Complete Gardening
Ground covers can be the unsung heroes of any garden or landscape. These low-growing plants spread across the soil, filling in gaps, preventing erosion, and even providing an alternative to traditional lawns.
And when they’re perennials, you can enjoy their beauty year after year without needing to replant them. Even better, some of these ground covers are so low-maintenance that they practically take care of themselves.
If you’re looking for the perfect perennial ground covers to elevate your garden, these 20 options are sure to inspire you. They’re not just easy to care for; they’re also showstoppers that add texture, color, and interest to your landscape all year long.
1. Creeping Thyme (Thymus serpyllum)
Creeping Thyme is a fragrant herb that serves as both a ground cover and a pollinator-friendly plant. Its tiny purple flowers bloom in the summer, attracting bees and butterflies.
This hardy plant can withstand foot traffic, making it a perfect choice for between stepping stones or garden paths.
Ideal Growing Conditions: Full sun, well-draining soil.
Zones: 4-9
2. Ajuga (Ajuga reptans)
Ajuga, also known as Bugleweed, is a low-growing ground cover that features attractive foliage ranging from deep green to bronze and purple.
In spring, it produces spikes of blue flowers, adding another layer of beauty. Ajuga spreads rapidly and can even tolerate some shade.
Ideal Growing Conditions: Full sun to partial shade, well-draining soil.
Zones: 3-10
3. Liriope (Liriope muscari)
Liriope is a grass-like ground cover that is excellent for adding texture to your garden. It’s often used in borders, but its ability to spread makes it ideal for covering larger areas as well.
Purple or white flower spikes appear in late summer, adding a pop of color.
Ideal Growing Conditions: Full sun to partial shade, tolerates a variety of soils.
Zones: 5-10
4. Sweet Woodruff (Galium odoratum)
Sweet Woodruff is a shade-loving perennial that works wonders in woodland gardens. It’s known for its fragrant leaves and delicate white flowers in spring.
This plant thrives in damp, shaded areas and can form a dense mat over time.
Ideal Growing Conditions: Partial to full shade, moist soil.
Zones: 4-8
5. Creeping Jenny (Lysimachia nummularia)
Creeping Jenny is a fast-growing ground cover that brightens up gardens with its vibrant lime-green leaves.
It’s particularly striking when allowed to cascade over garden walls or spill out of containers. Keep an eye on this one, though, as it can be invasive in some regions.
Ideal Growing Conditions: Full sun to partial shade, moist soil.
Zones: 3-9
6. Vinca Minor (Periwinkle)
Vinca Minor, commonly called Periwinkle, is an evergreen ground cover that offers year-round interest.
It’s known for its glossy green leaves and delicate purple-blue flowers that bloom in spring. Vinca is a tough plant that thrives in a variety of conditions, including shade.
Ideal Growing Conditions: Partial to full shade, well-draining soil.
Zones: 4-9
7. Hellebore (Helleborus spp.)
Hellebores are shade-loving perennials that produce stunning, long-lasting blooms in late winter or early spring.
They have dark, leathery foliage that remains attractive year-round. Plant them in shady areas where their blossoms will be a welcome sight in the colder months.
Ideal Growing Conditions: Partial to full shade, rich soil.
Zones: 4-9
8. Lamium (Lamium maculatum)
Lamium, also known as Dead Nettle, is a versatile ground cover that offers both attractive foliage and lovely flowers.
Its silver-spotted leaves brighten up shaded areas, and in spring and summer, it produces pink or purple flowers.
Ideal Growing Conditions: Partial shade to full shade, moist, well-draining soil.
Zones: 3-8
9. Sedum (Sedum spp.)
Sedums are drought-tolerant succulents that make excellent ground covers, especially in sunny areas with poor soil.
These low-maintenance plants come in a variety of forms, from low-growing mats to upright varieties. Their fleshy leaves and clusters of star-shaped flowers add a unique texture to any garden.
Ideal Growing Conditions: Full sun, well-draining soil.
Zones: 3-9
10. Heuchera (Coral Bells)
Heuchera is known for its stunning foliage, which comes in shades of burgundy, bronze, purple, and even lime green.
Though often grown for its leaves, Heuchera also produces delicate, bell-shaped flowers on tall stems. It’s a great choice for adding color to shaded areas of your garden.
