Looking for a way to spruce up your flower beds, front yard or footpaths? Consider planting some low-growing greenery! This category includes many types of ground cover plants that are easy on the eyes as well.
Ground cover plants are a low maintenance way to add color, prevent weeds from taking over your garden and soil erosion. But the best thing about them? They work great in both sunny areas or dark spots!
No matter if you’re a seasoned gardener looking for some hardy plants that’ll make it all the way through winter, or are still trying to figure out which plant is right for your needs, this guide has something in store.
So, let’s take a look at our favorite 20 ground cover plants that will make your yard shine!
1. Flowering Thyme
For a perennial garden, flowering thyme is such an attractive plant. Not only does it provide both ornamental and edible qualities but even in the winter you can grab some sprigs of this to enjoy at home! It thrives best in USDA hardiness zones 5-9.
2. Alyssum
White alyssum is the perfect plant for filling in any gaps you may have. It’s heat and drought hardiness will make it thrive no matter what climate zone, making this flower an obvious choice to add some color! It thrives best in USDA hardiness zones 7-11.
3. Sedum ‘Dragon’s Blood’
This beautiful plant features a lovely red color, which makes it perfect for any season. The flowers may even stand out when there’s some snow on the ground! It thrives best in USDA hardiness zones 3-9.
4. Delosperma (“Ice Plant”)
This low-growing plant has succulent, spreading leaves and striking flowers that open in the sunshine before closing with less light. It is named “Firespinner” for its habit of opening up when it’s sunny to catch some rays then slowly close once there are shadows on their face.” It thrives best in USDA hardiness zones 5-9.
5. Black Mondo Grass
You might never have thought to plant black grass, but when you see how beautiful this grass looks like, you might change your mind! A lime green color might be the perfect match for your black conifer.
The lush appearance will not only make it stand out, but also create an evergreen look that matures all year round! It thrives best in USDA hardiness zones 6-10.
6. Hens and Chicks
The Latin name, sempervivum means “live forever,” which should give you a sense of how these tough and drought-resistant plants hold up. Their common name refers to the way that they grow tiny rosettes around their main plant—like carefree chickens! It thrives best in USDA hardiness zones 5-10.
7. Liriope
With their lush, rich purple blooms and towering stature these plants are perfect for those with a hardiness zone of 6-10. They typically appear late summer through fall so you can enjoy them all year round!
8. Lily of the Valley
Perennials are one of the more tolerant ground covers, meaning they can handle less sun and shade. They’re also among those that give off a lovely scent; not too strong but pleasant enough to enjoy their company if you want it! It thrives best in USDA hardiness zones 2-9.
9. Spotted Dead-Nettle
Known as Lamium maculatum, this perennial plant boasts a lengthy bloom time from mid-spring to early summer. It is deer resistant and rabbit friendly with good hardiness zones 3 through 10 making it great for planting in gardens or adding as an accent around any landscape area that needs flowers but does not have much room!
10. Creeping Phlox
These pretty little flowers come in a variety of colors – white, purples and blues to name just few. They won’t grow taller than six inches! It thrives best in USDA hardiness zones 3-9.
11. Lamb’s Ear
This plant has an interesting name, but it’s not hard to grow. You can enjoy these lush leaves year-round and the pretty flowers in spring! It will tolerate colder temperatures too – good for zones 4 through 9 on your map.
12. Violet ‘Freckles’
The Viola sororia is a fast-growing cultivar that produces purple flowers in the early spring. The mosses with this plant make it look like an authentic forest, and will grow anywhere from zone 4 to 11!
13. Corsican Mint
The minty herb Mentha requienii has tiny pale-mauve blossoms that appear in summer, making this perfect for shade. It can also handle some afternoon sun and is easily divided into smaller plants. Good For: Hardiness Zones 6 – 10.
14. Miniature Brass Buttons
The Leptinella gruveri is a resilient plant that can withstand morning light. It has tiny fernlike leaves and green-gold flowers in mid-spring, making it perfect for zones 5 through 9 with its hardiness.
15. Dianthus ‘Sternkissen’
Dianthus gratianopolitanus, a variety of the moderately spreading Dianthus with blue-green foliage and clove scent. It requires relatively little water to grow in hardiness zones 3 through 9!
16. Creeping Mazus
Mazus reptans, also known as creeping blue or purple flower is a mid-spring bloomer that will remain through the summer months. This drought tolerant plant prefers full sun and can be grown in Hardiness Zones 4 – 10.
17. Blue Star Creeper
The Easy-to grow blue star creeper (Isotoma fluviatilis) produces pale-blue flowers that last from spring through early fall. It spreads quickly in filtered light but can also take full sun, making it an excellent choice for any hardiness zone 5 – 10!
18. Sedum ‘Baby Tears’
The teardrop-shaped, variegated leaves on this drought-tolerant succulent (Sedum album) turned red in autumn. The spikes of white flowers that burst forth each summer are a beautiful bonus! Good for Hardiness Zones 4 through 9.
19. Roman Chamomile
Chamaemelum nobile is a plant that thrives in hot, dry conditions. To keep your chamomile compact after it blooms cut back two inches from the ground to maintain its height and shape for hardiness zones 4 through 9.
20. Woolly Thyme
The herb Thymus pseudolanuginosus is a sturdy, scented carpet of fuzzy gray-green leaves that become dotted with miniature light pink flowers each summer. It is hardy in zones 6 through 10 and makes for great ground cover!