If you don't find a good way to cover the ground, Mother Nature will, and you may not always like the results. Here's a colorful alternative to the usual groundcover junipers: Verbena 'Homestead Purple' covers a bank, blooming from spring to frost. Verbena is tolerant of both heat and drought.

Euonymus doesn't have to be ho-hum. Here, 'Green 'N Gold' brightens a shady part of the garden.

Lamium 'Pink Chablis' is a moderate grower and is perfect for mixed sun and shade areas.

If you're interested in covering ground, but you also want to give an area some height, consider select shrubs that branch to the ground. Here, Japanese kerria 'Picta' adds to its sunny spring bloom with variegated foliage that holds through the seasons. Sporadic blooms occur at other times of the year, making this an interesting multi-season specimen.