Ground Cover List

Native Plant Descriptions

Salal

Description
Salal is a native to North America west coast.  It is a dense, perennial shrub growing from one to four feet in height.  It has erect and spreading, branched stems with large round to oval shaped, dull, leathery, evergreen leaves that become a reddish color in the winter.  This plant blooms from from mid-spring to mid-summer with small pink, pendent flowers. 

Uses
This excellent ground cover has many uses:  The leaves of this plant are often used in flower arrangements.  The berries and the plant are food for birds and deer.  The berries are also edible for humans (in the past being a staple food of northwest Native Americans) and can be eaten fresh, cooked, dried, and made into jelly.

Bearberry (aka Kinnikkinnick)

Description
Bearberry is a low lying plant that rarely exceeds six inches in height.  Mature stems are reddish-brown in color and have small vertical twigs with dark green, leathery leaves.  In the fall the leaves turn to a reddish-green to a purple.  It blooms from mid to late spring with small white to pink flowers at the terminus.    

Uses
Bearberry is a good choice of ground cover for beautification and sand stabilization.  When established it creates a thick, evergreen vegetative mat.  Once established, it requires very little maintenance. 

Non-Native Plant Descriptions

Grass Seed Mix

Grass is a quick growing ground cover that requires maintenance.  Grass seed mix can be purchased locally from several different stores