Groundcover

Strictly speaking, the most widespread groundcover are grasses of various types. In common parlance, however, the term groundcover refers to non-grass plants that are used in place of grasses.

Three general types of plants are commonly used as groundcovers:

• Vines, which are woody plants with slender, spreading stems
• Herbaceous plants[?], or non-woody plants
• Shrubs of a low-growing, spreading variety

Of these three types, some of the most common groundcovers include:

Vines

• English ivy[?], Hedera helix
• Japanese honeysuckle[?], Lonicera japonica
• Kudzu
• Periwinkle[?], Vinca minor

Herbaceous Plants

• Goutweed[?]
• Mints of various types

Shrubs

• Junipers of various low-growing types