Yellow Ground Cover Plants

St. John's Wort

• St. John's wort (Hypericum calycinum) is a fast-growing, evergreen ground cover that grows to a mature height of 1 to 1 ½ feet. The medium-textured plant has a spreading growth and blooms with single, 2-inch yellow flowers in spring and summer. St. John's wort has 3- to 4-inch long, dark green leaves with bluish-green undersides. The foliage takes on a purple hue in fall. St. John's wort grows best in areas of sun to partial shade and well-drained, fertile, acidic loam. The ground cover provides excellent coverage on slopes and sandy soil and spreads with underground stems.

Golden Dead Nettle

• Golden dead nettle (Lamium galeobdolon) is a vine-like ground cover with a rapid growth rate. This evergreen ground cover grows best in areas of light to moderate shade and adapts to a range of soil types, preferring a fertile, acidic loam. The plant has 3-inch, oval to round, hairy, tooth-edged foliage and blooms with 1-inch yellow flower spikes during late spring. The stems of golden dead nettle start to take root wherever they touch the ground. The plant is not drought-tolerant.

Chameleon Plant

• Chameleon plant (Houttuynia cordata) is a deciduous ground cover that grows to a mature height of 12 to 15 inches. The plant has a moderate growth rate and blooms with small yellow flowers on short spikes. The leaves are oval to heart-shaped, dark green in color, 2 to 3 inches long and they produce a citrus aroma when crushed. Chameleon plant grows best in areas of sun to light shade and works in a variety of moist to wet soil types. The plant spreads by rhizomes.