I have very little experience in this regard, Julia, but here are some ideas.

Artemisia ground covers seem especially tough and there are ornamental grasses that look very nice with them.

I prefer the pyracantha to cotoneaster but donÂt believe it would be quite as hardy. Cotoneaster is really tough but comes thru the Winters sometimes with damage where it is abused.

Periwinkle might work were most other things fail, especially if there is shade.

The information linked below doesn't make special mention of snow piling but gives you some broad suggestions.

Steve

Here is a link that might be useful: Xeriscaping: Ground Cover Plants

I live in Colorado Springs which doesn't have that much snow but does have sub-zero weather. Have you looked into Teucrium Chamaedrys? I don't know how it would take that much snow - it might rot out during the spring thraw but I have it growing along the street in front of my house. It takes snow from the plows, lots of chemical salting, and close to no water in the summer. It only grows about 8 inches tall for me, has tiny pink blooms and if it gets a little twiggy, we just mow it down. Oh and it is spreading in a nice way. The only other thing that comes to mind is some short season wildflower seed - maybe some wild lupine seed or other moutain plant.

Nancy in Co -

Thanks for the suggestion. I looked up Germander and it looks like a great plant - but all the sites said that it is for zones 5 and up... darn! but I appreciate the suggestion.

Julia

Julia,

I know what most of the websites say but I would plant a few and give it a try anyway. It has made it through -30 degrees here without wavering. I would be more concerned about rotting in the spring run-off.

Nancy