Creating a beautiful garden doesn’t have to mean endless weeding and constant upkeep. Ground cover plants are a gardener’s secret weapon for filling bare spots, suppressing weeds, retaining soil moisture, and adding color and texture to the landscape — all with minimal maintenance. These hardy, fast-spreading plants form a living carpet over the soil, providing year-round interest without demanding too much of your time. Here are 9 excellent ground cover plants to help you craft a lush, low-maintenance garden you’ll love.
1. Creeping Thyme (Thymus serpyllum)
Creeping Thyme is a fragrant, hardy ground cover that’s perfect for sunny areas and dry, rocky soils. Its tiny, evergreen leaves release a pleasant scent when stepped on, making it ideal for pathways, borders, or between stepping stones. In summer, it produces clusters of small purple, pink, or white flowers that attract pollinators. This drought-tolerant plant spreads quickly and requires little upkeep beyond occasional trimming to maintain shape. Bonus: it’s deer-resistant and thrives with minimal water.
2. Sedum (Stonecrop)
Sedum is a diverse group of succulent ground covers known for their thick, fleshy leaves and colorful seasonal flowers. These sun-loving plants are incredibly low-maintenance, drought-tolerant, and perfect for hot, dry areas of the garden. Varieties like Sedum ‘Dragon’s Blood’ and Sedum spurium offer vibrant red or green foliage with tiny blooms in summer. They quickly spread to cover bare soil, suppressing weeds and adding bold texture to your landscape with very little effort.
3. Ajuga (Bugleweed)
If you’re looking for a ground cover that thrives in shade or partial sun, Ajuga is an excellent choice. It forms dense mats of glossy, dark green or bronze-tinged leaves and sends up spikes of blue, purple, or pink flowers in spring. Ajuga tolerates a variety of soil conditions and grows well under trees or around shrubs. Its quick-spreading habit helps prevent weed growth while providing a rich carpet of color and texture throughout the year.
4. Sweet Woodruff (Galium odoratum)
Sweet Woodruff is a charming, shade-loving ground cover with delicate, star-shaped white flowers that bloom in late spring. Its whorled green leaves create a lush, carpet-like effect that works beautifully under trees, in woodland gardens, or shaded corners. Besides its ornamental value, Sweet Woodruff is deer-resistant and emits a sweet, hay-like fragrance when dried, making it a lovely addition to garden paths or herb gardens. It’s incredibly easy to grow and spreads steadily without becoming invasive.
5. Vinca Minor (Periwinkle)
Vinca Minor, commonly known as Periwinkle, is a tough, fast-growing evergreen ground cover ideal for shady or partially sunny areas. Its trailing stems root easily, forming a thick, weed-smothering mat of glossy leaves. In spring and early summer, it produces pretty blue, violet, or white flowers that add a splash of color to shaded spaces. Periwinkle requires minimal care once established and works well on slopes, under trees, or as a border plant along pathways.
6. Mondo Grass (Ophiopogon japonicus)
For a ground cover that offers year-round green with an ornamental grass-like appearance, Mondo Grass is a top pick. Its slender, arching leaves form tidy clumps that slowly spread by underground runners. Mondo Grass thrives in both sun and shade and tolerates a range of soil types. It’s drought-resistant and requires very little upkeep beyond occasional trimming. Use it around trees, between stepping stones, or to soften garden edges for a clean, modern look.
7. Lamium (Dead Nettle)
Lamium is a versatile and colorful ground cover plant that performs well in shaded areas where grass struggles. Its variegated foliage — featuring silvery, green, or cream-colored leaves — adds interest throughout the year. In spring and early summer, Lamium produces clusters of small pink, purple, or white flowers that attract bees and other pollinators. It spreads quickly but isn’t aggressively invasive, making it ideal for underplanting shrubs or filling awkward corners of your garden.
8. Pachysandra (Japanese Spurge)
A popular evergreen option for shaded gardens, Pachysandra forms dense mats of glossy green leaves that stay attractive year-round. It’s perfect for covering ground beneath trees or along shaded paths where few other plants thrive. In early spring, small white flower spikes emerge above the foliage, adding a touch of seasonal interest. Pachysandra is deer-resistant, tolerates dry shade, and requires very little attention once established, making it a go-to plant for low-maintenance landscapes.
9. Creeping Jenny (Lysimachia nummularia)
Creeping Jenny is a bright, cheerful ground cover known for its trailing stems of rounded, chartreuse-green leaves. It thrives in both sun and partial shade and works beautifully along pathways, around ponds, or spilling from containers. In summer, it produces small, yellow cup-shaped flowers that add extra charm. Creeping Jenny spreads rapidly, creating a vibrant carpet that suppresses weeds and provides a soft, lush texture to your garden. It’s easy to manage with occasional trimming.
Conclusion
Ground cover plants are a fantastic, fuss-free way to fill your garden with year-round color, texture, and weed-suppressing greenery. Whether you’re working with sunny slopes, shady corners, or tricky areas beneath trees, these 9 low-maintenance ground covers will help you create a lush, beautiful landscape with minimal effort. Choose a few of these dependable plants, and enjoy a thriving, easy-care garden that looks gorgeous in every season.