11 Ground Cover Evergreen Flowering Shrubs

Are you looking for an option to fill that problematic garden space that will offer color and beauty? If so, consider adding flowering evergreen groundcovers in these locations. These plants add attention and texture to your landscape, limit weed growth, and are generally easy to maintain. Our team of experts has created a list of 11 of the best flowering evergreen groundcover shrubs you may want to incorporate into your yard.

Here is a list of the top 11 groundcover evergreen flowering shrubs:

  1. Creeping Myrtle
  2. Creeping Thyme
  3. Creeping Phlox
  4. Spotted Deadnettle
  5. Lenten Rose
  6. Wall Germander
  7. Candytuft
  8. Honeysuckle
  9. Bugleweed
  10. Lilyturf
  11. Coral Bells

Unlike grass, these groundcovers will never need to be mowed. These groundcovers grow well in full sun or shade, depending on which variety you choose. This guide to flowering evergreen groundcovers will provide pictures and descriptions of each shrub for you to decide which plant will work best for you. 

Keep in mind your climate and where you will be planting this groundcover before making a selection. Let's get started!

Ground cover Evergreen flowering shrubs for the Alpine slide, 11 Ground Cover Evergreen Flowering Shrubs

Benefits of Groundcover Evergreen Flowering Shrubs

There are many benefits of incorporating evergreen groundcover in your landscape. They continue to provide interest when all the other plants in your yard have gone dormant. This helps with the overall curb appeal of your home. 

Often, evergreen groundcovers have very fibrous roots, which will limit the amount of soil erosion in your yard. 

These evergreen shrubs can shelter pollinators and insects wintering in the area. Also, their shoots will disperse any snow or heavy rain before reaching the soil. 

Check out these 11 groundcover evergreen flowering shrubs. 

1. Creeping Myrtle

Blue Myrtle flowers on a meadow

These particular plants, also known as periwinkle, thrive in the shade. This low-growing and mat-forming shrub is a top choice if you're looking for a groundcover in a shady area. The glossy green foliage looks dynamite paired with the purple star-shaped flowers. 

Blooming in spring and summer, the creeping myrtle has a deep root system with stems that take root as they spread along the ground. However, if you have pets, you may want to avoid these plants, as they can be toxic to pets if ingested. 

2. Creeping Thyme

Close up of wild thyme flowers

If you live in an area that experiences mild winters, creeping thyme will act as an evergreen groundcover. Clusters of tiny pink-purple flowers will often bloom in early to mid-summer. These shrubs are drought-tolerant and prefer to be planted in full sun. 

The leaves of creeping thyme are fragrant and, when stepped on, will release a lovely sweet smell in your garden. Creeping thyme is excellent to plant in between stepping stones, in rock gardens, and as edging or a colorful border. 

3. Creeping Phlox

Pink flowers of Creeping Phlox close-up in garden

This variety of evergreen groundcover needs to be planted in full sun. When this gorgeous groundcover blooms in springtime, you will be amazed at the number of blossoms exploding from these shrubs. Pink, white, purple, red, and blue are all possible colors, depending on what variety you select. 

The small, star-shaped blooms stand out against the needle-shaped leaves. Creeping phlox is a low-growing shrub that creates a dense mat less than a foot tall. It is deer-resistant but will also attract pollinators. These plants will spread over time, and you may find them overbearing. You can divide them and plant them in other areas of your yard. 

4. Spotted Deadnettle

Pink flowers of spotted dead-nettle in the garden

This shade-loving evergreen is popular due to its stunning variegated foliage and long-lasting blossoms. The silvery-colored leaves are edged in green and have serrated edges. Deadnettle will only grow as tall as 8 inches but can spread as much as 3 feet! Ideal growing locations would be under larger shrubs and trees or in garden areas that are largely shaded. 

The area in which you live will determine if this plant will be evergreen or not. It will act as an evergreen in milder climates, and the gorgeous leaves will stay green all year long. In colder climates, it will be semi-evergreen.  

5. Lenten Rose

Hybrid Lenten Rose in bloom in spring

This plant received its name because it will bloom between February and April or the 40 days between Ash Wednesday and Easter, known as Lent. It can be tricky to see these stunning blooms as they seem to nod to the ground. Plant them on a berm or other elevated area to more easily see the blooms. These groundcovers are shade-loving and do best in moist, well-drained soil. 

