Looking for attractive evergreen ground cover

I'm looking for ideas for ground cover that will separate a walkway from the rest of the front yard. Full sun, moderately cold winters, moderately hot summers and not much rain. Edible a plus, but since I need so little of it, not a requirement. Needs to be taller and fuller than thyme, between 5" and 10" tall and not invasive. Any ideas?

What about Kinnikinnick / Bearberry? One of my favorite native plants here, berries are edible and attract birds. Evergreen and full sun ok, cold shouldn't be a problem, I know it grows in Alaska, and dry would be okay I would think.


http://nativeplants.evergreen.ca/search/view-plant.php?ID=00086

http://plants.connon.ca/11100004/Plant/45/Bearberry

http://www.nwplants.com/business/catalog/arc_uva.html

Thanks for the suggestion. My parents had Kinnickinnck on the west side of their house not far from here. It got lots of water, but it was never happy. It might do fine with better soil. Worth a try.

I used to see a lot of iceplant (common name) in Vandenburg CA. I always thought it was a beautiful plant. Can you grow that there?

What are the soil conditions like in this spot? might even consider a few small shrubs, even rose in addition to a cover.

How about woodland strawberry? Though you'd probably need some boundaries to keep it from taking over.

This cover is to be the rapid transition between a rocked walkway, which is clay subsoil and what will be a food forest with good clay loam (after I sheet mulch it). Challenging enough yet? I can always use larger rocks, but I'd love to have a swath of color there.

i'm thinking VIOLA or violets. "heart's ease"" or one of the fancier colored ones.
it spreads nicely, is attractive, not invasive but very hardy/shade tolerant/easy to grow without fuss and makes a nice ground cover. the flowers are edible, though maybe not the best edible.


miners lettuce might be nice too, not as pretty but i think its cute enough, and edible.

Those are not evergreen in my area. Since this will be the first thing visitors will see when they walk up the driveway or get out of the car, I want it to be attractive all year long.

Ice plants have been invasive in Northern California. Does anyone know if they invade less in a harsher climate?

Beth Tumbaco wrote:Those are not evergreen in my area. Since this will be the first thing visitors will see when they walk up the driveway or get out of the car, I want it to be attractive all year long.

ah well, just a thought. wild violets and viola are green here (zone 8 ) all year long and do ok even in the coldest weather.
and bloom for a long time, starting early (already in flower) and keep blooming till late in the year.

anywho, ice plant is crazy invasive. i dont say that about many plants, but it is extremely invasive, and not edible. i do kinda like them though, they have cool looking flowers.