Ground-cover plants are distinctly valuable for a use covered by theliteral interpretation of the word. The conditions which they over-come may not be unsightly or entirely barren. Their general use is toprovide on the ground an interesting carpet, which may be close-growing, as in the instance of vines and the very low perennials, ortaller-growing, as in the instance of yellowroot and flowering raspberry.
We may say that ground-cover plants are used to make a moreinteresting mat, which is an aesthetic use, or to form a carpet for thepurpose of preventing excessive evaporation. Many of these plantsare useful because of their fruiting characteristics, and also their abilityto retain their foliage, both during the hot, dry summer months andduring the winter months. In the selection of this material there aremany different and distinct uses which can be definitely grouped undervarious headings, as shown in this chapter.