The gorgeous flowers on this groundcover can range from deep-red to yellow to white, depending on the variety you choose. Each blossom has five petals surrounding a ring of soft, cuplike pods. 

6. Wall Germander

Wall Germander in the garden

The wall germander will be ideal if you're looking for a groundcover with some height. It prefers full sun and will bloom dainty purple flowers on woody stems in mid-summer. Additionally, the lush dark-green foliage is aromatic. 

Wall germander can be planted as a short hedge or as edging along walkways in your garden. It is pollinator-friendly, and the deer don't like it. This evergreen groundcover is even drought-tolerant. 

7. Candytuft

Candytufts in the garden

This striking groundcover grows in bushy mounds and is saturated in clusters of bright white blossoms. Candytuft is drought-tolerant and flourishes in full sun. It does, however, need to be planted in well-drained soil. 

This evergreen groundcover is hardy up to -30 degrees, and its foliage will remain dark green through the winter. Try planting these in raised flower beds, moon gardens, or cascading plants over rocks or retaining walls. 

8. Honeysuckle

Honeysuckle close up in the garden

The beauty of honeysuckle is that it can be grown as climbing plants or used as groundcover in sunny areas. There are evergreen varieties of honeysuckles, but be aware that they may lose their foliage in cold winters. Honeysuckles grow best in full sun and will produce heavily-scented blossoms from early summer to fall. 

Honeysuckle plants come in a variety of different colors. These long-lasting blooms come in yellow, cream, peach, red, or pink colors. 

9. Bugleweed

Close up of Bugleweed in the garden

Bugleweed is an excellent option if you are looking for a colorful evergreen groundcover. Not only does it offer small purple, pink, or blue flowers that grow on spikes, but it also offers attractive foliage. The leaves can be green, purple, bronze, or even variegated depending on the variety. This evergreen groundcover is even showy when the blooms aren't present. 

This will grow in the shade but does the best when planted in the sun. The foliage will develop best when it is planted in full sun. Bugleweed will creep its way through your garden, forming a thick mat of impressive foliage. 

10. Lilyturf

Lilyturf in the garden

For a good reason, lilyturf is often used as a groundcover because it stays green all year long in many climates. Lilyturf grows well in sun, part sun, or full shade. Stiff stems will eventually be filled with tiny blue or purple bell-like blossoms. Another striking feature of the lilyturf is its grassy-like leaves, often striped in white. 

The dense tufts of arching leaves make it perfect for planting under trees or as a substitute for lawn grass. It is incredibly low-maintenance and is deer-resistant as well. 

11. Coral Bells

Beautiful Heuchera purple leaves and flowers also known as Coral Bells

Coral bells are not considered evergreen but rather semi-evergreen. However, we would be remiss not to include this showstopper on this list. This is a must-have for any garden. The thick, colorful foliage is spectacular and will immediately brighten any area it is planted.

Its luxurious, wavy leaves look lovely with the white, coral, pink, or red bell-shaped blossoms. The blossoms bloom on a slender stalk, that towers above the abundant foliage below. They typically bloom in late spring or early summer.  Coral bells love the sun but prefer partial sun when planted in hot and dry climates. 

To Wrap It Up

As you can see, many options are available no matter where you want to plant a flowering evergreen groundcover shrub. Sun-loving evergreen groundcovers like creeping phlox or candytuft look as beautiful as shade-loving evergreen groundcovers like bugleweed or creeping myrtle. 

Furthermore, keep in mind the climate in which you live as some of these may not be evergreen year-round and may be considered semi-evergreen. Most of these plants are low-maintenance, yet these gorgeous, hard-working plants have much to offer. Hopefully, you will be able to include one of these fabulous groundcover evergreen flowering shrubs in your garden. 

For more inspiration and landscaping ideas, click on the following links:

13 Narrow Evergreen Shrubs For Gorgeous Landscaping 

11 Beautiful Climbing Flowering Shrubs And Vines

One comment

  1. You folks have a wonderful and very useful news letter. Thanks for sharing your expertise with us.
    Al GIDDENS

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