Common name:English Ivy
Botanical name:Hedera helix cultivars

English Ivy is a self-clinging vine used as a groundcover or climbing vine. Though usually green, with lobed leaves, there are many varieties of ivy with variations in leaf size, shape, and color (some ivies have variegated leaves with margins or splotches of white, yellow, or red). All ivies are evergreen but not all are winter-hardy, so check the plant label. A bit slow to establish in our region, once it gets going it spreads quickly up walls, chain link fences, or over the ground. It is praised for its ability to cover an area quickly but loathed by others for the very same reason.

Common name:Dense Spreading Yew
Botanical name:Taxus x media 'Densiformis'

'Dense' is a useful evergreen for the average or smallish urban landscapes, as it as a low, spreading habit and grows about 3 to 4 feet tall and 4 to 6 feet wide. Branches are upright and arching, creating nice vertical to horizontal lines. New growth is bright green, maturing to a dark green. Berries are bright red, but are not suitable for human consumption. Use at the foundation or in a shady shrub border or hedge to provide winter interest.

Common name:Golden Creeping Jenny, Moneywort
Botanical name:Lysimachia nummularia 'Aurea'

Golden creeping jenny is a trailing groundcover that grows in most situations, but prefers shade and moderate moisture. Its yellow fragrant flowers have 5 rounded petals nestled in the round leaf pairs in May and June. It forms dense mats of golden yellow to chartreuse foliage that can become invasive, but is well suited as a ground cover with larger, woody shrubs. Is attractive in rock walls and cascading out of pots.