Fill Your Yard With White And Pink Flowers By Planting This Ground Cover

Knowing how to choose the best ground cover for your climate conditions can be a challenge for those that live in cooler climate zones. But if you live in USDA hardiness zones 3 through 7, perhaps try the whimsically-named kinnikinnick (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi), otherwise known as common bearberry, hog crawberry, bear's whortleberry, and mountain box. Kinnikinnick is an Algonquin word that means "something that is mixed," which relates to ingredients typically used for Native American smoking blends, like this plant. Not only does this evergreen shrub provide excellent ground cover for sandy or rocky soil, it produces dainty, urn-shaped blooms in pink and white. These flowers begin as green and hang in clusters on the branches.

Kinnikinnick does not need a lot of maintenance, and in fact, requires only dry to moderate moisture. It is a drought-tolerant species that you don't have to worry too much about. The low height of this plant, anywhere between 6 inches and 1 foot, makes it a clever alternative to grass for a no-mow garden, because it requires no extensive grooming or trimming. It can spread up to 15 feet, ensuring plenty of coverage in your landscaping. However, unlike non-native species, kinnikinnick is native to the U.S. and will not overtake your outdoor space or disrupt native plant life.

This shrub naturally grows low to the ground, forming a creeping mat of coverage. The growth rate is slow, which means it is easily manageable to plant as a ground cover. Along with the tiny flowers that bloom from May to June, this plant species features lovely evergreen leaves that are oval-shaped and leathery. In the winter, the leaves become bronze or reddish-colored, which means this shrub provides a whole spectrum of seasonal interest as a ground cover. As it is salt-tolerant, kinnikinnick works well as a landscape plant near driveways or sidewalks.

Along with serving as a low-maintenance, beautiful ground cover, kinnikinnick adds extra support for local wildlife in your area. Birds love to feast on the groups of red berries that grow together in clumps, which give the species another name, bear's grape. Plus, the bell-shaped flowers on this shrub provide food for hummingbirds. In addition, kinnikinnick attracts pollinators like bees and acts as a host for several species of butterfly, including the hoary elfin. As a stunning plant that will attract hummingbirds to your garden with its cheerful flowers, kinnikinnick is a top choice for any ground cover.