groundcover

from WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006)

groundcover
    n 1: low-growing plants planted in deep shade or on a steep
         slope where turf is difficult to grow [syn: {groundcover},
         {ground cover}]
    2: small plants other than saplings growing on a forest floor
       [syn: {groundcover}, {ground cover}]

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

groundcover \ground"cov`er\, ground cover \ground" cov`er\n.
   1. low-growing plants planted in deep shade or on a steep
      slope where turf is difficult to grow.
      [WordNet 1.5]

   2. small plants other than saplings growing on a forest
      floor.

   Syn: ground cover, undergrowth.
        [WordNet 1.5]