Prostratus’
Creeping Rosemary
Lamiaceae
24-Apr
Y
Y
Y
1’-2’
5’-6’
Y
Y
Low
Evergreen
Mediteranean
Blue
Winter
Salvia ‘Bee’s Bliss’
Bee’s Bliss Sage
Lamiaceae
7-9, 14-24
Y
Y
Y
~2’
6’-8’
Y
Low
Evergreen
California
Purple
Spring
Salvia ‘Mrs. Beard’
Mrs. Beard Sage
Lamiaceae
7, 14-24
Y
Y
Y
18”-24”
4’-6’
Y
Low
Evergreen
California
Purple
Spring
Salvia sonomensis
Sonoma Sage
Lamiaceae
7, 14-24
Y
Y
Y
~1’
5’-15’
Y
Low
Evergreen
California
Blue, Purple
Spring-Summer
Santolina chamaecyparissus
Lavender Cotton
Asteraceae
24-Feb
Y
Y
Y
1’-2’
3’-4’
Y
Low
Evergreen
Mediteranean
Yellow
Spring-Summer
Teucrium x lucidrys
Wall Germander
Lamiaceae
24-Feb
Y
Y
Y
12”-18”
1’-2’
Y
Low
Evergreen
Europe
Purple
Summer, Fall
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