Groundcovers for under trees on the Front Range
Quick answer
13 plants make our list of groundcovers for under trees on the Front Range. Examples include Creeping Oregon grape, Kinnikinnick / bearberry, Carpet bugle, Creeping lilyturf, and European wild ginger. Each is rated for Colorado Front Range conditions and drawn from the 2024 Front Range Tree Recommendation List and regional extension references.
Groundcovers that thrive in the dry shade and root competition under established trees on the Front Range, where lawn thins out and bare soil takes over. These shade-tolerant, low-water carpets knit in among tree roots to cover ground that grass won't.
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Not sure what to plant? The finder matches Front Range trees, shrubs, perennials, and groundcover to your soil, water, sun, and zone.
Compare these groundcovers at a glance
| Plant | Mature height | Water | Colorado native | Hardiness |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Creeping Oregon grape | 10 to 18 in | low to medium water | Yes | USDA 4 to 8 |
| Kinnikinnick / bearberry | 4 to 8 in | low to medium water | Yes | USDA 2 to 7 |
| Carpet bugle | 4 to 8 in | medium water | No | USDA 3 to 9 |
| Creeping lilyturf | 8 to 12 in | medium water | No | USDA 5 to 10 |
| European wild ginger | 4 to 6 in | medium water | No | USDA 4 to 8 |
| Foamflower | 6 to 12 in | medium water | No | USDA 3 to 9 |
| Japanese spurge | 6 to 10 in | medium water | No | USDA 4 to 8 |
| Lungwort / Bethlehem sage | 8 to 12 in | medium water | No | USDA 3 to 8 |
| Periwinkle | 3 to 6 in | low to medium water | No | USDA 4 to 8 |
| Plantain lily | 12 to 30 in | medium to high water | No | USDA 3 to 8 |
| Siberian bugloss / false forget-me-not | 12 to 18 in | medium water | No | USDA 3 to 8 |
| Spotted dead nettle | 6 to 9 in | medium water | No | USDA 3 to 8 |
Ordered Colorado-native first, then alphabetically, not a quality ranking. Full list below.
All 13 plants
Creeping Oregon grapeMahonia repens10 to 18 inlow to medium waterColorado nativeUSDA 4 to 8
Kinnikinnick / bearberryArctostaphylos uva-ursi4 to 8 inlow to medium waterColorado nativeUSDA 2 to 7
Carpet bugleAjuga reptans4 to 8 inmedium waterUSDA 3 to 9
Creeping lilyturfLiriope spicata8 to 12 inmedium waterUSDA 5 to 10
European wild gingerAsarum europaeum4 to 6 inmedium waterUSDA 4 to 8
FoamflowerTiarella cordifolia6 to 12 inmedium waterUSDA 3 to 9
Japanese spurgePachysandra terminalis6 to 10 inmedium waterUSDA 4 to 8
Lungwort / Bethlehem sagePulmonaria saccharata8 to 12 inmedium waterUSDA 3 to 8
PeriwinkleVinca minor3 to 6 inlow to medium waterUSDA 4 to 8
Plantain lilyHosta sieboldiana12 to 30 inmedium to high waterUSDA 3 to 8
Siberian bugloss / false forget-me-notBrunnera macrophylla12 to 18 inmedium waterUSDA 3 to 8
Spotted dead nettleLamium maculatum6 to 9 inmedium waterUSDA 3 to 8
Sweet woodruffGalium odoratum6 to 10 inmedium waterUSDA 4 to 8
Frequently asked questions
- How big do these groundcovers get?
- Mature heights range from about 3 to 30 in across the 13 groundcovers on this list. Each plant's page lists its exact mature size and spread.
- Which of these are Colorado native?
- 2 of the 13 groundcovers are Colorado natives, including Creeping Oregon grape and Kinnikinnick / bearberry.
- How much water do these plants need?
- 3 of the 13 are rated low or low-to-medium water; the rest need moderate water. Each plant's page lists its water rating.
- How were these plants selected?
- Each of the 13 plants meets this page's criteria and is cross-referenced against the 2024 Front Range Tree Recommendation List, CSU Extension, Denver Botanic Gardens, and USDA PLANTS. This is a reference guide, not a paid listing.
Related guides
- Front Range plants that are toxic to dogs
- Xeric groundcover for the Colorado Front Range
- Lawn-alternative groundcovers for the Front Range
- Steppable groundcovers for between pavers on the Front Range
- Deer-resistant plants and shrubs for Colorado's Front Range
- Native plants of Colorado for Front Range yards
- Xeriscape plants for Colorado