If you’re looking to fill empty garden spaces, suppress weeds, or add texture and color to your landscape without the hassle of constant upkeep, fast-growing ground covers are the perfect solution. These low-growing plants spread quickly, creating lush carpets of foliage and, in many cases, beautiful flowers. Whether you’re covering a sunny slope, shady corner, or pathway, these 10 rapidly growing ground covers offer effortless, attractive landscaping options you’ll appreciate year after year.
1. Creeping Jenny (Lysimachia nummularia)
Creeping Jenny is a vibrant, fast-growing ground cover known for its trailing stems and bright chartreuse leaves. Ideal for sunny or partially shaded areas, it spreads rapidly along garden borders, slopes, or between stepping stones. Its cheerful yellow flowers appear in late spring and early summer, adding a pop of color to your landscape. Creeping Jenny thrives in moist, well-drained soil and is a favorite for both ground planting and hanging baskets where its cascading stems create a lovely spillover effect.
2. Ajuga (Ajuga reptans)
Also known as Bugleweed, Ajuga is a vigorous ground cover with attractive foliage in shades of green, bronze, or burgundy. In spring, it produces spikes of blue, purple, or white flowers that draw bees and butterflies. Ajuga is shade-tolerant, making it an excellent choice for areas under trees or alongside shaded pathways. It spreads quickly via runners, forming dense mats that effectively choke out weeds. Its tolerance for poor soils and minimal maintenance needs make it a reliable choice for easy landscaping.
3. Periwinkle (Vinca minor)
Periwinkle, or Vinca minor, is a tough, fast-spreading evergreen ground cover ideal for shady and partially shaded areas. Its small, glossy green leaves form dense carpets, while its delicate blue or purple flowers bloom from spring into summer. Periwinkle is drought-tolerant once established and thrives in a variety of soil types. It quickly covers large spaces, suppresses weeds, and requires little maintenance, making it a popular choice for banks, under shrubs, or challenging garden spots.
4. Sedum (Sedum spp.)
Sedum, commonly known as stonecrop, is a fast-growing succulent ground cover that excels in sunny, dry locations. Its thick, fleshy leaves store water, making it highly drought-tolerant and perfect for rock gardens, slopes, or areas with poor soil. Sedum comes in various forms, from creeping varieties to low mounds, and blooms with clusters of star-shaped flowers in summer. Its ability to spread rapidly while requiring minimal care makes Sedum an ideal option for hassle-free, colorful ground coverage.
5. Sweet Woodruff (Galium odoratum)
Sweet Woodruff is a shade-loving ground cover prized for its rapid growth and fragrant, star-shaped white flowers that appear in spring. Its bright green, whorled leaves create dense mats that quickly fill shady garden spots under trees or along borders. Sweet Woodruff thrives in moist, rich soil and is excellent for naturalizing woodland gardens. It also releases a pleasant, sweet scent when crushed, making it a charming addition to pathways and shaded seating areas.
6. Irish Moss (Sagina subulata)
For gardeners seeking a lush, moss-like ground cover, Irish Moss offers rapid growth and a soft, cushiony texture. It forms dense, emerald-green mats that stay vibrant year-round and produces tiny white flowers in late spring. Irish Moss thrives in full sun to partial shade and prefers consistently moist, well-drained soil. Its compact growth habit makes it perfect for between stepping stones, along pathways, or as an edging plant, creating a manicured, carpet-like effect with very little maintenance.
7. Mazus (Mazus reptans)
Mazus is a low-growing perennial ground cover that spreads quickly and thrives in moist, well-drained soil. Its small, bright green leaves form dense mats, while delicate lavender-blue flowers with yellow markings bloom from late spring through early summer. Mazus performs well in both sun and partial shade and is especially effective between pavers, along garden paths, or as a lawn substitute in low-traffic areas. Its ability to fill spaces rapidly while adding seasonal color makes it a favorite for easy landscaping.
8. Liriope (Liriope muscari)
Often used as a hardy ground cover or border plant, Liriope (also known as Lilyturf) grows quickly to form dense clumps of grass-like foliage. In late summer, it produces spikes of purple or lavender flowers followed by dark berries. Liriope tolerates a variety of soil types, light conditions, and even drought once established. It’s an excellent choice for edging garden beds, covering slopes, or filling difficult spots under trees where grass struggles to grow. Its evergreen foliage provides year-round visual interest.
9. Golden Creeping Thyme (Thymus serpyllum ‘Aureus’)
Golden Creeping Thyme is a fast-growing, low-maintenance ground cover that thrives in sunny, well-drained areas. Its tiny, golden-green leaves emit a pleasant fragrance when crushed, and it produces clusters of pink to purple flowers in summer that attract pollinators. This drought-tolerant herb spreads quickly to form dense mats, making it ideal for rock gardens, between pavers, or as a lawn alternative in light-traffic areas. It’s not only beautiful but also functional as a culinary herb and aromatic garden accent.
10. Blue Star Creeper (Isotoma fluviatilis)
Blue Star Creeper is a delightful, fast-spreading ground cover that forms lush carpets of tiny green leaves and is sprinkled with pale blue star-shaped flowers from spring through fall. It thrives in full sun to partial shade and tolerates light foot traffic, making it perfect for pathways, patios, and between stepping stones. Blue Star Creeper prefers moist, well-drained soil and spreads rapidly to fill bare spots with minimal care. Its dainty flowers and dense foliage add softness and charm to any landscape design.
Conclusion
Fast-growing ground covers are a smart, stylish way to create a low-maintenance, weed-suppressing landscape. Whether you need something for sun-drenched slopes, shaded corners, or between stepping stones, these 10 rapidly growing ground covers offer beautiful, practical solutions. From the bold colors of Creeping Jenny and Bugleweed to the soft textures of Irish Moss and Blue Star Creeper, you’ll find plenty of options to elevate your garden’s appeal while keeping upkeep to a minimum.
