by Denise Calaman

Created on: May 16, 2009   Last Updated: October 23, 2010

Groundcovers make beautiful additions to many garden beds and play an important part in sustaining the overall health of garden beds. Many types of groundcovers grow deep taproots which help to hold water and prevent soil erosion. Groundcover plants like hostas and lamb's ear are beautiful, hardy plants that thrive in shaded areas but for gardeners looking for something new and exciting, there are many beautiful plants to choose from that will appreciate shade just as much as traditional shade plants. Just as with other types of plants, different types of shade groundcover plants will do best when grown in the USDA hardiness zone that offers the best type of growing conditions suited to each type of plant.

 Zone 2-

Zone 2 plants have to be hardiest of all plants in order to adapt to their sometimes harsh growing conditions. USDA hardiness zone 2 is the rarest hardiness zone found in the United States reserved for interior sections of Alaska. Winter temperatures in zone 2 may reach well below -50 degrees Fahrenheit. Shade loving plants adapted for growing in zone 2 have to be fast growers due to the short growing season throughout zone 2.

Wooly Yarrow, Achillea tomentosa, is a perennial groundcover plant able to withstand the growing conditions found in zone 2. This unusual but beautiful plant grows at a moderate pace, blooming showy yellow flowers in June through August. It may be planted in full sun or partial shade and requires little maintenance and little water. Each plant will spread 1-1/2 feet.

 Zone 3-

Zone 3 plants still have to be quite hardy to survive their environment. Zone 3 winter temperatures may reach well below 0 degrees Fahrenheit and even in the hottest days of summer, nighttime temperatures can reach near freezing. USDA hardiness zone 3 is found in parts of Alaska and the extreme northern parts of the continental United States as found in parts of Montana, Michigan, North Dakota and Minnesota.

Bugleweed, Ajuga reptans, is perhaps the best suited shade loving groundcover for zone 3 areas. It is a beautiful, showy groundcover with an extensive, deep root system. Bugleweed grows by shooting out runners covering the ground with a thick carpet of evergreen foliage that withstands heavy foot traffic. It may grow as high as nine inches when it's in full bloom in late May or early June. Blooms range in color from white to bluish purple depending on the variety.

 Zone 4-

USDA zone 4 covers the Rocky Mountains, northern Montana,

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