groundcover

ground cover also ground·cov·er (groundkvr)

n.

1. Small plants other than saplings, such as mosses, ferns, grasses, and undershrubs, growing on a forest floor; undergrowth.

2.

a. A low-growing dense growth of plants, such as pachysandra or crown vetch, planted for ornamental purposes or to prevent soil erosion in areas where turf is difficult to grow, as in deep shade or on a steep slope.

b. A plant used for such a growth.

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	groundcover - low-growing plants planted in deep shade or on a steep slope where turf is difficult to grow ground cover botany, flora, vegetation - all the plant life in a particular region or period; "Pleistocene vegetation"; "the flora of southern California"; "the botany of China" Hernaria glabra, rupturewort - common prostrate Old World herb often used as a ground cover; formerly reputed to cure ruptures whitlowwort - any of various low-growing tufted plants of the genus Paronychia having tiny greenish flowers and usually whorled leaves; widespread throughout warm regions of both Old and New Worlds; formerly thought to cure whitlows (suppurative infections around a fingernail) pearl-weed, pearlweed, pearlwort - any of various low-growing plants of the genus Sagina having small spherical flowers resembling pearls baby tears, baby's tears, Helxine soleirolia, Soleirolia soleirolii - prostrate or creeping Corsican herb with moss-like small round short-stemmed leaves
	2.	groundcover - small plants other than saplings growing on a forest floor ground cover underbrush, undergrowth, underwood - the brush (small trees and bushes and ferns etc.) growing beneath taller trees in a wood or forest