James T. Midcap, Extension Horticulturist-Ornamentals (ret.)
Trailing vines, such as honeysuckle; herbaceous perennials, such as liriope and daylilies; or low-growing shrubs, such as heller Japanese holly and various prostrate junipers, are used as ground covers. They are planted to cover the ground in a solid mass of foliage, to reduce maintenance and create attractive patterns in the landscape.
In discussing ground cover spacing, often wonder why it matters how far apart plants are spaced if the plants are supposed to grow into a single mass. If the individual plants are spaced too far apart, weeding can be a problem and the time required for complete coverage can be quite long. On the other extreme, planting too closely together can be a needless waste of time, money, and plant materials. In addition, there will be increased competition as the plants grow into maturity.
Usually, it is best to space the plants so the ground cover areas will, for the most part, be completely covered by the end of the third growing season. Spacing of individual plants within a ground cover bed depends on the specific ground cover chosen.
The plant lists provide the more popular ground covers in Georgia and their recommended planting distances. Plants are spaced from center to center of each plant.
It is assumed that the planting bed will be well prepared. This preparation should include proper tilling, incorporation of organic matter and fertilizer. Periodic watering (especially during dry spells), mulching to control weeds, and supplemental applications of fertilizer during the growing season are necessary maintenance practices. For more cultural practices recommended for ground covers, contact your county extension agent.
The following chart shows the approximate area 100 plants will cover when set at various recommended distances. For example, 100 plants set 6 inches apart will cover approximately 25 square feet.
| Area Covered by 100 Ground Cover Plants | |
| Planting Distance (inches) | Area Covered (sq. feet) |
| 6 | 25 |
| 12 | 100 |
| 18 | 225 |
| 24 | 400 |
| 30 | 625 |
| 26 | 900 |
| 48 | 1600 |
| 60 | 2500 |
 |
| PLANT HARDINESS ZONES |
| Ground Covers Recommended for Entire State (Full Sun) | |||
| Common Name | Botanical Name | Height | Spacing |
| Daylilies | Hemerocallis species | 18-24" | 24" |
| San Jose Creeping Juniper | J. chinensis 'San Jose' | 1-2' | 4-5' |
| Sargent Juniper | J.c. 'Sargentii' | 1-2' | 4-5' |
| Shore Juniper | J. conferta | 24-30" | 4-5' |
| Blue Pacific Shore Juniper | J.c. 'Blue Pacific' | 10-12" | 4-5' |
| Emerald Sea Shore Juniper | J.c. 'Emerald Sea' | 10-12" | 4-5' |
| Parsons Juniper | J. Davurica 'Expansa' | 18-24" | 4-5' |
| Andorra Juniper | J. horizontalis 'Plumosa' | 1-2' | 4-5' |
| Andorra Compacta Juniper | J.h. 'Plumosa Compacta' | 1-2' | 4-5' |
| Blue Rug Juniper | J.h. 'Wiltoni' | 3-4' | 42-54" |
Cultivars: |
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| Hall's Honeysuckle | Lonicera japonica 'Halliana' | 18-24" | 18-24" |
| Thrift (Moss Pink) | Phlox subulata | 2" | 12" |
| Lavender Cotton | Santolina chamoecyparissus | 18-24" | 2-3' |
| Green Lavender Cotton | Santolina virens | 18-24" | 2-3' |
| Ground Covers Recommended for Entire State (Shade) | |||
| Common Name | Botanical Name | Height | Spacing |
| Bugleweed | Ajuga reptans 'Atropurpurea' | 2-3" |
12" |
| Spreading Plum Yew | Cephlotaxus harringtonia 'Prostrata' | 2-3' | 2-3' |
| Creeping Gardenia* | Gardenia radicans | 12-18" | 2-3' |
