Barrenwort
Epimedium × Rubrum is an enduring groundcover that boasts heart-shaped foliage and delicate spring blooms, growing up to 12-18 inches tall to cover shady areas beneath shrubs or trees. This versatile plant excels when paired with hellebores and other spring-flowering species, forming the focal point of a cascading arrangement. Its flower colors range from pink to white, adding a touch of elegance to any garden.
With USDA Growing Zones ranging from 5 to 9, Epimedium × Rubrum is an excellent choice for many climates.
Blue Lilyturf
Liriope Muscari, also known as Lilyturf, is a versatile ground cover that can effectively replace traditional grass. This invasive species spreads rapidly, forming dense clumps as it goes. While its foliage bears a resemblance to ornamental grass, botanically speaking, it’s actually classified differently. In the spring, Liriope Muscari produces vibrant purple flowers that emerge from among its long, green and white leaves, adding a fresh texture to the landscape.
Depending on the specific variety, this evergreen ground cover can grow up to 6 inches tall and thrive in slopes or areas receiving partial shade to full sun. One of the best aspects of Liriope Muscari is that it remains attractive all year round, providing a lush, textured appearance. This plant is suitable for USDA Growing Zones 5-10.
Blue Star Creeper
Isotoma fluviatilis, also known as Blue Star Creeper, is a low-maintenance ground cover that thrives in warmer climates. Its striking features include pale-blue flowers and lush, creeping green leaves that remain vibrant throughout the growing season. The plant’s dense foliage creates a visually appealing ‘living carpet’ effect, making it an excellent choice for gardeners seeking a rapid landscape upgrade. Its ability to flourish in both full sun and partial shade only adds to its appeal.
This adaptable ground cover is suitable for USDA Growing Zones 6-9 and has been identified as a native plant by Native Plants NZ.
Bugleweed
Ajuga reptans is a low-growing, spreading plant that conceals its foliage beneath an explosion of indigo-blue flowers during bloom time. What sets this versatile ground cover apart is its ability to retain visual appeal even after the blooms have faded. This adaptable species thrives in shady conditions, but can also tolerate partial sun. If you’re searching for a variety to adorn your garden’s shade-dwelling areas, either option will be sure to please.
The primary distinction between various bugleweed species lies in the hue of their leaves, which range from green and bronze to purple and variegated. With dozens of distinct varieties available on the market, you’re unlikely to make a misstep in your selection.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 3-10
Botanical Name: Ajuga reptans
Bunchberry – White Flower
Wrapped in lush green foliage, the delicate white or green blooms of Cornus Canadensis are a stunning sight, with dark purple stamens adding an air of sophistication. But what’s truly remarkable about this perennial ground cover is its practical value – it has been used in traditional medicine for its various benefits. To coax optimal growth from this plant, be sure to provide consistent moisture as it can’t tolerate drought and prefers partial shade.
This makes it an ideal addition to under-shrubs and trees, where the dappled sunlight will encourage healthy development. As a bonus, the vibrant red berries that follow the blooms are a treat for the eyes throughout all stages of growth. With its unique appeal and practical uses, Cornus Canadensis is a wonderful choice for gardeners in USDA zones 2 to 6.
Carpet Box
Pachysandra terminalis, also referred to as Japanese spurge, is a unique and versatile native ground cover that thrives in shaded areas. Its ability to form a lush, textured carpet of deep green leaves with notched peripheries makes it an ideal choice for covering large spaces under trees or shrubs. As its name suggests, this plant excels in shade, where it can blanket the area with its vibrant foliage.
In addition to its aesthetic appeal, Pachysandra terminalis is also remarkably resilient and able to withstand dry periods without complaint. Springtime brings a delicate touch of white flowers to this already-alluring plant. With its adaptability and low-maintenance requirements, Pachysandra terminalis is an excellent option for gardeners seeking a reliable and visually appealing ground cover. USDA Growing Zones: 5-9, Botanical Name: Pachysandra Terminalis.
Christmas Ferns
The fern, a low-maintenance yet visually appealing plant, thrives on its own or when planted. Its ability to form a lush, green tuft makes it an ideal choice for areas with full shade and drought-prone conditions. As an evergreen ground cover, it can be seamlessly integrated into any garden, providing year-round texture even during the winter months. With its hardy nature, it’s no wonder that ferns are suitable for a wide range of USDA Growing Zones, from 3 to 9.
Its botanical name is Polystichum Acrostichoides, making it a versatile and attractive addition to any outdoor space.
Common Periwinkle
Vinca minor is a humble yet effective groundcover plant that thrives with minimal upkeep. Its ability to spread rapidly and adapt to both sunny and shaded environments makes it an attractive option for many gardeners. The plant’s most notable feature is its clusters of dark green, glossy leaves that creep along the ground, forming a lush carpet. The delicate purple-blue flowers that bloom on the stems are a lovely bonus.
With a hardiness range spanning USDA Growing Zones 4 to 11, Vinca minor can be grown in a variety of climates. Its botanical name is Vinca Minor, making it a straightforward addition to any garden or landscape design.
Creeping Liriope
This low-maintenance perennial is an excellent choice for garden beds, where it can thrive under the shade of large trees. Its sprawling habit also makes it well-suited for slopes, where it produces vibrant purple spires of flowers in the spring. While Liriope Spicata does spread quickly on its own, you can encourage even faster growth by pruning away any dead stems in the spring, making way for new shoots to emerge.
With a hardiness range spanning USDA Growing Zones 4-10, this versatile plant is suitable for many climates.
Creeping Saxifrage
This species of plant has the unique ability to produce offspring quickly, making it an ideal choice for anyone looking for a fast-growing groundcover. The leaves are round and feature a striking silver filament pattern. As late spring arrives, the plant is adorned with small white flowers that add a touch of elegance to its surroundings.
What’s more, this species can thrive in even the most challenging conditions, such as long and hot summers, as long as it receives a little maintenance attention. One way to showcase this plant is by planting it in a rock garden, where its leaves will spread out and create a visually appealing display that adds interest to the area. With USDA Growing Zones ranging from 6 to 11, this species can be grown almost anywhere. Its botanical name is Saxifraga Stolonifera.
Cuban Oregano
This Cuban oregano thrives in partial shade, rapidly developing into a lush, verdant carpet. Its tropical origins belie its ability to flourish in various climate conditions. The aromatic leaves, reminiscent of mint, boast a soft, velvety texture and are adorned with white peripheries that mirror the coloration of its flowers. Notably, the plant can also produce vibrant pink and lilac blossoms.
Once established, Cuban oregano requires minimal care, making it an attractive option for busy gardeners. With USDA Growing Zones ranging from 9 to 11, Plectranthus Amboinicus is a versatile choice for cultivating this aromatic perennial.
Creeping Jenny
Creeping Jenny’s adaptability is one of its most notable features, as it can thrive in partial shade. This trailing ground cover boasts small light green leaves that are perfect for filling hanging baskets. When exposed to the sun, its foliage takes on a brighter, more yellow hue. For those interested in cultivating this plant, it falls within USDA Growing Zones 4 to 9 and is scientifically known as Lysimachia Nummularia ‘Moneywort’.
Golden Star Grass
This perennial ground cover, characterized by its elegant yellow blooms and lush foliage, produces a vibrant display in both spring and late summer. The small, daisy-like flowers are a delightful sight amidst the rich carpet of leaves that covers the plant’s sprawling stems.
As a low-maintenance option for garden beds or pathways, this plant thrives in sunny spots but can also tolerate medium to full shade.
Its adaptability makes it a popular choice among gardeners looking to add visual interest and texture to their outdoor spaces.
Notably, this versatile ground cover is hardy in USDA zones 5 through 9, making it suitable for a wide range of climates. Its botanical name, Chrysogonum Virginianum, is a testament to its unique characteristics and the region where it originates.
Golden Sweet Flag
Acros gramineus ‘Ogon’ thrives in moderate shade, where it can showcase its stunning golden leaves with green stripes. While it’s adaptable to average moisture levels, this ornamental grass truly shines when consistently watered. Its unique beauty makes it a top choice for landscaping shady areas around trees or near ponds and water features. This versatile ground cover plant is suitable for USDA Growing Zones 6-9.
Hosta
The hosta’s delicate nature is a result of its Japanese origins. It thrives in partial or full shade, as direct sunlight can scorch its gentle flowers. For optimal growth, it requires light and well-drained soil. This perennial plant grows up to 19 inches tall, with large oval-shaped leaves that set it apart from other species. During the summer months, white to pale purple flowers bloom and continue to do so until September.
