Ground covers beautify gardens, save your time, and keep weeds away, making gardening easier. Choosing low-maintenance plants means less watering, weeding, and overall garden care. These helpful plants spread quickly, covering the ground to block out unwanted weeds. Ground covers protect the soil from erosion, keeping it healthy for other plants. They come in many beautiful colors, unique textures, and delightful scents to match your style.
1. Creeping Thyme
Creeping thyme grows quickly, covering your garden with lovely pink or purple flowers. It smells wonderful, especially when you step on it. This plant tolerates foot traffic, perfect along pathways or stepping stones. Creeping thyme thrives best in sunny areas with good soil drainage. It naturally repels pests, helping your garden stay healthy without chemicals. This fast-growing cover prevents weeds effectively.
2. Ajuga
Ajuga forms a dense carpet with shiny leaves that can be bronze, green, or purple. It grows fast, quickly covering shady or partially sunny areas. Ajuga thrives even in difficult spots under large trees. In spring, it blooms beautifully with blue, purple, or white flowers. These colorful blooms attract beneficial insects like butterflies and bees. Ajuga’s thick growth prevents weeds by blocking sunlight.
3. Sedum
Sedum plants store water in their thick, succulent leaves, so they handle drought very well. They grow in sunny, dry areas and require minimal watering. Sedum comes in various colors, including green, bronze, and even purple. In late summer, it blooms with star-shaped flowers that attract butterflies and pollinators. Its thick growth shades the soil, stopping weeds from growing. Sedum is ideal for rock gardens or sunny slopes.
4. Periwinkle
Periwinkle spreads quickly, covering shaded areas with glossy green leaves. It blooms in pretty blue, white, or purple flowers, adding brightness to your garden. Periwinkle prefers partial shade but tolerates various soils, even poor ones. This ground cover effectively controls weeds and prevents soil erosion on slopes. It stays green throughout the year, providing continuous beauty. Periwinkle works well under trees and shrubs.
5. Creeping Phlox
Creeping phlox creates a vibrant carpet of beautiful flowers each spring. It loves sunny spots and grows quickly to cover bare ground. This dense growth keeps weeds from sprouting by blocking sunlight. Once established, creeping phlox is easy to care for and attracts butterflies. It's perfect for rock gardens, pathways, or garden borders. Your garden will become colorful and lively every spring.
6. Pachysandra
Pachysandra quickly covers shaded, moist areas with thick, green foliage. This evergreen plant remains attractive throughout the year. It effectively prevents weeds by creating dense ground cover. Pachysandra is great for difficult spots, like beneath trees or shrubs. It tolerates many soil types, adding flexibility to your garden. Pachysandra requires little maintenance after it’s established.
7. Sweet Woodruff
Sweet woodruff grows best in shady, moist soil conditions. In spring, tiny star-shaped white flowers bloom, adding gentle beauty. Its gentle spreading habit helps it quickly cover bare soil, blocking weeds. When dried, sweet woodruff leaves release a sweet fragrance, and they are often used in potpourri. It grows well under trees or shrubs where few plants survive. This low-maintenance plant adds both beauty and fragrance.
8. Lamb’s Ear
Lamb’s Ear has soft, fuzzy leaves that children and adults love to touch. It's drought-tolerant and grows well in sunny, dry locations. Thick leaves effectively prevent weeds by shading the ground. This plant naturally deters deer and rabbits, helping your garden stay beautiful. In summer, it produces small, purple flower spikes. Lamb’s Ear is excellent along pathways and borders.
9. Corsican Mint
Corsican mint creates a dense mat of tiny, bright green leaves. It releases a fresh, minty scent when stepped on. This plant thrives in partial sun and moist, well-drained soil. Corsican mint works perfectly between stepping stones or garden pathways. Its thick growth helps block weeds effectively. Enjoy the refreshing fragrance every time you walk through your garden.
10. Clover
Clover grows quickly, covering large areas with ease. It enriches garden soil by adding nitrogen, benefiting nearby plants. Clover thrives in sunny or partially shaded spots, forming a thick mat. It attracts beneficial insects, like bees and butterflies, to your garden. Clover requires minimal water or care, making it eco-friendly. It stays lush and green year-round with minimal effort.
11. Barrenwort
Barrenwort thrives in shady gardens and produces delicate, colorful flowers in spring. Its dense foliage effectively suppresses weeds by covering bare soil. The heart-shaped leaves often turn reddish in fall, adding seasonal interest. Once established, Barrenwort is drought-tolerant and requires minimal maintenance. It’s excellent for planting under trees and shrubs where other plants struggle. This resilient ground cover effortlessly enhances shaded areas.
12. Ice Plant
Ice plants produce vibrant, daisy-like flowers in many beautiful colors. Their thick, succulent leaves store water, helping them survive drought. This ground cover grows quickly, thriving in sunny and dry locations. Ice plants form thick mats that effectively block weeds by shading the soil. They're perfect for rocky slopes or sunny garden spots. Ice plants add stunning color with minimal care.
13. Irish Moss
Irish moss creates a lush, moss-like carpet in shaded or partly sunny gardens. It prefers moist soil and grows rapidly to cover bare areas. This thick coverage effectively suppresses weeds. Irish moss tolerates moderate foot traffic, which is ideal for garden paths or stepping stones. It remains attractive and green throughout the season. Irish moss adds a soft, lush appearance to your garden.
14. Golden Creeping Jenny
Golden Creeping Jenny grows fast, covering the ground with bright golden-green leaves. It does well in sunny or partly shaded gardens. Its dense growth makes it excellent at suppressing weeds. It looks lovely cascading from garden borders or containers. Once established, this plant requires minimal maintenance. Golden Creeping Jenny instantly brightens your garden’s appearance.
15. Deadnettle
Deadnettle provides color with silver, green, or purple leaves. It prefers moist, partly shaded locations in your garden. This plant quickly covers the ground beneath trees and shrubs. Deadnettle blooms beautifully, attracting pollinators like butterflies. Its dense growth blocks weeds very effectively. Deadnettle needs minimal care and adds beauty to shaded areas.
16. Snow-in-Summer
Snow-in-summer thrives in sunny, dry locations, perfect for hot climates. Its silvery leaves add unique texture and color. Abundant white flowers bloom in late spring, resembling snow. This plant grows quickly, forming a dense mat to prevent weeds. Snow-in-summer requires very little watering or attention. It’s ideal for rocky gardens or slopes.
17. Mazus
Mazus rapidly covers moist, partially sunny areas with charming blue or white flowers. It grows densely, preventing weeds from sprouting. Mazus can handle moderate foot traffic, making it unique among similar plants. It’s ideal for planting around ponds or along pathways. This low-maintenance plant adds beauty without hassle. Mazus thrives with little care, making gardening easy.
18. Bearberry
Bearberry has shiny evergreen leaves and attractive red berries. It thrives in sandy, dry soils under full sun. Bearberry grows quickly, covering the soil and preventing weeds. It helps prevent erosion, especially on slopes. The plant requires minimal maintenance and stays beautiful year-round. Bearberry is perfect for tough, sunny spots.
Effortless Ground Covers for a Stunning, Low-Maintenance Garden
These ground covers simplify gardening by reducing chores and preventing weeds. Choose plants that match your garden’s sunlight, moisture, and soil needs. Ground covers help keep soil healthy by preventing erosion. They provide year-round beauty, adding color, texture, and fragrance. Many attract beneficial pollinators like butterflies and bees. Create an easy-care garden paradise by planting these amazing, weed-blocking ground covers!
Turn your dry, rocky soil into a thriving landscape with these stunning ground covers: