Shallow rooted; need water during dry periods. Prefers partial sun to shade; medium to high moisture required. Winter protection or snow cover is recommended. Divide clumps when overcrowded; early spring. Doesn't come true from seed. A. genevensis has green foliage. A. reptans spreads rapidly by means of stems. Better foliage color in sun, but may scorch in full sun. Hardier than Geneva Bugle and has a tighter growth habit. Variegated cultivars are not as hardy. `Bronze Beauty' has dark purplish-bronze foliage. `Burgundy Glow' has foliage with a blend of creamy white, green and maroon. `Gaiety' has bronze foliage; leaves are glossy and leathery.

Wooly, silver-gray foliage; coarser and broader than `Silver Mound'. Shear off flower stalks. Needs good drainage; may rot in wet soil. Full sun and dry conditions. Divide in early spring just as new growth is emerging; stem cuttings can be taken in summer.

Bergenia (see Perennial Flowers)

Variegated form is recommended. Somewhat less vigorous than green form but more attractive. Spreads rapidly by rhizomes; can become weedy. Highly competitive and deeply rooted. Grows in almost any type of soil and light condition. Foliage may scorch in full sun. Mowing or clipping back several times during the summer will eliminate flowers and seed as well as keeping the plant more compact. Divide in early spring or early fall.

Hardy vigorous ground cover with fern-like leaves. Good for erosion control; often too tall for home use. Best in areas where it need not be contained. Slow to establish but once established spreads rapidly and is hard to eradicate. Best in full to part sun,  somewhat lean soil and in fairly dry conditions. In fertile soils it grows rampantly and is hard to control. Mow 2-3 times during the season for a more compact planting. Easily started from seed in spring. Divide in spring or early fall.

Slow to become established and slow spreading. Prefers part to full shade and moderately rich soil; likes good moisture. Water during dry periods. Divide rhizomes in early spring. Wild Ginger (American) is native. Felty heart shaped leaves. Hardier than European Ginger; winter protection is not needed even though mulching in exposed areas may be beneficial. European Ginger has glossy heart shaped leaves. Winter protection is recommended. 

Hosta (see Perennial Flowers)

Juniper, creeping (see Evergreen Shrubs)

Stachys byzantina (lanata) has soft velvety, dense mats of silver-gray color foliage; good contrast plant. Square stems and opposite leaves with flowers borne in whorls on spikes. Prefers full sun and well drained soil; lack of good drainage can cause winter kill. Tolerates drought; rapid spreading especially in rich soil. Winter protection needed.  Seed in early spring; divide in early spring or fall. `Silver Carpet' rarely blooms; leaves especially white.

Yellow Archangel (Deadnettle) has silver and green foliage; spreads rapidly by short underground stolons. Square stems and opposite leaves; clusters of flowers in leaf axils. Larger plant flowers slightly later than Lamium; more invasive and may get out of hand. If too leggy cut back. Does well in sun to shade and moderately fertile soil. Slugs can be a problem. Good for hanging baskets. Divide in spring; cuttings in early summer. `Herman's Pride' is upright growing with small flowers; less aggressive.

Spotted Dead Nettle has metallic silver streak down middle of leaf; mound forming plant with hooded flowers on terminal stems. Spreads by rooting on moist soil; not as invasive as Lamiastrum. Does well in sun to shade and moderately fertile soil. Slugs can be a problem. Divide in spring; cuttings in early summer. `Beacon Silver' has silver white leaves with green margins and pink flowers. `White Nancy' has similar leaves with white flowers.

Convallaria majalis has small bell-shaped flowers on a stalk above the wide green leaves; fragrant flowers. All parts of the plant are poisonous including the water cut flowers are places in. Likes soil rich in organic matter but spreads in poor soil and under trees and shrubs. Does well in any type of light condition. Smaller flowers when over crowded. Aggressive plant; can be hard to contain. Divide in the fall by seperating the crown into single pips.

Lysimachia nummularia has smoothly rounded bright green leaves. Runners root forming a mat. Hardy, vigorous and may become weedy. Best in part to full shade and moderately moist conditions. Needs watering during hot dry periods. `Aurea' a yellow leafed form is not as vigorous and requires moist soil and good sun for best color. Cuttings, division or seed in spring.
 

Matteuccia struthiopteris forms graceful clumps of fronds (finely divided leaves); have no flowers. Fertile fronds will occasionally arise from the center of the clump; shorter, more erect, darker in color and less attractive. Slow to become established; browns in hot dry conditions. Need shelter from wind. Does well in partial to full shade and moderate to rich soil. Can become aggressive once established. Divide in the spring.
 

Japanese Spurge has glossy green somewhat coarse leaves. Pinch in the spring to promote branching. Best in part to full shade and moderately fertile soil. Will not tolerate drought. Borderline in hardiness; needs good snow cover. Seldom spreads enough to be a good ground cover. Divide in spring; cuttings or rooted stolons in early summer.
 

Canby Paxistima has small, leathery evergreen leaves which resemble miniature holly leaves. Prefers partial shade and moderately fertile soil; needs a well drained site. High pH soil can cause foliar discoloration and slow growth. Some winter loss of foliage may occur without good snow cover. Divide in the spring or cuttings in midseason or fall.
 

Phlox subulata (Moss Phlox) has mid-green, linear, rigid, evergreen leaves which grow into a spreading mat; heavy flowering on terminal panicles. Shear back after flowering to promote denser growth. Prefers full sun and neutral or slightly alkaline, lean soil. Must not be kept too wet; may rot. Water in dry summers.  Weeds can be a problem. Foliage takes on a bronze color in fall; winter browning may occur without good cover. Don't prune early in the spring; new growth may emerge from "dead" areas.  Divide after bloom or by taking basal cuttings in mid-summer.

Ribbon Grass (see Ornamental Grasses)

All have fleshy leaves and unusual flowers. Various colored foliage and flowers. Easy to grow in full sun and well drained average soil. Shear after bloom; very attractive without flower stalks. Propagate by seed, division, cuttings and leaves.

Sedum acre (Gold Dust) has very fine, green fleshy leaves and small flowers. Good mat former in areas without traffic. Spreading; can be difficult to control. Not a good competitor with weeds.

Sedum album (White Sedum) has succulent leaves slightly coarser than Gold Moss; reddish-purple leaves in the spring and fall. Striking when in bloom; shear after bloom.

Sedum hybridium has 1/2" wide glossy leaves; look good without flowers. Spreads with underground stems. Best Sedum. `Rosy Glow' is larger and flowers later.

Sedum kamtschaticum has attractive dark green scalloped foliage; variegated form has light green leaves tinged with pink and white. Forms clumps. Doesn't spread with underground stems; not invasive. Subsp. middendorffianum has narrow tooth leaves and red fall color. Subsp. ellacombianum has scalloped light green leaves.