What Is a Good Ground-Covering Creeping Plant for Partial Sun?

Herbaceous

• Herbaceous plants are annual or perennial species that wither to the ground in the winter. Perennial herbaceous plants regenerate when temperatures rise in the spring or summer. Small and large herbaceous plants exist. Some smaller creeping groundcovers are Mountain Atlas daisies, which feature silvery leaves and white flowers with red undersides; and lamb's ear, a summer-blooming plant with purple flowers and gray foliage. These plants grow approximately 1 to 2 feet in diameter and tolerate partial shade. One of the widest-spreading herbaceous varieties is the trumpet vine, a flowering plant with yellow, orange or red flowers. This plant grows aggressively and reaches widths of 3 to 6 feet.

Woody

• Creeping ground covers with woody stems are woody plants. A woody plant keeps or loses its leaves in the winter, depending on whether its evergreen or deciduous. However, woody plants do not wilt to the ground. Woody plants are medium-sized or large ground covers with widths ranging between 2 to 8 feet. The fragrant sumac is a woody ground cover with yellow leaves and reddish leaves in the fall. Fragrant sumacs are drought tolerant and only need partial shade. Another woody ground cover is the sea foam rose, which produces white flowers from June to August. Sea foam roses are also able to crawl over fences.

Evergreen

• Evergreens are woody plants that maintain their foliage throughout the year. Some places where evergreen ground covers do well are states with tropical or subtropical climates, such as Hawaii and Florida. Three evergreens with medium-sized width growth are barren strawberry and lemon thyme. Crushed lemon thyme leaves deter mosquitoes if rubbed on the skin. Barren strawberry features yellow flowers and fruit, but the fruit is inedible for humans. Both evergreens tolerate partial shade.

Deciduous

• Deciduous ground covers are either woody or herbaceous. These type plants lose their leaves when temperatures fall in the autumn or winter. Deciduous plants drop their leaves to conserve energy until the next spring. Glossy abelia and sandberry are two woody deciduous plants that tolerate partial shade for growth. Sandberry reaches widths of 4 feet, while glossy abelia is 3 to 4 feet wide when fully mature. Some deciduous plants with herbaceous qualities are verbena, a groundcover with a 3-foot width and purple flowers; and strawberry, which offers edible fruit.