I've got Aegopodium (we call it Bishop's weed) and it's beautiful...if you like the woodland natural look. I grows on runners and does fill in and multiply...I'm zone 5. It all dies back in the winter. Within the last week, mine little plants have poked thru...and I've got 3 x's more than last year. I have them rambling around my iris bed right now, but plan to move them out to plant around trees near the woods. They do very well in the shade or sun. They are much more lush when the soil is moist and the sun isn't directly on them. I'll have them forever now, which is ok with me, because I've got lots of areas to plant. The variegated leaves catch the light just right as the sun goes down. They almost glow in the moonlight....and I'll have them "forever"....so, wintergreen may be a better choice for your area...lol Would anyone like to trade for some "Bishop's Weed"?

I have a 30 ft. Norway Spruce tree on the nne exposed corner of my front yard, with multitudes of weeds etc. growing under it. I want to clear it out and plant sturdy evergreen ground cover that will inhibit grapevines, weed trees, poison ivy, etc. I'm considering sweet woodruff, vinca and lily of the valley. Comments?

Let me urge you to order a native evergreen Georgia plant from Plant Delights that I know you will love and is perfect for your situation. It is the Georgia Savory (Clinopodium georgianum coll.) It was new to me two years ago and the little rooted cutting I planted in hot sun and drought is now a circular 24" clump of dense growth that inhibits weeds. The foliage resembles Rosemary and the fall/winter light lavender blossoms also look like Rosemary blooms. It grows about 8"-12" high and then the outer branches lie down and new growth comes from the middle of the plant. So, as it matures it really is only about 7" tall. I would guess that in time it self roots and continues spreading although it would be easy to control. I cannot rave enough about this savory for heat, blinding sun and adverse conditions. Anyone trying to hold a sunny slope should plant this one. I found cuttings easy to root just tucked in a pot of soil, left in the sun and kept moist. Hopefully you will order one. It's a winner!

well, thanks to all your suggestions I've got it narrowed down (sort of). I'm going to check around for the availability for some of these. I really like the looks of Pinus thunbergii 'Thunderhead' which isn't a groundcover but it is kind of the look we want pruned. Here are the other contenders: Pinus thunbergii 'Thunderhead' Pinus strobus 'Blue Shag' Pseudotsuga menziesii 'Little Jon' dwarf doug fir Picea pungens 'Globe colorado spruce Juniperus procumbens Pinus sylvestris 'Albyn' Pinus Sylvesrtis 'Hillside Creeper' Juniperus horizontalis 'Wiltoni' Pinus resinosa ÂQuinobequin Pinus resinosa ÂDon Smith Pinus contorta ÂSpaans Dwarf I liked the Iseli Nursery site for pics & descriptions & I also found this one in the link below. Susan, We don't have a Japanese garden per se but we do incorporate that type of plantings & sculpture wherever we can..it's a 10 acre piece & we've kept it mostly native & wild except for the house.The bank is in back of the house.Unfortunately there is no native rocks on the property & we've had to import all that we have. Do you have a Japanese Garden way up there in Silverton ? :) Here is a link that might be useful: Conifer Cultivars of North America