Transforming bare spots in your yard into thriving green spaces is easier than many people think, and ground covers are one of the most practical ways to do it. Beyond adding beauty and texture, these hardy plants improve soil health, reduce erosion, suppress weeds naturally, and even create a welcoming habitat for pollinators and small wildlife. The key is choosing the right type for your conditions whether your space is sunny, shaded, dry, or moist and following a few simple planting steps. With the right preparation, tools, and patience, you can expect reliable coverage in a matter of weeks to months. Backed by horticultural research and expert gardening advice, this guide highlights 14 proven ground covers that work in real gardens, not just in theory. Each recommendation explains exactly how to plant, how long it takes to establish, what you’ll need, and the long term benefits you’ll enjoy.
1. Creeping Thyme (Thymus spp.)
Thyme thrives best when planted in well drained soil under full sun, making it ideal for gravelly or sandy sites where other plants may struggle. To begin, sow seeds or transplant plugs and cuttings in spring after frost has passed. The first season requires some weeding to help the young plants establish. Within one to two years, thyme forms a dense, fragrant mat that attracts pollinators such as bees and butterflies while also suppressing competing weeds. Highly valued for its drought tolerance and resilience, thyme not only enhances landscapes with beauty and scent but also reduces long term garden maintenance.
2. Sedum (Sedum spp., stonecrops)
This hardy perennial thrives best in full sun with well drained soil, making it ideal for sunny borders and open landscapes. Propagation is easy through plant divisions or cuttings in spring, ensuring quick establishment. For best results, use a gritty soil mix and starter plugs to encourage strong root development. Within just two years, it spreads to cover an area effectively, offering reliable evergreen foliage that provides year round interest. Its seasonal blooms attract pollinators, adding ecological value, while its dense growth habit naturally supports erosion control. Widely recommended, this perennial is both practical and visually appealing in gardens.
3. Sweet Woodruff (Galium odoratum)
Plant bare root or divisions in shaded areas during early spring, spacing them about six inches apart for healthy growth. These plants thrive in humus rich soil, and adding mulch helps retain moisture and improve soil texture. Within one to two growing seasons, they spread to form a dense groundcover that naturally suppresses weeds while adding beauty to shaded landscapes. Their fragrant spring blooms not only brighten dark corners but also attract pollinators, enhancing garden biodiversity. Low maintenance and deer resistant, they provide a sustainable, long lasting solution for covering shaded spaces with color, fragrance, and ecological benefits.
4. Lungwort (Pulmonaria)
Plant transplants in cool, shaded, and moist soil during early spring to give them the best start. These plants thrive in rich, consistently damp soil and shaded spaces where many other flowers struggle. Within just one or two seasons, they spread naturally to create lush ground cover. Their beautifully spotted foliage adds texture and contrast to the garden, while their delicate spring blooms bring early color after winter fades. They are also deer resistant, making them a low-maintenance and reliable choice. Perfect for shade gardens, they offer both beauty and resilience with very little extra effort required.
5. Foamflower (Tiarella)
Planting this perennial in shaded borders during spring brings both beauty and practicality to the garden. It thrives best in well drained, humus rich soil and benefits from starting with divisions or plugs, then finishing with a protective layer of mulch. Within two to three seasons, it fills in beautifully, creating a lush groundcover that requires little maintenance. The plant offers four season interest, with fresh green foliage throughout the year and delicate white blooms each spring. Its deer resistance makes it even more reliable, and it is widely admired by gardeners for its versatility and charm.
6. Creeping Dogwood (Cornus canadensis)
Creeping dogwood is a charming groundcover that brings beauty and function to shaded spaces. Best planted in spring as rhizomes or plugs, it thrives in organic, moisture rich soil and quickly begins to spread, often filling in within just two seasons. Its delicate white blooms resemble miniature dogwood flowers, adding a woodland feel to gardens and shaded landscapes. Beyond its visual appeal, creeping dogwood plays an important role in supporting native habitats, offering shelter and food for local wildlife. It also helps stabilize soil and resist erosion, making it both an environmentally friendly and graceful addition to any outdoor space.
