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.
Plan your garden
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 | 10–18 in | low to medium water | Yes | USDA 4–8 |
| Kinnikinnick / bearberry | 4–8 in | low to medium water | Yes | USDA 2–7 |
| Carpet bugle | 4–8 in | medium water | — | USDA 3–9 |
| Creeping lilyturf | 8–12 in | medium water | — | USDA 5–10 |
| European wild ginger | 4–6 in | medium water | — | USDA 4–8 |
| Foamflower | 6–12 in | medium water | — | USDA 3–9 |
| Japanese spurge | 6–10 in | medium water | — | USDA 4–8 |
| Lungwort / Bethlehem sage | 8–12 in | medium water | — | USDA 3–8 |
| Periwinkle | 3–6 in | low to medium water | — | USDA 4–8 |
| Plantain lily | 12–30 in | medium to high water | — | USDA 3–8 |
| Siberian bugloss / false forget-me-not | 12–18 in | medium water | — | USDA 3–8 |
| Spotted dead nettle | 6–9 in | medium water | — | USDA 3–8 |
Ordered Colorado-native first, then alphabetically, not a quality ranking. Full list below.
All 13 plants
Creeping Oregon grapeMahonia repens10–18 inlow to medium waterColorado nativeUSDA 4–8
Kinnikinnick / bearberryArctostaphylos uva-ursi4–8 inlow to medium waterColorado nativeUSDA 2–7
Carpet bugleAjuga reptans4–8 inmedium waterUSDA 3–9
Creeping lilyturfLiriope spicata8–12 inmedium waterUSDA 5–10
European wild gingerAsarum europaeum4–6 inmedium waterUSDA 4–8
FoamflowerTiarella cordifolia6–12 inmedium waterUSDA 3–9
Japanese spurgePachysandra terminalis6–10 inmedium waterUSDA 4–8
Lungwort / Bethlehem sagePulmonaria saccharata8–12 inmedium waterUSDA 3–8
PeriwinkleVinca minor3–6 inlow to medium waterUSDA 4–8
Plantain lilyHosta sieboldiana12–30 inmedium to high waterUSDA 3–8
Siberian bugloss / false forget-me-notBrunnera macrophylla12–18 inmedium waterUSDA 3–8
Spotted dead nettleLamium maculatum6–9 inmedium waterUSDA 3–8
Sweet woodruffGalium odoratum6–10 inmedium waterUSDA 4–8
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.