Rats, Ground Cover Recommendations

Last updated: Feb-2004

Don’t Harbor Roof Rats in your Ground Cover

Algerian Ivy (Hedera canariensis) is one of several plant species that harbor roof rats in the Bay Area (see list below). Wherever possible these plants should be replaced with species that achieve the desirable effects of ground cover but will not contribute to the rat problem. Such desirable characteristics include the following:

  1. Plants should be low growing, not more than 10” in height.
  2. They should not be climbers.
  3. Fruiting plants should not be used.
  4. Plants should provide soil stabilization.
  5. Plants should require a minimum of water once established.
  6. Once established, plants should be properly maintained.

The following partial list of ground cover substitutes conforms to these criteria and others may be discovered as you plan your landscaping:

  • Achillea tomentosa — Woolly Yarrow
  • Ajuga reptans — Carpet bugle
  • Anthemis nobilis — Chamomile (now classified by Sunset as Chamaemilum nobile)
  • Arctotheca calendula — Cape weed
  • Arctotis — African daisy
  • Baccharis pilularis Twinpeaks — Dwarf Coyote brush
  • Cerastium tomentosum — Snow-in-summer
  • Cylindrophyllum speciosa — Red spike ice plant
  • Dichondra
  • Euonymus fortunei — Winter creeper
  • Festuca ovina ‘Glauca’ — Blue fescue
  • Ficus repens — Creeping fig
  • Fragaria cheloensis — Wild Strawberry
  • Gazania
  • Hedera helix — ‘Hahn’s self-branching’ ivy
  • Hedera helix ‘needlepoint’
  • Juniperus procumbens Nana
  • Juniperus conferta — Shore juniper
  • Hesembryanthemum floribunda
  • Nepeta hederacea — Ground ivy
  • Ophiopogon japonicus — Mondo grass
  • Osteospermum fruticosum — Trailing African daisy
  • Pachysandra terminalis — Japanese spurge
  • Potentilla verna — Spring cinquefoil
  • Sedum acre — Gold moss sedum
  • Sedum dasyphyllum — Small sedum
  • Sedum rubrotinctum — Brown bean sedum
  • Teucrium — Germander
  • Thymus serpyllum — Creeping thyme
  • Veronica repens — Speedwell
  • Vinca minor boldesi

Plant Species that Harbor Roof Rats in the Bay Area

  • Hedera canariensis — Algerian ivy
  • Thuja orientalis — Arborvitae
  • Bambusa spp. — Bamboo
  • Rubus procerus — Himalayan blackberries
  • Lonicera caprifolium — Honeysuckle
  • Cupressus sempervirens — Italian cypress
  • Populus nigra “Italica” — Lombardy poplar
  • Juniperus sabina “Tamariscifolia” — Juniper tams
  • Phoenix dactylifera — Date Palm trees
  • Cortaderia selloana — Pampas grass
  • Trachelospermum jasminoides — Star jasmine

Re-typed September 2002 from
Santa Clara County Vector Control
976 Lenzen Avenue
San Jose, CA 95126
408-792-5010
Website: www.sccvector.org