There are already native plants growing in my woods. Perhaps you have a native plant society in your area that could provide some of the natives for you that would be better adapted. Below is the WA one. I was surprised to find that when I piled up stacks of grass clippings to smother blackberry vines in an area, when it had decomposed down a lot of native miner's lettuce and Spring Beauty (Claytonia)- delicate little pink flowers also with an edible leaf, popped up. So sometimes the seeds are present for the natives and will sprout under the right conditions. Vinca minor is not too bad but Ajuga is awfully aggressive, and I'm someone who likes aggressive ground covers. I think a native would be better.

I'm also trying to decide what to grow under a large maple where the leaf fall last winter killed the grass and only the dandelions and other weeds are growing at present, something low enough to run the mower over it if weeds get out of hand but tough enough to make it through our dry summers. I transplanted a little Wintergreen there, Gaultheria procumbens, but will need a lot more if I decide to use it. It is very choice but rather slow-growing.

Good luck with your woods.

Here is a link that might be useful: native ground covers

Thats a good idea. There is "Garden in the Woods" not too far that is the home of the New England Wildflower Society. What a good excuse to go visit! And I am on vacation this week.

I also have a big pot of Kalermeris (sp?) incisa Variegata which I think is a native and I think it is a spreader. It was pretty foliage so I grabbed it when I saw it recentlY. That might be a good candidate to compete with the jewelweed.

I know what you mean about Wintergreen. I tried bunchberry Cornus canadensis last year in a shade garden. Its adorable but slow.