In colder climates, this blooming period can begin in autumn and extend into early winter. Hosta is hardy in USDA Growing Zones 3 to 8, with a botanical name of Hosta spp.
Impatiens
Impatiens, originating from East Africa, thrive in shaded garden beds, thriving in thickly planted gardens and edging gardens. The leaves are wide and alternating, although some varieties may exhibit an equally spread arrangement at the top of the plant. A subtle yet striking feature is the potential for pink and red spots to appear on the leaf undersides, adding a pop of color to the overall green hue.
The small, five-petalled flowers bring a delicate charm to the garden, with their various colors making Impatiens a popular choice as a ground cover plant. With USDA Growing Zones ranging from 7 to 11 and the botanical name Impatiens Walleriana, this versatile perennial is sure to delight.
Leatherwood Fern
The marginal shield fern (Dryopteris marginalis) thrives in shaded areas, indifferent to the soil quality. It can flourish on rocky terrain or well-fertilized ground alike. This adaptable plant produces vase-shaped clumps that typically reach a height of 2 inches. The leaves are green and feature deep notches, adding texture to its overall appearance. When grown alone or paired with wildflowers, it presents an attractive display.
As a bonus, it can create an intriguing exotic setting for water features or ponds. For gardeners in USDA zones 3 to 8, this fern is an excellent choice.
Lenten Rose
The Lenten rose, with its cup-shaped blooms reminiscent of a rose, is a stunning sight to behold. The purple petals beautifully complement the bright yellow stamens, creating a harmonious visual display. As an evergreen plant, it thrives in moderate winters, but requires insulation from harsh weather conditions, lest it become lost. In late winter and spring, it bursts forth with clusters of blooms that grow up to 1.
5 inches in height, making it the perfect addition to any garden seeking year-round beauty. This lovely plant is suitable for USDA Growing Zones 4-9, and its botanical name is Helleborus Orientalis.
Mint
With its versatility, The Mint stands out as both a popular herb and a reliable ground cover plant. This hardy perennial thrives with minimal maintenance, spreading quickly across a large area once planted. For optimal growth, The Mint requires partial shade to full sun and moist, well-drained soil conditions. Its mature height reaches up to 20 inches. With its broad adaptability, it’s suitable for USDA Growing Zones 3 to 11, making it an ideal choice for many gardeners.
Botanically speaking, this variety is classified as Mentha.
Ornamental Sweet Potato
Sweet potatoes (Ipomoea Batatas) are a type of ornamental plant that thrives as a sprawling ground cover, with vines that create a beautiful display. One of the main draws is their stunning foliage, which is not only attractive but also comes in a range of colors including gold, bronze, and brown, as well as red, purple, and nearly black. The leaves themselves have a unique shape, resembling hearts and evoking the ivy’s characteristic foliage.
When it comes to sunlight, sweet potatoes require at least six hours of direct sun, followed by periods of shade to allow their leaves to rest. This plant is an annual, making it a great option for gardeners looking to add some variety to their outdoor spaces. For best results, grow sweet potatoes in USDA zones 9-11.
Purple Heart
The Purple Heart, a popular ornamental plant for gardens and borders, also doubles as an effective ground cover. While it thrives in shaded areas, it’s not fond of winter conditions. One way to propagate this versatile plant is by taking cuttings, provided you’re willing to create a dense layer with it. In terms of growing conditions, the Purple Heart prefers spots receiving full sun to partial shade and high-quality soil that drains well and contains plenty of organic matter.
As for its hardiness, it’s classified as USDA Growing Zones 7-12. Its botanical name is Tradescantia Pallida.
Spotted Dead-nettle
This species exhibits remarkable adaptability when it comes to leaf morphology, showcasing diverse sizes, shapes, hairiness levels, and flower colors. Despite its relatively low growth habit, it produces robust stems that branch out from the base, effectively creating a lush ground cover effect.
Thriving in partial to full shade conditions and well-drained, moist soils, Lamium Maculatum is particularly notable for its heart-shaped leaves, which are a common feature of this species.
The flowers produced by these plants are equally impressive, with magenta, pink, or white blossoms blooming in mid-spring and lasting until fall.