Ideal Growing Conditions: Partial shade, rich, well-draining soil.
Zones: 4-9
11. Lamb’s Ear (Stachys byzantina)
Lamb’s Ear is a soft, fuzzy ground cover that’s particularly loved for its tactile, silvery foliage.
While it produces purple flower spikes in the summer, the foliage is its main attraction. It’s an excellent choice for dry, sunny areas.
Ideal Growing Conditions: Full sun, well-draining soil.
Zones: 4-9
12. Pachysandra (Pachysandra terminalis)
Pachysandra is an evergreen ground cover that thrives in shaded areas. Its glossy, dark green leaves form a dense carpet, and in spring, it produces small, white flowers.
It’s a great option for under trees or in other spots where grass struggles to grow.
Ideal Growing Conditions: Partial to full shade, moist, well-draining soil.
Zones: 4-8
13. Ferns (Various species)
Many species of ferns make excellent ground covers, especially in shaded or woodland gardens. Their lush, feathery fronds add texture and movement to the landscape.
Ferns are also great for stabilizing slopes and preventing erosion.
Ideal Growing Conditions: Partial to full shade, moist, rich soil.
Zones: Varies by species, but typically 3-8
14. Mazus (Mazus reptans)
Mazus is a low-growing ground cover that’s perfect for moist areas of your garden. In the spring and summer, it produces small, purple or blue flowers, creating a stunning carpet of color.
It can even tolerate occasional foot traffic, making it great for pathways.
Ideal Growing Conditions: Full sun to partial shade, moist soil.
Zones: 5-8
15. Rupturewort (Herniaria Glabra)
This tough little plant forms a low-growing mat that’s ideal for areas with heavy foot traffic. Herniaria Glabra is often used as a lawn alternative because it’s so resilient.
Though it’s not particularly showy, its tiny green leaves create a neat, dense cover.
Ideal Growing Conditions: Full sun, well-draining soil.
Zones: 5-9
16. Bearberry (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi)
Bearberry is a low-growing evergreen shrub that’s perfect for covering large areas. Its small, leathery leaves turn a deep red in the fall, providing seasonal interest.
In spring, it produces clusters of pink or white flowers followed by red berries.
Ideal Growing Conditions: Full sun to partial shade, well-draining soil.
Zones: 2-6
17. Blue Star Creeper (Isotoma fluviatilis)
Blue Star Creeper is a low-growing perennial that produces tiny, pale blue flowers throughout the summer. It’s perfect for filling in gaps between stepping stones or as a lawn alternative.
Despite its delicate appearance, it’s quite tough and can tolerate light foot traffic.
Ideal Growing Conditions: Full sun to partial shade, moist soil.
Zones: 5-9
18. Dwarf Mondo Grass (Ophiopogon japonicus ‘Nana’)
Dwarf Mondo Grass is a slow-growing, grass-like ground cover that stays compact and tidy. It’s perfect for edging paths or filling in small gaps in the garden.
Its dark green foliage remains evergreen, providing year-round interest.
Ideal Growing Conditions: Full sun to partial shade, well-draining soil.
Zones: 6-10
19. Epimedium (Barrenwort)
Epimedium is a shade-loving ground cover that produces delicate, heart-shaped leaves and colorful flowers in the spring.
It’s particularly well-suited for dry, shady areas where other plants may struggle to thrive. Over time, it forms a dense, weed-suppressing mat.
Ideal Growing Conditions: Partial to full shade, well-draining soil.
Zones: 5-9
20. Canadian Wild Ginger (Asarum canadense)
Wild Ginger is a native ground cover that thrives in shaded, woodland gardens. Its heart-shaped leaves create a lush carpet, and it produces small, inconspicuous flowers at ground level.
Wild Ginger is also a great choice for areas where erosion control is needed.
Ideal Growing Conditions: Partial to full shade, moist, well-draining, humus-rich soil.
Zones: 3-8
Perennial ground covers offer both beauty and practicality, making them an invaluable addition to any garden.
By incorporating one or more of these perennial ground covers, you can create a lush, vibrant garden that practically takes care of itself.
Whether you need a plant that can handle foot traffic or one that will thrive in the shade, you’re sure to find a solution among these low-maintenance and always gorgeous options.
Let your garden flourish with these stunning perennials and enjoy the benefits of beauty and functionality for years to come.