Cultivars: |
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| Hall's Honeysuckle | Lonicera japonica 'Halliana' | 18-24" | 18-24" |
| Mondo Grass | Ophiopogan japonicus | 6-10" | 6-12" |
| Dwarf Mondo Grass | Ophiopogan japonicus 'Nana' | 3-4" | 6-12" |
| Gumpo Azalea | Rhododendron species | 10-12" | 2-3' |
|
*Semi-shade only |
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| Ground Covers Recommended for North Georgia (Full Sun) | ||||
| Common Name | Botanical Name | Height | Spacing | Zone*** |
| Bearberry Cotoneaster | Cotoneaster dammeri | 12-18" | 3-4' | 1-3 |
| Rock Cotoneaster | Cotoneaster horizontalis | 2-3' | 3-4' | 1-3 |
| Ground Cover Cotoneaster | Cotoneaster salicifolius 'Repens' | 1-2' | 3-4' | 1-3 |
| St. Johnswort (Aaronsbeard) | Hypericum calycinum | 12-15" | 12-18" | 1-3 |
| Evergreen Candytuft | Iberis sempervirens | 6-12" | 6-12" | 1-3 |
| Heller Japanese Holly | Ilex crenata 'Helleri' | 2-3' | 3-4' | 1-3 |
| Liriope | Liriope muscari** | 10-14" | 12" | 1-3 |
| Mondo Grass | Ophiopogon japonicus | 6-10" | 6-12" | 1-3 |
|
** All cultivars except Monroe's White |
*** See Plant Hardiness Zones map. |
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| - | ||||
| Ground Covers Recommended for North Georgia (Shade) | ||||
| Common Name | Botanical Name | Height | Spacing | Zone*** |
| St. Johnsworth (Aaronsbeard)* | Hypericum calycinum | 12-15" | 12-18" | 1-3 |
| Heller Japanese Holly* | Ilex crenata 'Helleri' | 2-3' | 3-4' | 1-3 |
| Pachysandra | Pachysandra terminalis | 6-8" | 12" | 1-2 |
|
* Semi-shade only |
*** See Plant Hardiness Zones Map |
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| - | ||||
| Ground Covers Recommended for South Georgia (Full Sun) | ||||
| Common Name | Botanical Name | Height | Spacing | Zone*** |
| Algerian Ivy | Hedera canariensis | 6-12" | 12-18" | 4-5 |
| Dwarf Pittosporum | Pittosporum tobira 'Wheelers Dwarf' | 18-24" | 3-4' | 4-5 |
| Strawberry Geranium | Saxifraga stolonifera | 4-6" | 12" | 4-5 |
| Asiatic Jasmine | Trachelospermum asiaticum | 12-15" | 6-12" | 3-5 |
| Coontie Palm | Zamia integrifolia | 12-18" | 2.5-3 | 5 |
|
*** See Plant Hardiness Zones Map |
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| - | ||||
| Ground Covers Recommended for South Georgia (Shade) | ||||
| Common Name | Botanical Name | Spacing | Height | Zone*** |
| Ardisia | Ardisia japonica | 6-8" | 12-18" | 4-5 |
| Holly Fern | Cyrtomium falcatum | 18-24" | 30" | 4-5 |
| Algerian Ivy | Hedera canariensis | 6-12" | 12-18" | 4-5 |
| Heller Japanese Holly* | Ilex crenata 'Helleri' | 2-3' | 3-4' | 4 |
| Dwarf Pittosporum* | Pittosporum tobira 'Wheelers Dwarf' | 18-24" | 3-4' | 4-5 |
|
* Semi-shade only |
*** See Plant Hardiness Zones Map |
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Leaflet 127/Revised May, 2007
The University of Georgia and Ft. Valley State University, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and counties of the state cooperating. Cooperative Extension, the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, offers educational programs, assistance and materials to all people without regard to race, color, national origin, age, sex or disability.
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Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, The University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences and the U.S. Department of Agriculture cooperating.
J. Scott Angle , Dean and Director