Ground cover plants are the unsung heroes of beautiful gardens. They blanket the soil in lush color and texture, suppress weeds naturally, retain moisture, and reduce erosion all while creating a polished, vibrant look. Whether you want a carpet of green, a floral cascade, or foliage that thrives in shade, there’s a ground cover plant to fit your vision. These 10 stunning varieties not only enhance your garden beds but also bring lasting beauty with minimal upkeep.
1. Creeping Jenny (Lysimachia nummularia)
Creeping Jenny is a cheerful, low-growing plant known for its bright chartreuse leaves and fast-spreading habit. It’s perfect for filling in gaps between stepping stones, cascading over rock walls, or softening the edges of garden beds. It thrives in full sun to partial shade and prefers moist soil. Its vibrant color offers year-round interest, and it produces small, yellow flowers in summer. Just a little care goes a long way with this vigorous grower, making it both beautiful and practical.
2. Sweet Woodruff (Galium odoratum)
Sweet Woodruff is a shade-loving ground cover that adds a soft, woodland charm to your garden. With delicate, star-shaped white flowers and whorled, emerald-green leaves, it creates a carpet of texture and fragrance especially in spring when it blooms. It thrives under trees or in shady borders and even gives off a sweet, hay-like scent when dried. Once established, it spreads gently and suppresses weeds, making it an excellent choice for low-maintenance, naturalistic planting schemes.
3. Creeping Thyme (Thymus serpyllum)
Creeping Thyme is a fragrant, hardy ground cover that doubles as a culinary herb and a bee magnet. It features tiny green leaves and blooms in a mass of purple, pink, or white flowers in summer. Perfect for sunny spots and between pavers, it’s drought-tolerant and handles light foot traffic well. Its low profile and pleasant aroma make it a charming addition to garden beds, rock gardens, or even pathways where color and scent can be enjoyed up close.
4. Mazus (Mazus reptans)
Mazus is a spreading perennial that forms a dense, green mat and bursts into bloom with small, violet-blue or white flowers in late spring to early summer. It thrives in moist, well-drained soil and prefers partial to full sun. It’s excellent for planting between stepping stones or at the edges of flower beds, and it tolerates light foot traffic. Mazus is ideal for adding color and softness to walkways, especially in gardens with a cottage or whimsical design style.
5. Blue Star Creeper (Isotoma fluviatilis)
Blue Star Creeper is a dainty, low-growing plant that produces tiny, pale blue flowers from spring through fall. Its dense, moss-like foliage stays green throughout the year, providing a soft ground cover even when it’s not in bloom. It performs best in full sun to part shade and can tolerate moderate foot traffic, making it ideal for filling gaps in garden paths or stepping stone areas. It’s easy to maintain and offers a delicate yet robust solution for bare garden spaces.
6. Ajuga (Ajuga reptans)
Ajuga, or Bugleweed, is a striking ground cover that combines dramatic foliage with tall flower spikes. Available in shades of bronze, burgundy, and green, its glossy leaves create a rich carpet that’s topped by spiky blue to purple flowers in spring. It tolerates sun or shade, grows well in poor soils, and spreads quickly via runners. Ideal for under trees, slopes, or shady garden beds, Ajuga brings bold texture and color to spots where many plants won’t thrive.
7. Sedum (Sedum spp.)
Sedums, or stonecrops, are drought-tolerant succulents that make excellent ground covers in sunny areas. With fleshy leaves and star-shaped flowers, they add visual interest all year long. Varieties like Sedum spurium and Sedum acre spread quickly, covering the ground with colors ranging from deep red to bright green. Sedum is perfect for rock gardens, borders, or dry slopes where water retention is low. It requires minimal care and thrives in tough conditions, making it both resilient and beautiful.
8. Irish Moss (Sagina subulata)
Irish Moss forms a dense, emerald-green carpet that resembles soft moss, making it a favorite for Zen or formal gardens. It produces tiny, white flowers in spring and thrives in cooler, moist environments with partial sun. Ideal for between stepping stones, along garden paths, or as a lawn substitute in low-traffic areas, Irish Moss adds a plush texture and serene feel to your garden. With its neat appearance and soft cushion-like form, it’s perfect for a refined, tranquil space.
9. Lamium (Lamium maculatum)
Lamium, or Dead Nettle, is a fantastic ground cover for shady areas, with attractive variegated foliage and pink, purple, or white flowers that bloom throughout the growing season. Its leaves often have silver or white patterns that brighten dark garden corners. Lamium grows quickly, covering soil in dense mats that suppress weeds. It’s deer-resistant and tolerates a wide range of conditions, making it ideal for under shrubs, trees, or along shaded borders where other plants might struggle.
10. Helianthemum (Rock Rose)
Helianthemum, or Rock Rose, is a sun-loving ground cover with bright, cheerful blooms in colors like red, yellow, orange, or pink. It forms a low, spreading mat of silvery-green foliage that adds texture even when not in bloom. This drought-tolerant plant is ideal for hot, dry spots, slopes, or rock gardens. With its long flowering season and resilience, Rock Rose is both ornamental and practical a great choice for gardeners looking to add bold color and hardy performance.