groundcover between perennials?

by Pat
(Montpelier, VT)

Hello!
I am new to gardening after buying a house in central Vermont. I have a lot of perennials but find the space between them unattractive. I have put down mulch but am wondering if there is any groundcover that I can plant between them (on a fairly sunny western hill) that won't become invasive. Ajuga? Lysimachia? Thanks. Pat

Doug says that all ground covers (particularly the two you mention) are invasive. That's what ground covers do. The secret here is that your perennials will expand and grow to fill in the spaces in a few years. The problem will disappear as the perennials mature.

Now, having said that, if the spaces are really big - maybe you simply have to plant more perennials to fill in those spaces.

But forget the ground covers. It looks good in theory, but in practice you'll regret having done it in a few years.