ground cover

American  

Or groundcover

noun

1. the herbaceous plants and low shrubs in a forest, considered as a whole.

2. any of a variety of low-growing or trailing plants used to cover the ground in areas where grass is difficult to grow, as in dense shade or on steep slopes.

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ground cover British  

noun

1. 1. dense low herbaceous plants and shrubs that grow over the surface of the ground, esp, in a forest, preventing soil erosion or, in a garden, stifling weeds

   2. ( as modifier )

      ground-cover plants

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Etymology

Origin of ground cover

First recorded in 1895–1900

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

ground cover

Not the big trees — someone else planted those — but everything else, like the ground cover and smaller plants, I did.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 17, 2026

The accuracy of climate models depends on many factors -- greenhouse gas emissions from industrial and transportation activity, farm animal "emissions," urban growth and loss of forests, and solar reflections off snow and ground cover.

From Science Daily ● Mar. 13, 2024

The “zombie fires” persist during winter because porous peat and moss ground cover in northern areas act as underground fuel for them.

From New York Times ● Mar. 4, 2024

“We’re doing a variety of fruit and nut trees, berry bushes and vines, pollinator plants, ground cover, perennial vegetables—a whole range of things,” Jordan said.

From Salon ● Jan. 29, 2024

A soft cushion of ground cover except where it’s been worn away by boots.

From "Paradise on Fire" by Jewell Parker Rhodes