7. Vinca minor (Bowles periwinkle)
Vinca minor, often called periwinkle, is a resilient groundcover that thrives in shade or partial shade, making it perfect for those tricky garden spots where grass struggles. It can be planted almost any time of year, as long as the soil is well drained. Within one to two years, the cuttings or plugs spread to form lush evergreen mats, adding texture and color to the landscape. In spring, it rewards gardeners with delicate lavender flowers that brighten shady corners. Remarkably hardy, this plant tolerates poor soil, resists drought once established, and even discourages deer, making it both beautiful and low maintenance.
8. Asiatic Jasmine (Trachelospermum asiaticum)
Asiatic Jasmine is a versatile ground cover that thrives whether planted in sun or shade, making it a reliable choice for many landscapes. Best planted using plugs in spring, it quickly adapts to well drained soil and establishes itself within one to two growing seasons, forming a dense, evergreen carpet. Known for its salt tolerance and ability to withstand different conditions, it requires very little maintenance once mature. This makes it a favorite for gardeners who want year round greenery without constant upkeep. Its resilience and low care needs make it a smart, lasting solution for covering open spaces beautifully.
9. Mazus reptans (Creeping mazus)
Mazus reptans is a charming groundcover that brings both beauty and practicality to your garden. Best planted in spring, it thrives in moist but well-drained soil with plenty of sun or partial shade. With regular watering and good drainage, it steadily spreads to form a lush green carpet within a year, making it an excellent choice for filling spaces between stepping stones or covering bare soil. In zones 5 to 8, it rewards gardeners with cheerful blooms in spring and summer while maintaining an evergreen mat through the colder months, ensuring year-round color and texture in your landscape.
10. Dymondia (Dymondia margaretae)
Dymondia, often called the silver carpet, is a hardy groundcover that thrives when planted in spring under full sun. To help it flourish, gardeners use a sandy soil mix enriched with organic matter, striking the right balance for strong roots. Though it takes about two growing seasons to fully establish, the wait pays off with a dense, low-growing mat of silver green foliage. This living carpet offers excellent drought tolerance, making it perfect for water wise landscapes. Beyond conserving water, it prevents soil erosion, stays resilient under foot traffic, and provides a safe, pet friendly alternative to traditional lawns.
11. Phedimus spurius (stonecrop)
Phedimus spurius, often called creeping stonecrop, is a tough yet charming groundcover that brings color and life to a garden with very little effort. It thrives when planted in spring, whether by cuttings or divisions, and settles best in sunny spots or light shade with well-drained soil. Within just a year or two, it spreads gracefully to create a lush carpet of foliage that shifts in color with the seasons. Known for its impressive hardiness and drought tolerance, it is a favorite among gardeners. Many of its cultivars have even earned awards for their beauty and resilience.
12. Pachysandra (Japanese spurge)
Pachysandra is a resilient groundcover that thrives in shaded gardens where many plants struggle. Best planted as plugs in either fall or spring, it quickly establishes itself in humus rich, well drained soil. Within just two seasons, it spreads to form a lush green mat that remains evergreen year round, offering consistent texture and color. In spring, it adds charm with delicate blossoms, while its natural resistance to deer makes it a low maintenance choice for landscapes prone to browsing. Perfect for deep shade, Pachysandra transforms difficult garden spaces into vibrant, living carpets of foliage and seasonal beauty.
13. Brunnera (Siberian bugloss)
Brunnera is a charming perennial that brings life to shaded gardens with its delicate beauty and resilience. Best divided in spring, it thrives in partial shade where the soil stays consistently moist and rich. Though it takes a couple of seasons to spread, the reward is well worth the wait. Each spring, clusters of tiny blue flowers appear like scattered forget-me-nots, perfectly paired with its striking variegated foliage. Beyond its beauty, Brunnera adds a timeless woodland charm to the landscape, offering gardeners not only reliable longevity but also a peaceful, natural aesthetic that enriches any shady corner.
14. Mesembryanthemum cordifolium (Aptenia)
Mesembryanthemum cordifolium, often admired for its vibrant charm, is a succulent that rewards a little care with a big display. Best started from cuttings in spring, it flourishes in full sun where its roots can settle into well draining, succulent friendly soil. Within a year, it spreads gracefully, creating a lush evergreen mat that adds texture and life to any warm garden. Throughout its long blooming season, clusters of bright pink flowers burst open, drawing the eye and lifting the spirit. Hardy and cheerful, this plant is an easy way to add color, resilience, and natural beauty outdoors.
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