Acacia redolens

Native to Australia, trailing acacia is a low growing and wide spreading ground cover. It grows to about 1 foot…

Although trailing acacia is quite drought resistant, it also tolerates periodic flooding, and a number of landscape architects have used…

Aptenia cordifolia

This sprawling plant forms a dense mat that grows in flat clumps along the ground from six to twelve inches…

The hearts and flowers prefer a well-draining, rich, sandy, or loamy soils and partial shade to filtered sun. It also…

Asparagus densiflorus ‘Sprengeri'

Asparagus fern is a mounding, spreading, evergreen that grows one to two feet with a three-foot spread. It is a…

It is hardy to about twenty-four degrees Fahrenheit. If frost-damaged, prune aggressively to the ground, and this fast-growing plant will…

Baileya multiradiata

Desert marigold grows twelve inches tall and wide with fuzzy greenish-gray leaves and a compact, mounded shape. While a short-lived…

Desert marigold is hardy to about ten degrees Fahrenheit and drought-tolerant, needing little rainfall or irrigation to thrive. Do not…

Bulbine frutescens

The succulent evergreen with fleshy, smooth, aloe-like green leaves is low-maintenance and easy to grow. It spreads by underground rhizomes…

Calylophus hartwegii subsp. fendleri

This fast-growing, bushy, perennial with linear, green foliage and showy flowers grows one foot high and two inches wide. During…

This groundcover is drought-resistant and needs only weekly irrigation during the warm weather. Be careful not to over-water this plant…

Carpobrotus chilensis

The succulent evergreen with brilliant blooms has three-sided leaves that form a thick, fleshy green mat. The common ice plant…

This fast-growing, perennial groundcover spreads quickly and requires minimal maintenance. While drought-tolerant, it requires occasional water at least once per…

Chrysactinia mexicana

Native to western Texas and Mexico, Damianita is a star performer in the arid Southwest. The bright green, needlelike leaves…

Damianita requires very little water, once it is established. This highly adaptable ground cover plant is both drought-tolerant and cold…

Dalea capitata

The sprawling, aromatic plant grows eight inches tall and three feet wide with lush, fine-textured, light green foliage and small…

It likes full sun and reflected heat. The lemon dalea is drought-resistant but responds to moderate irrigation and needs well-draining…

Dalea greggii

Creeping Dalea, also known as “Trailing Indigo Bush,” is an attractive, low-growing perennial with small silvery-gray leaves. Although solitary plants…

Creeping Dalea requires little maintenance. It tolerates heat, cold and drought conditions surviving on as little as 11 inches of…

Drosanthemum speciosum 'rosea'

Ice Plant mixes well with other desert-adapted plants either as a filler in containers or as a ground cover. It…

Plant Drosanthemum speciosum ‘rosea’ in part shade locations in soil with good drainage. It can be planted in full sun…

Gaillaridia x grandiflora

The perennial continuous-flowering, rounded plant grows two to three feet tall from a taproot and spreads by underground rhizomes. It…

The plant freezes in the low thirties, but recovers quickly in the spring. It prefers full sun, moist, well-draining soil…

Gazania rigens

The gazania has a compact, mounding growth habit and produces beautiful flowers and dark blue or green dandelion-like leaves that…

Glandularia peruviana

The fast-growing groundcover with its colorful flowers reaches six inches or taller, with a three- to six-foot spread. It trails…

The plant needs ample to moderate water to produce flowers. The Peruvian verbena can be planted in full sun, reflected…

Hedera canariensis

This fast-growing evergreen has thick, shiny, deep green, lobed leaves with reddish stems. New growth is a light green color…

It likes some morning sun, but prefers partial to full shade. Established plants are drought-tolerant but like moderate to ample…

Hedera helix

English ivy is a hardy evergreen with dark green, glossy, lobed leaves growing six to eight feet when used as…

English ivy can be planted in partial sun to full shade with rich, fertile, well-draining soil and ample moisture. It…

Ipomoea batatas

Sweet potato vine is fast-growing reaching heights of six to twelve inches with a spread of one to three feet…

It takes filtered sunlight to deep shade and likes regular irrigation. Plant it in well-draining, fertile soil and do not…

Jacobaea maritima

The shrubby perennial grows one to two feet tall and wide in a mounding form. It is known for its…

Pinch off flowers and lightly prune the plant to encourage bushy leaf production. The flower makes a nice addition to…

Lantana montevidensis

Trailing Lantana is native to South America. Lavender to white colored flowers accent the trailing growth habit of this ground…

Trailing Lantana has its best form and blooms most prolifically in full sun, but tolerates light shade as well. Water…

Melampodium leucanthum

This low-growing plant with aromatic, daisy-like flowers has a mounded appearance with narrow grayish-green foliage. It grows to about one…

Plant it in full sun and reflected heat. It also likes well-draining soil and some moisture, but be careful not…

Myoporum parvifolium

Prostrate myoporum has grass green, narrow leaves evenly spaced in spirals around horizontally spreading stems. It is commonly used as…

Although it is tolerant of our rocky, native soil, prostrate myoporum prefers prepared garden soil with good drainage. Plant it…

Oenothera speciosa

The showy, semi-evergreen is admired for its magnificent pink, four-petal, bell-shaped flowers. It spreads in the landscape by underground rhizomes…

In winter, this groundcover freezes to the ground in temperatures below twenty degrees Fahrenheit, but recovers quickly in the spring…

Osteospermum fruticosum

The colorful evergreen with its striking, daisy-like flowers is used to cover large, open areas, spreading by green stems that…

The trailing African daisy should be planted in full sun to partial shade. Give this groundcover ample to moderate water…

Rosmarinus officinalis 'prostratus'

One of the best and toughest ground cover plants for arid regions, Trailing Rosemary does well in nutrient-poor and shallow…

Plant Trailing Rosemary in the fall in low-desert regions. Plant it in the spring in the high elevation zones. Locate…

Thymophylla pentachaeta

This low-growing, tufted, herbaceous perennial is a short-lived plant that grows seven inches tall and wide. It re-seeds itself each…

It likes supplemental irrigation to remain lush and re-seed. The plant requires full sun and reflected heat and is hardy…

Tradescantia pallida

This attractive perennial is noted for its violet purple leaves and low-growing habit to one foot with an almost equal…

It takes full sun to partial shade, but the foliage may be a richer color in full sun. Purple heart…

Verbena rigida

Sandpaper Verbena has large, rough sandpaper-like leaves and stiff, upright branches. Verbena rigida is one of the largest members of…

If Sandpaper Verbena starts to look ragged, just cut it back to the ground, and fresh growth will sprout from…

Vinca major

The low-growing evergreen spreads and roots along the ground with its trailing, arching stems, forming a dense mat. It has…

This lush plant needs an ample amount of water to look good, but will tolerate deep, periodic irrigation. It will…

Viola odorata

The fast-growing, long-lived evergreen reaches four inches tall with aromatic, violet flowers and small, heart-shaped foliage that is slightly serrated…