USDA Growing Zones: 3 to 8, Botanical Name: Lamium Maculatum
Sweet Woodruff
Galium odoratum, also known as sweet woodruff, is an adaptable ground cover that excels in shady environments and has a remarkable ability to spread rapidly. To curb its enthusiasm, you can create a defined edge to contain its growth. This hardy plant can survive drought conditions, but prolonged dryness may still impact its overall health. One of the key advantages of Galium odoratum is its ease of establishment, as it requires no special soil preparation for planting or transplanting.
This versatile ground cover is suitable for zones 4-8 and thrives under the right conditions.
Variegated Ground Ivy
Ground ivy, also known as Glechoma hederacea ‘Variegata’, is a unique and hardy ground cover plant that thrives in temperate climates. Its ability to maintain its green foliage and stems even under snow allows it to begin blooming early in the spring, making it an ideal choice for gardeners looking to add some color to their landscape during this time of year. This evergreen creeping plant is a member of the mint family and is characterized by its aromatic properties.
Its funnel-shaped flowers come in shades of blue and violet, adding a pop of color to any area where it’s planted. One of the best things about ground ivy is its ability to spread quickly through vegetative propagation, making it easy to establish coverage throughout your garden or yard. With USDA growing zones ranging from 4 to 9, this plant is suitable for most regions and can be grown almost anywhere.
Wandering Jew
Zebrina’s stem exhibits a fascinating succulent trait, as it creeps around itself to form a compact shrub. The leaves stretch up to 2.5 inches in length and are evenly distributed along the stem, offering an attractive display. Notably, the upper leaf surface is covered in fine hairs, while its vibrant colors evoke the majesty of a rainbow. In contrast, the underside boasts a striking lilac hue with silvery stripes, transitioning seamlessly into wine red at the tips.
The stems themselves take on a turquoise tone, punctuated by dark red spots and dots. This remarkable coloration makes Zebrina an excellent choice for ground cover in landscape design. With its adaptability to USDA Growing Zones 7-11 and botanical name Tradescantia Zebrina, this succulent is sure to captivate and thrive.
White Inside-Out Flower
Vancouveria hexandra is a versatile ground cover that thrives in moist and well-drained soils, often found in part to full shade spots. For a lush carpet effect, patience is key as it doesn’t spread rapidly unless planted in the ideal location. To hasten the process, propagate prepared stems once and plant them for an early glimpse of its delicate bell-like cluster flowers.
Wild Geranium
Wild geranium is a low-maintenance ornamental plant that thrives in a variety of settings. Its ability to thrive in shaded areas makes it an ideal ground cover, but it’s essential to note that the flowers won’t bloom if the shade is too dense. When the conditions are right, however, these flowers become a stunning attraction for butterflies, making them a delightful addition to any garden.
The petals typically range from soft pink to rich lavender hues, with some varieties displaying deeper tones. With USDA growing zones ranging from 4 to 9, this plant can be enjoyed by gardeners across the country. Botanically speaking, wild geranium is classified as Geranium Maculatum.
Wild Ginger
Wild ginger is an ideal choice for covering large areas of shady garden beds or woodland gardens. When planted at a distance of 12-24 inches, it forms a lush, green carpet remarkably quickly. If left unattended, the growth rate slows down slightly. Notable features of this species include kidney-shaped leaves with a glossy green surface. One of its greatest advantages is its ability to thrive in deep shade, making it an unparalleled solution for ground cover.
This versatility earns wild ginger a spot in USDA Growing Zones 6-9, where it can be found under the botanical name Asarum.
Yellow Archangel
This perennial plant stands at an average height of 1-2 feet, boasting tube-shaped yellow flowers that bloom in the spring. Its unique feature lies in its rich green and silver foliage, which thrives even in shaded areas. This makes it a popular choice for adding visual interest to gardens, not just during blooming seasons but also as a non-blooming edging plant for borders.
With USDA Growing Zones ranging from 4 to 8, this species, known botanically as Lamium Galeobdolon, can be grown in a variety of environments. Some shade-loving plants are adapted to withstand drought conditions, while others prefer moist soil. As such, it’s essential to consider the specific needs of your chosen plant when selecting the perfect spot for it in your garden.
